Teak garden furniture - 8 seater

[alex_rsa]

OK I need some help,

So now that the sun is shining I am trying to buy an 8-seater oval/rectangle teak table and chairs.

The last set we had was a B&Q cheapy (£150-00) that we managed to get about 6 years from because we looked after it (oiled and covered in winter) but that eventually broke mostly at the joints and was consigned to the tip last winter.

Now there are lots of 8-seaters around so I am looking for some advice and recommendations on brand/shop/website. Budget is max £1200-00 but ideally I would like to get something under £1000-00 or I am I being to tight? It will live outside although it will be covered in winter.

Most of the sets I have seen have either a folding section in the table or the chairs fold. I do not need this function although if it makes no difference to the life-span then I am not overly concerned.

So over to the Ph'ers for some advice.

thanks

Alex

[dazp]

hows this?

http://www.gardeners-world.net/product/Westminster...

[Jonnas]

Got mine from here

http://www.teakita.co.uk/

Had it about 6-7 years and it is still in tip top condition. I leave it all outside uncovered and just oil it every other year.

[burwoodman]

I wouldn't touch Westminster with a barge pole. Their product is average to poor. When buying any product look at a specialist. The other link looks very good.

[alex_rsa]

Thanks for the replies, any more suggestions?

[Shaolin]

Folding/sliding parts are likely to retain wet on their more numerous surfaces and so I'd guess will be a weak point at which it can go sooner rather than later. You'd also expect them to be cheaper but I bet they're not.

We have a 6 seater even though there's only 2 of us most of the time we use it, the extra table space is always nice to have if patio/garden space isn't an issue.

[Joyrider1]

Got our garden furniture from here: http://www.pepegarden.co.uk/

Not teak, but baltic pine and very sturdy and you can leave it outside all winter uncovered with no problems....Dunno if they do an 8 seater but would definitely recommend their stuff..

[Hereward]

Whilst we're talking about teak what's the best treatment to protect and preserve the wood on teak garden furniture? As always I am thoroughly confused by choices available; teak oil, danish oil, tung oil, stains, dyes etc etc. Thanks.

[maturin23]

We bought one of these last month. Very impressed by the quality given the price.

http://www.cyan-teak-furniture.com/acatalog/barcel...

I've used teak oil in the past, seems to offer a decent level of protection without changing the colour too much.

[burwoodman]

Joyrider1 said:

Got our garden furniture from here: http://www.pepegarden.co.uk/

Not teak, but baltic pine and very sturdy and you can leave it outside all winter uncovered with no problems....Dunno if they do an 8 seater but would definitely recommend their stuff..

Baltic Pine is a softwood. Teak is a hardwood. Anything outdoors should be a hardwood. Softwoods will allow water to penetrate and prone to wood eating beetles. Other things being equal the harder the wood the longer its useful life. There is a reason Teak is used on boats/yachts.

[Bonefish Blues]

burwoodman said:

Joyrider1 said:

Got our garden furniture from here: http://www.pepegarden.co.uk/

Not teak, but baltic pine and very sturdy and you can leave it outside all winter uncovered with no problems....Dunno if they do an 8 seater but would definitely recommend their stuff..

Baltic Pine is a softwood. Teak is a hardwood. Anything outdoors should be a hardwood. Softwoods will allow water to penetrate and prone to wood eating beetles. Other things being equal the harder the wood the longer its useful life. There is a reason Teak is used on boats/yachts.

I'd always assumed that their wood was tanalised - that would assist durability, wouldn't it?

[burwoodman]

Bonefish Blues said:

I'd always assumed that their wood was tanalised - that would assist durability, wouldn't it?

Other things being equal, tanalised wood will last longer. I guess my point is a hard wood is more durable in the first instance. Softwood grows a lot quicker, is a cheaper material and will not last as long as teak. If one was more budget conscious they could look at pine. However as has been pointed out, there are some suppliers of teak which are just as keenly priced.

[Bonefish Blues]

burwoodman said:

Bonefish Blues said:

I'd always assumed that their wood was tanalised - that would assist durability, wouldn't it?

Other things being equal, tanalised wood will last longer. I guess my point is a hard wood is more durable in the first instance. Softwood grows a lot quicker, is a cheaper material and will not last as long as teak. If one was more budget conscious they could look at pine. However as has been pointed out, there are some suppliers of teak which are just as keenly priced.

Agree with everything you say, my only add'n. is that this particular company have been in existence for longer than many/most, which speaks well of the integrity of the product.

[Joyrider1]

Bonefish Blues said:

burwoodman said:

Bonefish Blues said:

I'd always assumed that their wood was tanalised - that would assist durability, wouldn't it?

Other things being equal, tanalised wood will last longer. I guess my point is a hard wood is more durable in the first instance. Softwood grows a lot quicker, is a cheaper material and will not last as long as teak. If one was more budget conscious they could look at pine. However as has been pointed out, there are some suppliers of teak which are just as keenly priced.

Agree with everything you say, my only add'n. is that this particular company have been in existence for longer than many/most, which speaks well of the integrity of the product.

Fair enough, I've had this furniture for 7 years now and it is still as good as new and has spent the whole time outside uncovered....was just a suggestion anyway...as you were

[dickymint]

Bought Teak about 4 years ago (table and 6 for 1700 quid) never oiled it and is now shagged! Will never by wood again. Now waitring for delivery of our new 'plstic Rattan' stuff.

For the wood efficiendos : you can get hard, soft-wood and soft, soft-wood. Also hard, hard-wood and soft, hard-wood!! Buyer beware and don't fool yourself

[Shaolin]

dickymint said:

Bought Teak about 4 years ago (table and 6 for 1700 quid) never oiled it and is now shagged! Will never by wood again. Now waitring for delivery of our new 'plstic Rattan' stuff.

I made a teak bench about 6 years ago from some venerable old planks that my father-in-law had stored for years. I got through countless saw blades and drills in the process. It was oiled twice but never since and is as solid today as it was when I made it. The planks were recoeverd from Cheltenham railway station in the 50's apparently when it was refitted, so they were old when he got them.

I get the feeling with teak that the new plantation grown stuff is riding on the reputation of old close grained forest grown teak that isn't available any more. The best stuff is a dark rich red colour, much of the modern stuff looks more like oak in colour but doesn't last as long as that either.

Edit - fixed broken quote.

Edited by Shaolin on Monday 2nd May 11:42

[burwoodman]

dickymint said:

Bought Teak about 4 years ago (table and 6 for 1700 quid) never oiled it and is now shagged! Will never by wood again. Now waitring for delivery of our new 'plstic Rattan' stuff.

For the wood efficiendos : you can get hard, soft-wood and soft, soft-wood. Also hard, hard-wood and soft, hard-wood!! Buyer beware and don't fool yourself

The same principles apply to the rattan product you mention.

This is the nicest teak ive seen. http://www.skagerak-denmark.com/Default.aspx?id=46...