A helpful guide to choosing the right garden furniture and how to make it last.As the garden and patio are becoming increasingly important areas of your house, so too is your garden furniture.

Before you buy any garden furniture it is strongly recommended that you do some research.This research will pay off when you have the right garden furniture that will last a lifetime.This guide will help you to find the right set for you.

Firstly decide whether you want stackable or foldaway furniture that will be put away in the shed or garage in winter or if you want permanent solid garden furniture that remains in situ all year round.If you have made the decision to keep the furniture in the garden throughout the year, it will need to be made from hardwearing materials like hardwood, aluminium or rust free wrought iron.Choose good, hardwearing materials, which will last for ages so save you money in the long run.

Choosing the right type of material and construction is paramount.Decide what kind of material for your garden furniture would best compliment your patio or garden.Aim for an even look to your garden once the furniture is added.

Apart from the need for slight maintenance, wood is probably the best material that for garden furniture.Teak, iroko and courbaril are all great for garden furniture as they have a high oil content.These are good as they can be left outside all year round.

Make sure that mortice and tenon joints are used for your teak garden furniture and not bolts which corrode.If any metal fittings are used in the construction make sure they are made from brass, stainless steel or aluminum which are corrosion resistant.

All teak garden furniture should be made from premium materials so that it there are no surface defects that could affect the integrity of the material.Premium manufacturers dry the wood in a kiln to seal in the moisture and avoid cracks forming.

To ensure that the joints won’t fail in cold weather or rain, check that they have been glued with epoxy resin based glues.

You can give your teak furniture a spring clean using hot soapy water and a scrubbing brush, this will restore bring out the natural colours in the wood.

If you do want to wash it down with a pressure hose, do so at 60-80 bar (psi 900 – 1200) but don’t get closer than 30cm from the surface.Add a small amount of bleach to the water once a year. This will stop algae growing on the surface.

You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.

You may notice hairline cracks in the surface when the weather is dry.There’s no need to do anything about this as the wood will correct itself once the moisture has returned to the air.

Teak oil or varnish won’t necessarily improve the lifespan of your garden furniture but it will improve the suface finish if applied when new.Be sure to read the instructions carefully before use.Unless you want a very black finish, be sure to apply teak oil to dry wood only.