| Before the advent of mass production, most | | | | or other corrosion at quite an early |
| furniture was largely handcrafted by | | | | stage.Another less obvious problem with |
| artisans. Of course, time has moved on and | | | | tables in particular, is swelling of the |
| construction techniques, mechanical tools, | | | | wood. As wood generally expands at a |
| and methods have advanced significantly. But | | | | different rate in its longitudinal and |
| in choosing outdoor furniture, it's very | | | | tangential planes, this means that as the |
| important to take note on how the particular | | | | timber gets wet or dries out, unsightly gaps |
| item is assembled, how the joints are made, | | | | can occur at joints, or in the worst cases, |
| what fixings are used, the strength of the | | | | the timber twists out of shape, if the maker |
| individual components and the quality of the | | | | has not taken sufficient care at the design |
| finish.For commercial outdoor furniture, | | | | stage. You need to take care for example |
| which needs to withstand not only the weather | | | | with some wooden table tops, if the middle of |
| but also mistreatment and neglect, the | | | | the table is a more complex design with |
| centuries old joining method of mortice and | | | | elements running both straight and |
| tenon is still generally preferred. A | | | | perpendicular. Most manufacturers will leave |
| well-made item of furniture, with mortice and | | | | small expansion gaps at the end of the |
| tenon joints will be solid, with tight joints | | | | longitudinal wood sections to allow for some |
| and will last for years. But of course the | | | | expansion and contraction. With some more |
| extra time and care taken in this method of | | | | stable wood species such as teak, this is |
| construction means the price will inevitably | | | | typically not a problem, but with some other |
| be higher of the furniture item.To speed up | | | | species, expansion in both directions can be |
| construction and keep costs down, allot of | | | | significantly different and problems can |
| furniture is now constructed using a dowelled | | | | arise.Take note also of the finish of the |
| joints. Whilst not as strong as traditional | | | | piece. With certain wood species, the grain |
| mortice and tenon joints, a dowelled joint | | | | of the timber can be rather coarse, so unless |
| can give many years of good service. In fact | | | | the edges of the piece are sanded well, it's |
| a lot of furniture may use mortice and tenon | | | | possible to get splinters. Take particular |
| joints for the main structural elements but | | | | note of the end grain. Many manufacturers |
| dowels for the more decorative elements in | | | | apply a special oil coating or wax to the end |
| the design - a perfectly acceptable | | | | grain to prevent the ingress of water and |
| compromise. Of course any adhesives used | | | | help to prolong the life of the furniture. |
| should be water resistant, something that is | | | | Most manufacturers will apply some type of |
| not really possible to check, but generally | | | | initial protective coating, although this is |
| this does not seem to be a problem in | | | | generally a rather basic coating which tends |
| practice, except maybe in really low cost | | | | to enhance the colour of the wood rather than |
| outdoor furniture.For added strength, some | | | | contributing to any particular preservative |
| makers will combine brass fittings with | | | | properties. To ensure a longer life, it is |
| dowelled joints to ensure the dowelled joints | | | | thus recommended that you give your furniture |
| are pulled together and kept as tight as | | | | a further coating with a good quality decking |
| possible.The cheapest method of construction | | | | or furniture oil very shortly after you |
| uses metal fixings only. Often these are used | | | | purchase the item, and certainly within the |
| with kit-set or knock-down self assembly | | | | first six months of its use.And so, in |
| furniture, as it allows the homeowner to save | | | | conclusion, when looking at purchasing |
| more money by assembling the product | | | | outdoor furniture, the important points to |
| themselves. The downside is that such | | | | consider (apart from the durability of the |
| furniture is generally not as strong and | | | | wood species) are the type of joints, the |
| involves regular tightening of the fittings, | | | | thickness of timber used, the quality of any |
| as they tend to bed into the wood with | | | | metal fixings and the actual design aspects |
| continual use of the furniture. Also | | | | of the particular piece.Malcolm Kay is the |
| inferior quality fittings may be used which | | | | CEO of Intex Pacific Pty. Ltd. an |
| are neither made of corrosion resistant | | | | international supplier of landscape materials |
| metals such as brass, nor have a high quality | | | | including modular decking tiles. |
| plated finish, so can be subject to rusting | | | | |