History of Teak Wood

Teak, also known as Tectona Grandis, is a tall, straight deciduous tree that grows with buttressing stems and a large crown. Teak is native to South East Asia and its natural distribution goes from the Indian subcontinent through Myanmar and Thailand to Laos. We do not know if the teak stands in Indonesia are native or the result of early cultivation by the Hindu settlers, quite possibly as early as the 7th century.

Since the Middle Ages it has been used in ship building. Its durability and natural oils made it a perfect choice for the construction of ocean going vessels. Teak oil also creates a resistance to splitting and cracking and wards off termites and other insects.

It is also easy to work with, and it is resistant to decay. The main advantage of teak for the building of ships is its unique ability to prevent rust and corrosion when in contact with metal. These qualities make it a valuable resource. Even today, teak wood is used in the construction of ships and expensive yachts and boats.

When the ships were no longer sea worthy the ships decking was in such good condition that the teak wood was recycled and made into outdoor furniture. It is possible that the first outdoor teak benches were made of old ship decks. Teak wood is so durable and strong that there are century old teak park benches in England still in use today.

The harvesting of teak wood is not an easy process. The logs are so heavy they will not float. Therefore, transporting the wood is not a particularly easy thing to do. In fact, elephants pull the logs through the jungle regions, just as they did a century ago. The elephants must pull the logs a long way through the jungles to the waterways. The trained elephants stack the logs in piles.

Teak wood was admired for its beauty back in the 1800s in India. It was able to capture the romantic nature of the Victorian era making it a perfect complement to an English garden. The durable and versatile nature of teak wood make it well sought after throughout the world.

Teak is grown today throughout Central America, parts of South America and Asia. Teak wood today is used for indoor wood flooring and other general construction. Teak is popular for durable and beautiful outdoor patio furniture. Its high oil content makes it ideal for outdoor furniture. Teak wood patio furniture is favored among high-end ski resorts. For construction projects requiring durability and elegance, teak wood is the wood of choice.

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Teak Garden Furniture

On a mid summers day when the sun is shining and the smell of fresh cut grass is in the air there is nothing better than being in the garden, whether you are relaxing sitting back basking in the warm rays of the sun or having a barbecue lunch with friends. What ever you decide to do having a well kept lawn and boarders finished off with a nice patio or decked area make a nice seating area for you to put your quality oak, mahogany or Teak Garden Furniture will create the right luxurious garden space for you to enjoy.

There are many choices when choosing garden furniture from plastic, metal and wood. For garden furniture that will last for years wood has to be the most desirable material as it in not only resistant to the worst whether conditions it also with stands the test of time when it comes to design.

With a wide range of hardwoods to choose from Teak Garden Furniture is the most durable and needs very little maintenance. Due to the natural oil in teak it's durable and can stay outdoors all year round. With it's golden brown colour if left untreated will mature to a silvery grey colour but if you prefer it's original colour you can treat it once a year with teak oil.

With the demand and price rapidly increasing in recent years it is now important to be careful when buying Teak Garden Furniture as there are dealers who use inferior wood products and pass them off as high quality teak. Although Teak is a quality material the craftsmanship also makes a huge difference to the durability and look of your furniture.

If you have made the decision to purchase Teak furniture for your garden you should choose quality well built furniture which should then last you for many years.

How to get your Teak Garden Furniture to last a lifetime;

• Don't sacrifice Quality for price when purchasing your furniture
• Treat once a year with Teak oil
• Take in during the winter months, although this is not necessary it will help to sustain the quality

Many specialised dealers now sell their products using online stores as well as having showrooms as this allows them to offer a wide range or high quality products through-out the county.

When investing in teak furniture don't sacrifice quality for price, spending a little more will get you beautifully designed and built furniture that will last you lifetime. Teak Garden Furniture with its beautiful colour and unique will make your garden a haven for relaxing and enjoying your outdoor living space.

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Low Voltage Lighting Fixtures Are Best For Home Lightnings

A lot of people have many lighting fixtures fitted in place in their homes but are not able to enjoy it. The reason for this is quite simple. The costs of electricity are spiraling by the day and you would need a really great pay packet to take care of your electricity bills, if indeed you were to use all the lighting fixtures in your home. While most of us would love to light up our house like we do on Christmas time every year, we cannot do so. Electricity conservation is thus the order of the day. And what better way to go about conserving electricity than to use low voltage lighting fixtures.

There are a great number of low voltage lighting fixtures that can be used both in the house and also in its exterior. While the lighting in the house can rarely be used less, it is the exterior lighting that is often not used in order to conserve electricity. The landscaping thus loses its beauty because of the lighting. The low voltage exterior lighting fixtures come as a breath of fresh air. These low voltage exterior lighting fixtures often come in an assembled pack containing various lights, a transformer and a cable. The cable ensures that you can all various other lights in the future in case need be. There is an even better alternative to cable. This comes in the form of a solar-powered light panel, which as the name suggests, uses solar panels to light up your exteriors.

Like the exterior lighting fixtures, there are low voltage fixtures available for interior lighting too. It makes much more sense to opt for low voltage interior lighting fixtures in place of the high voltage alternatives. You would use the interior lighting for a great period of time, almost throughout the day, and in some places, all throughout the night also. By using low voltage interior lighting fixtures you are sure to save a lot on your electricity bills and have a lower lighting cost for your home.

A brightly lit house showcases happiness and the contentedness that you have. So don't get the high cost get in the way of your happiness. Get low cost lighting today!

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Garden Furniture

Your garden is not only a place for resting; it reflects your taste as well. When somebody visits your house, won't you ask him or her to come to your garden for once! And when the person admires the style and decoration of the garden, you would certainly feel proud and content.

A neatly arranged garden is definitely a great place for relaxing in peace; at the same time, you can make it more useful by installing suitable garden furniture. Then the same old garden can become the playground for children, an outdoor dining hall and a place to entertain guests and visitors.

Garden Furniture and Patio Furniture:

Garden furniture and patio furniture are specially crafted to be used in outdoor places. Most houses all around the world have some kind of open area in the form of a balcony, terrace, patio, porch or veranda. And a lot of people set up a garden terrace or patio in their back or front yard. Garden furniture and patio furniture are the appropriate to decorate these places properly.

The first and foremost thing you need for your patio, garden or front-yard is chairs. Hence, a garden table and chairs are the most important parts of garden furniture. When you return home at the end of a tiring and hectic day at work, obviously you would like to sit in your garden and spend some time with your family.

How to choose the best garden furniture:

When you purchase a garden furniture set make sure they are comfortable. At the same time, the furniture set should go with the style of your house and with the decoration of your garden.

Most furniture dealers have different sections for garden furniture in different materials, such as wooden garden furniture and aluminium garden furniture. You can get patio or porch furniture of different styles in popular furniture stores. Just go through the catalogue, see some samples and choose the right type of patio furniture that adds to the exterior of your home. You can also deal with furniture companies who are specialised in particular types of garden furniture e.g. teak or FSC hardwoods.

Different types of materials are used for manufacturing garden and patio furniture, which are designed to live outdoors. Make sure the material is durable and aesthetically correct for your home. Wood, wrought iron, cast aluminium and hard plastic are the most common materials used in garden chair and table manufacturing. If you are going to keep the furniture outside all year long, make sure the material is waterproof.

You can visit garden furniture websites if you want to buy a garden table and chairs online. Choose your style from the photographs of garden furniture on the websites and then order your own set.

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Tips For a Green Renovation

The benefits to renovating green are obvious; not only do you do your part to help the environment, but you create a more marketable home that has lower monthly energy costs than your neighbors. The first article in my upcoming series on green renovation focus on a few of the simpler things you can do to ease your way into living green at home.

1.) Go Local! - Why should you use products produced locally? Not only does it support the local economy, but it also reduces the environmental effects of transporting goods long distances. Find out what types of stone and wood are prevalent to your area and make those your first choice materials.

2.) Use Sustainable and Recycled Building Materials - Sustainable materials, like bamboo for flooring, are more far easier to replace and regrow than traditional hardwoods. Recycled materials, like Terrazzo, can incorporate recycled pieces of granite and glass.

3.) Recycle, Reuse, Refurbish - Renovations produce huge amounts of waste. That waste goes into a landfill. Reuse as much of the "scrap" as possible, refurbish old doors and cabinets and recycle anything you can't reuse or refurbish.

4.) Install Energy Efficient Appliances and Windows - The initial extra investment in EnergyStar Appliances and Windows will come back to your pocketbook many times over with the money you will save monthly on your energy bills. Don't forget to check on tax credits and utility company credits for these as well.

5.) Watch Your Water Usage - Installation of low flow toilets and shower heads along with tankless water heaters can dramatically cut down your water usage.

By following these five simple and affordable tips when you renovate you will have taken a big first step to creating a green home you can be proud of!

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