Why should you use wood furniture outdoors? To some people this is not even a question! The right question would be, “Why wouldn’t you use wood furniture outdoors?” There is a wide variety of materials that are made to be used outdoors, including plastic, metal, wicker and other synthetic materials. With all of the other options for outdoor furniture, the reasons of why one should use wood should be carefully examined before you buy furniture for your outdoor oasis.

Wood is meant to be outdoors. Trees grow in the great outdoors, so it makes sense that furniture made from trees should be kept outdoors. It is no wonder that wood furniture, when treated and cared for properly, can last outdoors for years. The type of wood you pick of will determine just how well the wood weathers over time.

Although wood does weather over time, you can protect your outdoor wood furniture by carefully taking care of it every season. Paint and stain are good ways of protecting your wood furniture from the sun because they add an additional layer of defense to the wood. Water-repellant stains are also important to add to your outdoor furniture to protect it from water damage, which causes the wood to rot and crack. When using either paint or stain, you want to have a durable blend so that it dries fast and completely, and does not rub off on people sitting down on the furniture.

Another way to protect your wood and make it last for years to come is to buy special kinds of wood. Treated wood is one such option, as it is resistant to rotting from the elements. But one of the issues with treated wood is that it often comes green, and can more easily warp than regular wood.

Teak furniture is a popular choice for outdoor furniture. Teak wood is an extremely dense hardwood is often praised for its durability. It also has natural oils that protect it from the elements, even when left untreated. Often grown in Indonesia, Teak is very resistant to attacks by termites and other insects because the high oil content makes it water repellent.

Chinese Oak is a dense hardwood with a very fine grain. It is a naturally light wood and sometimes has a pinkish tint. The tannic acid in Chinese Oak makes it ideal for use in outdoor furniture because it is naturally resistant to attacks by fungi and insects.

Cedar, especially Western Red Cedar is a very popular choice for outdoor furniture because of its beautiful color and finish. Often grown in Canada, Western Red Cedar is also naturally resistant to decay and insect damage when exposed to rain, sun, heat, or cold all year. When properly treated, Red Cedar furniture may last for decades in the harshest of environments.

A final way to protect your outdoor wood furniture and maintain it for the long haul is to simply put a roof over it. Whether it is an awning on your deck, a covered roof for your sunroom or your garage during the winter, a roof can go a long way to help you keep the sun, rain and wind off of your wood furniture and protect it for years to come.

Most people want wooden shutters because they look great on or in a house. The best kind of wood for interior wooden shutters is basswood. There are many reasons why basswood is the most popular and here are just a few:

1) Basswood is strong but it is also light

2) Basswood has a grain that is uniform allowing a beautiful stain finish

3) It is easy to glue and to finish

4) Basswood trees are growing faster than they are being harvested

5) Basswood does not warp

Item #5 is probably the most important reason why basswood is the overwhelming choice for wooden shutters. Basswood does not warp and that makes this kind of shutter great for being next to windows where they will be exposed to sun, cooler temperatures, and some moisture. Wooden shutters can be a problem if a wood is used that does not weather the conditions properly.

Basswood is easy to work with because it glues well and can be made into the texture you desire by sanding and staining. It also dries rapidly without any distortion. These are all very important to have in a high quality wooden shutter. Basswood it seems is just the most versatile type of wood for the purpose of making shutters.

Wooden shutters are more expensive than some other materials such as plastic or vinyl. Plastic shutters can be made to look just like wood, however, and no one will ever know that they are not wood. This is the best route if you are looking for cheap wooden shutters. Because warping is such a problem, many people also choose plastic disguised as wood to be used for their shutters.

If you are going to install them yourself and not get custom ones, you must find some ready made cheap shutters that are already the correct dimensions. You may have to get some help from your neighbor or someone on the block who is a handyman to help you install them but once they are in, you will have some nice looking wood shutters that look much better than cheap blinds.

Basswood is also often used for such things as furniture, wood handles, millwork, musical instruments, and of course interior wood shutters. It is a wood that is useful to make many different things and if you are contemplating getting wooden shutters, basswood should be at the top of your list of woods to consider.

Wood blinds are a classic window treatments choice. They are durable, easy to use and attractive. They also go well with a wide variety of interior decors. But some people may not know that there are faux wood blinds that offer the same looks, functionality with increased durability at a reduced cost. Faux wood blinds have other distinct advantages.

First, a little background information, faux wood blinds come in two forms: composite wood and vinyl, a type of PVC plastic. The composite wood variety is made from a blend of real hardwoods and plastic polymers to form highly durable slats and other components that make up the blind. PVC blinds are made exclusively from a vinyl polymer.

In terms of price, the vinyl variety is the cheapest, wood composite is second and wood blinds are the most expensive. Comparing the same brand, same size, with no extra options, the price break-outs were as follows: 40” x 64” vinyl blinds were approximately $78.00, 40” x 64” composite wood blinds were approximately $101.00, and the 40” x 64” wood blinds were approximately $119.00. These prices are meant for comparison sake only to illustrate the differences.

In terms of weight, wood blinds are the lightest weights of the three, wood composites are the second lightest and vinyl blinds are the heaviest. This is an important consideration mostly when you are ordering fairly large blinds.

One of the nice things about faux woods is that they are very durable. They will not fade, crack, warp or split, making them perfect for rooms with heat and humidity, such as bathrooms and kitchens. This durability is often important in kid’s rooms. Composite wood blinds are the most durable. They have a hard coating that is highly scratch resistant. That is not to say the PVC blinds are not durable, just not as scratch resistant as the composites.

To help you further differentiate when you should buy composites over PVC blinds, here are some important details. If you are trying to match up other wood stains from your home’s décor, composite blinds offer the closest wood-like grains and stains. So, if you are trying to match up other wood blinds or other wood elements with faux woods, composites would be the best choice. Vinyl blinds do come in wood-colored stains but, in my opinion, are best suited to non-wood colors, like white, beige, etc and these tend to be the most common applications. One final point on the issue of choices, both vinyl blinds and composite blinds can come with in a textured or smooth finish. The best way to get a sense for these differences is to order swatches.

One last consideration, one of growing importance, is the issue of eco-friendliness. If you are concerned about the environment, cutting down trees, and recycling than composite wood blinds may be the best choice. Comfortex now offers an eco-friendly line of faux wood composites. These are made with real wood along with recycled man-made materials. I, for one, applaud Comfortex for addressing this issue by launching a line of eco-friendly blinds. I hope that this is the beginning of a trend within the industry.