Teak tree benches

If you are lucky enough to have an established tree in an interesting setting or are able to plan for the future and have a special site in mind which would lend itself to such a piece of furniture a teak tree bench or tree seat is a long term feature you will never regret.

It will enhance the view of the tree from a distance and provide seating with 360⁰ views.

To withstand the British climate year round the bench must be made of good quality hard wearing wood and teak is an excellent choice. Once used to build war ships many of which have since been dismantled to provide long lasting wood for house construction and outdoor furniture. Even today old teak building timbers and railway sleepers are recycled to make furniture, although most products come from harvested trees.  Providing the timber is dried correctly and finished well there will be many years of enjoyment ahead with little maintenance involved.

The Chic Teak policy is to use teak heartwood which is the strongest part of the tree and has no sapwood or knots in it. To grow a tree for this use takes at least 60 years and the Indonesian government controls the number of trees cut down and therefore the number which are replanted. We regularly visit Java to ensure that only plantation wood is used and we employ a local quality control manager to check all aspects of production in our absence.

Teak is a close grained hardwood, is very resistant to rotting and repels water due to its rubber and silica content. This makes it an ideal wood for outdoor furniture as it can withstand all the seasonal changes experienced in the UK.

Teak wood naturally weathers to an ashy silvery colour which slowly darkens over the years. Marks can be removed using soapy water or fine sandpaper but the wood itself will not be damaged. There is no need to oil the furniture as there is plenty of natural oil in the wood. Staining is an option but only for aesthetic reasons as the process will make no difference to the longevity of the furniture.

We ensure that all the furniture is kiln dried before being shipped so the moisture content is sufficiently low to stabilise the timber and to overcome any problems of cracking in the wood. The finished products are also polished to give a smooth attractive surface. All joints are mortise and tenon which are strong and long lasting.
The tree bench comes in four sections with stainless steel bolts to secure each piece together. It is possible to have a half tree bench which is ideal for a tree near a fence or hedge. We have also supplied quarter tree benches for corners. We stock seven different sizes from 45 cm to 165 cm internal diameter which usually suits most situations, but we can make larger models if necessary.

For a special memory or occasion the tree bench can have a bronze or brass plaque or carving in the wood itself with a personal message.

The flexibility of our range in terms of size and number of sections that can be supplied means this piece of furniture can be accommodated in many locations. It will always be a very special feature and one with lasting appeal.