Materials & Craftsmanship

Outdoor furniture fails at the material level. Sun bleaches fabric, humidity swells softwood, and foam that holds water stays wet.

We use materials that cost more to buy and take longer to source. They are the difference between furniture that lasts a season and furniture that lasts a decade.

Materials

  • 100% Grade-A Teak

    Solid Grade-A Indonesian teak throughout, cut from the dense heartwood of the tree. No veneers, no softwood filler. The natural oils in the wood resist water, rot, and insects.

  • Mortise and Tenon Joinery

    Frames are joined with mortise and tenon rather than screws and dowels. The joint carries load through the wood itself, so it holds as the timber moves with humidity.

  • Sunbrella® Fabrics

    Cushion covers are Sunbrella® solution-dyed acrylic. The color is locked into each fiber rather than printed on top, so it holds its color through years of sun. Mildew resistant, stain resistant, removable for washing.

  • Quick-Dry Foam

    Cushion cores are open-cell foam. Water passes straight through and drains out the bottom, so cushions air-dry after rain instead of staying wet.

  • Marine-Grade Hardware

    Fixings are specified for salt air rather than general outdoor use.

Materials & Craftsmanship

What we mean by premium

Every layer of an outdoor piece has a cheaper option. These are the ones we passed on.

What we use What's normally used instead
Grade-A heartwood teak Acacia, "African teak", or lower teak grades containing sapwood
Marine-grade stainless and brass fasteners Zinc-plated or coated steel
Solution-dyed acrylic Printed polyester or coated synthetics
Reticulated quick-dry foam Conventional, closed-cell, or memory foam

Sapwood is the outer layer of the tree. It has none of the oils that make teak rot resistant, and it is what makes lower grades cheaper. Closed-cell foam holds water rather than draining it, so a cushion stays damp under the cover after rain.

Care

None of it needs much. Teak can be left to weather to silver-gray or given a yearly coat of teak protector, and both are correct. Covers unzip and wash. Full instructions can be found on the care page.