It may come as a surprise to learn how many different types of wood are used in furniture making, each one with their own specific properties, weight, density and grain.
The hardwood Teak comes from the Teak (Tectona) tree, which grows in southern Asia. The teak is a 30 to 40 ft deciduous tree (its leaves fall off during the winter months). Hardwoods are those which have a high number of pores and a high density. In general hardwoods resist decay better than their softwood counterparts which makes them very suitable for outdoor and patio furniture. Much like cedar and cypress wood, teak has its own natural resins that protect it from damage from extreme weather conditions, especially damp rot. A common problem faced by woods is termite damage and teak is particularly resistant against these pests.
There are three different types of teak tree: the Tectona grandis (the common teak), the Tectona philippinensis (Phillippine teak) and the Tectona hamiltoniana (Dahat teak). The Dahat and Phillippine teak are now endangered and therefore the vast majority of teak furniture is crafted from the common teak tree.
Teak has been popular in furniture making for hundreds of years due to its attractive look […]
Here’s a handy home maintenance checklist for this fall. It includes some items most homeowners tend to overlook. For your convenience, print this out and keep it where you will see it.The furnace filter should be replaced every three months. An easy way to remember this is to perform the inspection on the first day of spring, summer, fall, and winter. Or the first of each quarter (January, April, July, October).Inspect the ducts, filters, and heating equipment. It may be best to clean and vacuum vents, ducts, and other heating components. Use a certified HVAC professional, if necessary. Many offer discount specials during the fall season.Open and close the fireplace damper to ensure that it is operating correctly.Clean the fireplace of ashes if you have not done this since last winter. A good New Years Resolution would be to always clean the ashes in a timely fashion.Clean the interior of the chimney. Don’t want to get covered with soot? Leave the dirty work to a chimneysweep. If you can’t get Mary Poppins, try the yellow pages.Install a top screen on your chimney to keep out debris and animals. Even raccoons have been known to fall down chimneys!Check the levels of […]
We all have fixed expenses - mortgage / rent, insurance, taxes, utilities, - expenses that rarely change and are hard to miss because we write large monthly or quarterly checks. But, what about your other expenses? All your little trips to the store can sneak up on you, causing you to spend more than you planned. Variable expenses can take a surprisingly large chunk of your budget. Take a closer look at your spending habits. You’d be surprised how making even a few small changes will leave more in your pocket!Some of these tips are common sense; some might seem to be a bit “frugal”. Just remember, if you’re working toward a goal, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying something new, frugal as it may be! Sometimes “baby steps” are the best way to start on the path to bigger and better ways to manage your expenses.1. When you have multiple errands to run, do you have a game plan for accomplishing them efficiently? Take a few moments to check your driving route and plan the stops along the way. Save time and gas by not running all the errands separately.2. What kind of grocery shopper are […]
