You must be thinking of changing the furniture. Unfortunately, the hunt for perfect furniture is not easy as there is a massive amount of different types of wood to choose from. Do not worry, though. Allow us to solve your problem. Let’s go ahead and talk about just the kind of wood that is timeless, durable, easy to maintain, does not shrink or bend, and has a fine texture.
You might have guessed the type of wood we are talking about, Acacia wood. It is also known as mimosa, thorn tree, and wattle. Acacia wood is one of the best alternatives to expansive teak solid wood due to its durability, strength properties, high water resistance, and solid characteristic.
Due to all these advantages, homeowners and interior designers are singing the praises of acacia wood. There are many reasons you should invest in acacia wood patio furniture. However, to make an informed decision, there are a few things to keep in mind before purchasing acacia wood outdoor furniture; here’s what you should know:
Acacia wood outdoor furniture pros and cons
Before we hop onto our main discussion of today’s post, let us look at some general features of acacia wood. And talk about why it stands out when it comes to Acacia outdoor furniture for a better experience.
General Overview
Acacia wood is an exotic hardwood with its signature rustic appeal and affordability, having a total of about thousand and three hundred species of plants and shrubs. Acacia wood is usually found in Africa and Australia. However, some also grow in temperate or tropical regions of the world.
The species of Acacia wood which is used to make furniture is Babul. It’s native to Africa, India, and the Middle East and is an invasive species in Australia. The grain patterns can vary between straight and wavy, and the colors can vary from light amber to dark mahogany. Hence, no two acacia wood slabs are alike. The English Royal Navy used it as the primary building material for their legendary Ships-of-the-Line.
Advanced acacia hulls allowed England to establish firm control over its colonies, strengthening its place as the real world power of the 18th century. Due to its many characteristics, acacia wood is used to make many other products as well, such as:
- Bowls, canoes, and ukuleles, due to their natural resonance.
- Cabinets, carvings, joinery, and railroad ties.
- Flooring, parquet, stair rails, veneers, and wardrobes.
- Some acacia wood species are grown into fat thorns and fashioned into jewelry, dolls, and other souvenirs.
Since now you have a fair idea about acacia wood, let’s look into its pros and cons.
Pros of acacia wood outdoor furniture
- Acacia wood, especially Babul, a specie used to make furniture, has a naturally fine texture and gives a smooth finish.
- Acacia wood is highly scratch-resistant in comparison to other hardwoods.
- Affordability: There is a massive plantation of acacia wood in Asia and the Middle East, an invasive species in Australia. Therefore, the prices stay reasonable compared to other exotic hardwoods. This allows us to harvest the durable wood at a cheaper cost to pass those savings on to the consumers.
- Workability: Babul is easy to work with and appreciably hardens after it is dried. This characteristic allows us to make pleasing acacia wood benches and buffets, dining tables, and advanced side tables without compromising the high quality of the furniture. Its workability, even before drying, is commendable and allows us to craft beautiful live edge pieces.
- Durability: The density and hardness rating of acacia wood make it the most appropriate perfect material for heavy-use pieces such as dining tables and benches. Moreover, if the parts are correctly maintained, they can last decades.
- Sustainability: Acacia trees are one of the fastest-growing trees in the world. Acacia trees grow up to three feet per year and can be ready to harvest in as little as five years. Furthermore, acacia trees are harvested after producing the sap used for Gum Arabic. Typically, this dense wood would be burned or thrown into a wood chipper for the next planting. Therefore, it’s better to use leftover wood to construct furniture of all types.
- Termite resistance: The heartwood, also known as hardwood, is a tree’s most challenging and oldest central part. This part of acacia wood is pest-proof and is found in a number of the woods like Acacia. So this is the reason it is termite resistant.
- Weight: Acacia wood furniture is lighter than other solid hardwood furniture products.
- Finishing: As mentioned above, acacia wood products come with a smooth finish, making them a popular choice for decorative crafts and furniture.
- Moisture: The products have excellent moisture content, lasting many decades. This property of acacia wood also makes it perfect for outdoor patio furniture. Furniture made up of Acacia wood can last for decades.
Before we explore the other side of the story, let us look into some other positive traits of acacia wood as a construction material. Acacia wood has a pleasing, mellow glow and is rich in natural oils that help it stay rot-resistant. As acacia wood furniture can last for many years, it attains a beautiful dark gray natural weather look as it ages.
Cons of acacia wood outdoor furniture
Now let’s tell you about the dark side of acacia wood and its disadvantages
- Weight: Although acacia wood slabs are not very heavy individually, acacia wood furniture is heavy. This makes it an unfavorable type of wood for furniture, especially for the ones that need to be moved often.
- Maintenance: The maintenance of acacia wood is high compared to aluminum and many other metal types of furniture and requires some reasonably intensive care procedures. Since acacia wood furniture is too beautiful to paint over, the wood also requires weatherproofing.
- Availability: Acacia wood can be more difficult to source than others, like mahogany or teaks, as it grows in the natural habitats of Africa and Australia.
- Swelling: Acacia wood furniture, if left in rain or snow for many days, can cause swelling and bulge on the furniture. Other than rain and snow, placing the acacia wood in direct sunlight can cause fading and even cracking, making it a poor choice for around fire pits or fireplaces. Extreme heat can also cause warping.
- Transportation: As acacia wood is considered exotic wood and not native to America or Europe, transporting the wood from Australia or Africa can also be very difficult. This makes acacia wood very expensive when compared to other common hardwoods.
- Defects: Acacia wood comes with many flaws. Since the acacia tree is shrubby with branches that are often twisted, almost every piece of the Acacia has knots, stains, and other defects. You should also expect Acacia to come with several different color variations or color contrast.
Tips and tricks to maintain your acacia wood outdoor furniture
- Wipe the furniture daily with a soft cloth. A slightly moistened cloth is advisable to ensure all dust stays on the cloth.
- Liquids like alcohol, deodorants, and perfumes will pull moisture from wood when left, causing cracking. Therefore, avoid exposing the wood to such liquids. Use placemats and coasters when resting drinks or hot dishes on the furniture.
- Place your acacia wood furniture carefully so that it is not in contact with direct sunlight or heat sources. (Avoid placing furniture next to fireplaces or radiators as this can cause warping).
- You don’t want to scratch your acacia wood furniture. Hence, avoid all cleaning cloths with a rough surface; instead, wipe down periodically with a slightly damp or dry dust cloth.
- Do not use polish or cleaning products containing silicone, which can dry out natural wood over time. Furthermore, do not use detergents or any cleaning products that contain ammonia. These will take moisture out of the wood and wear down the finish much faster.
- Despite all the care and maintenance, if a scratch does appear, use a touch-up marker to hide the scratch. However, before using the marker, test the marker on an unseen part of the table to ensure that the quality matches the finish.
- Opt for acacia furniture with a water-based lacquer finish, so you do not have to worry about water spillage.
Conclusion
Now that you are aware of both the pros and cons of acacia wood furniture you are in a better position to make a decision that suits you. The acacia wood furniture pros and cons are many and worthy of any buyer’s attention before they pull their wallet out to buy the furniture.
It is worth looking at the choices for furniture before going headlong into buying it; that won’t give you lifelong satisfaction. However, since acacia wood furniture can last up to fifty years and truly stand for generations, you do not want to make a hasty decision.
I hope you now have all the answers you wanted to know about Acacia wood outdoor furniture with its pros and cons before buying it.
- Read more: How to Take Apart a Sectional Couch
