Poolside and Beachfront Timber Furniture: Which Wood Actually Lasts

In short: Outdoor pieces beside a pool or the sea take sun, rain and salt air all year, so use a weather-resistant species such as teak, or a dense hardwood such as takhian thong or teng, and re-coat on a cycle rather than finishing once and forgetting it. A spot that is shaded all day gives you a far wider choice than one in full sun. See poolside furniture or price a piece.

Comparing species for outdoor work

• Teak — the most weather-resistant of the species we can source, for spots that take full sun and salt air; quoted and sourced per job
• Takhian thong — dense and in stock, fine outdoors when the surface is maintained on a cycle
• Teng — very dense, good for frames and legs that carry weight
• Sadao — better suited to shaded spots than to full sun

Hardness and durability for each are in the wood species guide.

What actually kills outdoor timber, in order

1. Moisture trapped at the feet — a pool deck is permanently wet, and feet standing in water fail before anything else
2. Full sun all day — it degrades the coating and fades the colour
3. Salt air — it accelerates both the metal fittings and the timber surface
4. Never re-coating — once the finish is past its life, the timber starts drinking water

Maintenance a resort can actually keep up

Rinse salt and chlorine off with clean water regularly, wipe dry, store or cover before a storm, and put the sanding and re-coating cycle into the annual maintenance plan on the day you order. On coating systems, read wax vs lacquer.

Ordering a matching set for the whole pool

Loungers, daybeds, chairs and side tables can be built as one set, with matching dimensions, wood tone and coating across the pool deck — and the rest of the resort's furniture can be made in the same run. Delivered to site across southern Thailand and the islands; see where we deliver.

Frequently asked questions

Which wood should poolside furniture be made from? Spots that take full sun and salt air call for a weather-resistant species such as teak. Dense hardwoods like takhian thong and teng work well when the finish is maintained on a cycle.

Is it normal for outdoor timber to fade? Yes. Timber in the sun fades to a natural grey; sanding it back and re-coating brings the colour back.

How often does it need re-coating? It depends on whether the piece is shaded or in full sun and how close it is to the sea. Our team suggests a cycle to suit the spot when we quote.

Can you deliver a poolside set to an island? Yes. Freight to the islands is charged at cost — both the ferry and the road distance — and stated in the quotation.