Is there a better choice of outdoor furniture for your porch, backyard, garden, or vacation home other than an Adirondack chair? No there isn’t. Adirondack chairs have become the staple of outdoor seating arrangements.
What’s the best wood for Adirondack chairs? The best wood for Adirondack chairs is teak, cedar, or eucalyptus because they are sturdy, durable and weather/water-resistant. Back in the day, teak was the most popular choice of wood for constructing Adirondack chairs. But recently, they are also being made of mahogany, oak, cedar, etc.
In this article, I will be listing the top 6 best woods for Adirondack chairs. I will provide a detailed explanation of why each of them made it into the list. Let’s dive in, shall we?
What Is an Adirondack Chair?
The Adirondack chair is a specially designed lounge chair with a tall slatted back, wide armrests, and a seat that’s higher on the front compared to the back.
This type of chair is designed for outdoor use and it gets its name from the Adirondack Mountains located in the northeastern part of upstate New York.
These chairs were first invented and manufactured in 1903. The inventor of the Adirondack chair was Thomas Lee and they were originally known as Westport Chairs.
Thanks to their reclined back, wide armrests, and leg support, they have become the staple of outdoor seating arrangements.
These chairs are ideal for napping and lounging. And you’ll often see them in popular tourist spots and vacation homes.
What Are Adirondack Chairs Made of?
Originally Westport Chairs were made of hemlock planks. This went on for around 2o years since the inception of these chairs. From 1938 and onwards, various types of woods have been used for building Adirondack chairs.
Typically, Adirondack chairs are made out of cedar, wood, teak, shorea (tropical wood that’s similar to teak), redwood, etc.
These materials are used because these woods are highly resilient to insects, sun damage, and weather damage.
An Adirondack chair made out of high-quality material will last for a lifetime.
Some Adirondack chairs are made out of plastic and aluminum. But, for the most part, we will be discussing different kinds of wood used for manufacturing Adirondack chairs.
Top 6 Best Woods for Adirondack Chairs
It might be tempting to go for the Adirondack chair that’s made of wood that’s found in your locality. Although that might be the most convenient option, it won’t be the ideal choice.
You have to be very careful while choosing the wood that’s used for building your Adirondack chair.
The overall quality of an Adirondack chair is entirely dependent on the type of material (wood) used to build it.
Even if you have to expand your scope and budget in order to get the best wood available, it will definitely be worth it.
In order to help you in that quest we will now list the top 6 best woods for Adirondack chairs:
Teak
Teak or Tectona Grandis refers to a species of tropical hardwood tree. These trees are typically found in mixed hardwood forests. Teak is unrivaled when it comes to durability and resilience.
Teak is by far the most popular type of wood used for creating Adirondack trees.
It’s a well-known fact that any furniture made out of teak will last for many generations to come.
Furthermore, since teak releases some natural oil, it has a higher resistance against insects. That also makes this wood weather resistant.
And that’s not all, teak is also quite aesthetically pleasing. You won’t even have to paint over the chair to make it look good.
The stands of the wood have a rich golden and dark brown hue to them. Just put a layer of polish over it and it will look beautiful.
Teak is naturally available in Southeast Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Cedar
Cedar refers to a type of coniferous tree that is native to the mountains located in the western Himalayas and also in the Mediterranean region.
Cedarwood is quite well-known for its visual appeal.
Cedar is widely used for fencing, siding, decking, etc. Since cedarwood has excellent durability and ornamental value, it’s predominantly used in the furniture industry.
And it’s also ideal for building Adirondack chairs. The best part about this wood is that it’s easily available and affordable.
Cedar has a few variants but out of all of them, the western red cedar wood is by far the best cedar wood for Adirondack chairs.
Oak
Oak does not refer to a specific species of plant, but it’s actually an umbrella term for approximately 500 species of oak trees.
These trees are native to the tropical regions of Asia, Europe, the Americas, and northern Africa.
Adirondack chairs made of oak are probably the most sought-after type of Adirondack chairs in the market.
This wood provides a classic feel to the chair and it’s also remarkably durable.
Furthermore, this wood has an elegantly smooth finish. And you won’t have to worry about decay and termite infestation if you own an oak Adirondack chair.
White oak is widely used to manufacture Adirondack chairs and this wood is impervious to water.
Mahogany
Mahogany is a reddish-brown, straight-grinded timber that comprises three tropical hardwood species.
This wood is considered to be one of the most beautiful hardwoods in the world.
And that’s why it’s quite expensive as well. But, we believe it’s definitely worth buying an Adirondack chair made of mahogany because of its unparalleled quality and appearance.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus refers to a genus of 700 different species of flowering plants. Most of these plant species are native to Australia.
The only problem with Eucalyptus is that it’s more prone to insects and water damage. In order to counter that, we suggest you treat it properly with sealants.
If you treat it appropriately, then its durability will rival that of teak. And the best part about it is that eucalyptus is much more affordable than the other entries on our list.
Just make sure you maintain it properly by sealing, polishing, and painting it regularly.
Cypress
Cypress wood is the go-to choice when it comes to the construction of decay resistance furniture. This plant primarily grows in the southern part of the United States.
It has a slightly yellowish-brown color and it can have scattered pockets of slightly darker wood.
Cypress wood is resistant to insects and rot as it has an abundance of natural oils. Although this wood is softer compared to other entries on our list, it’s still ideal for building outdoor furniture like Adirondack chairs.
Related Questions
How Long Do Wooden Adirondack Chairs Last?
Typically, an Adirondack chair made of cedar will last for around 10 years provided that it’s stained properly every year.
On the other hand, Adirondack chairs made of eucalyptus, acacia, redwood, etc. will last for more than 15 years. While chairs made of pine and other less durable materials won’t last for more than 4-5 years.
However, you must remember the fact that the lifespan of an Adirondack chair is also dependent on how well it’s maintained.
How Do I Make My Adirondack Chairs More Comfortable?
Adding accessories to your Adirondack chair will go a long way in making it more comfortable to use. You can attach an ottoman or a footstool in order to get some extra leg support.
This way you’ll be able to lean back and rest more comfortably. Furthermore, you can add a headrest pillow and cushion to the chair to obtain some extra padding.
What is the Point of an Adirondack Chair?
Adirondack chairs are synonymous with comfort, luxury, and vacation. Trust us, there isn’t better outdoor furniture that will allow you to just lean back and take a nap on the porch like an Adirondack chair.
This chair is specially made to provide the users with a comfortable seating experience.
Are Adirondack Chairs Good?
Yes, of course, they are! Moreover, these chairs are long-lasting. And so, you’ll get years and years of comfortable seating experience without the possibility of having any complaints.
Final Thoughts
Adirondack chairs are super comfortable, lightweight, and aesthetically pleasing. That’s why they have become so popular for lounging. And the best part is that constructing an Adirondack chair isn’t that difficult.
There are many online guides that you can use to build one for yourself. But in order to do that you need to have the best wood for the Adirondack chair by your side.
Hopefully, our article was able to help you out in that regard. If you want to know about our opinion, then we must suggest you go with teak as it’s the perfect wood for Adirondack chairs.
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