The hardwood we use are eco-friendly, plantation grown and very dense, with a luxurious straight grain and high oil content, similar to teak. It’s excellent for outdoor furniture because of it’s strength, rich appearance and durability. You can leave it outdoors all year long with minimal maintenance, and it will weather beautifully to a soft gray. If you would prefer keeping it a darker color, we recommend a natural linseed oil, or light stain at the beginning of each season. This will help maintain the warm, rich hues. We also recommend using furniture covers during the winter months in harsher climate zones.