Acacia wood is one of my favorite types of wood because Acacia wood has multiple colors in sight and gives a stunning effect. Due to its beautiful and unique appearance, Acacia wood is widely used for making kitchen tables, chairs, cabinets, and cutting boards. But can Acacia wood also stand outside, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of acacia wood outdoor furniture?
Acacia wood (mimosa) is a type of wood that can be used outdoors. You can age it or treat it to accentuate the colors and grains. It is a sustainable wood that lasts up to 25 years.
This is a brief explanation of how you can use Acacia wood outdoors. However, there is more to it, and that is what this blog is about. What can you do to protect the wood against the weather, and what are the effects of Acacia wood outdoors? So read on quickly.
Acacia Wood Outdoor advantages
There are advantages to Acacia wood if it is used outdoors. Below is an overview of the benefits:
- It is a type of wood with a lot of oil, ensuring good protection.
- It will last a very long time, up to 25 years, if properly maintained.
- It is a type of wood that requires relatively little maintenance.
- It is a sustainable type of wood.
- Unique ‘look-and-feel’ because of the multiple colors on a wooden board.
It is a type of wood widely used outside for garden tables and chairs. It gives the garden or terrace a special appearance due to the beautiful appearance of the wood.
The wood is also widely used with other materials, making the wood even more eye-catching. Metal frames are often used for indoor tables, making the wood the eye-catcher and creating an industrial look.
Disadvantages of Acacia wood outdoor furniture
Acacia wood is often used for making tables, chairs, and cabinets, not only for indoor use but also for outdoor use.
Acacia wood outdoor furniture is well protected but is exposed to wind and weather, which naturally affects the wood. Wood is a natural product and ‘works’ under the influence of temperature changes and rain. Not to mention pollution. Some disadvantages of using acacia wood outdoors are:
- One of the more expensive woods available.
- Discolors are quickly under the influence of UV light.
- Due to the relatively small planks, a top is usually made of several glued planks.
- The glued seams can give way under the influence of cold and heat.
- Watch out with a wet glass on the tabletop. This can give circles that no longer go out.
- Also, be careful with hot objects; these can also damage the wood.
It is a beautiful type of wood that has multiple colors in it. It is also a heavy type of wood. So you should move a table with two men/women. Otherwise, it cannot be lifted.
What is also worth mentioning is that acacia wood needs relatively little underlayment. If you put it in the oil, you will only have to repeat this annually for the best protection and the most beautiful look.
Is Acacia Hardwood?
Yes, acacia is a hard and strong type of wood. Wood is called hardwood if it is a type of wood that is durable and therefore lasts a long time. Most hardwoods today can also be grown on plantations. Hardwoods include Mahogany, Oak, Teak, and Walnut.
I think you can already feel it coming because Acacia wood is also a hardwood species. Due to the hardness, it lasts a long time, up to 25 years. It is also a sustainable type of wood from the Acacia tree.
It is sustainable, among other things, because the wood is grown eco-friendly. The trees are specially planted to make wood, so the Acacia trees are not cut down in the wild. It is not an Acacia tree, but the wood comes from the Robinia tree!
How does Acacia Wood Age
When wood is used outdoors, it is exposed to the weather. Sunlight, cold, heat, rain, hail, and atmospheric pollution affect the wood. It is a natural product that will certainly change under these circumstances.
Even though Acacia wood is a type of wood that contains a relatively large amount of oil, the wood will certainly gray under the influence of the weather. That can also be very nice, as the difference in the wood drawing remains visible.
An advantage of wood that ages are that it requires no further maintenance. You dont need to oil or stain it. But yeah, it’s whatever you want. One person likes gray wood, and the other wants to see the beautiful flames of the wood.
A disadvantage of aging Acacia wood is that it is vulnerable to moisture. Putting a wet glass on a tabletop will give circles you can no longer get out of the wood.
If you do not want the wood to age or if you want to highlight the beauty of the flames of the Acacia wood, you will have to treat the wood.
Should You Treat Acacia Wood?
Acacia wood has many colors in it, also called the flaming of Acacia wood. If the wood is left untreated, it will gray, and the flaming of the wood will disappear. It naturally contains a lot of oil, so the wood is already well protected against weather influences.
If you want to show off the colors of the planks, Acacia wood must be treated. You can treat and preserve it with:
- Oil
- stain
- lacquer
Below is breakdown of what you can do:
How to care for Acacia wood with Oil
There are different types of oil that you can use. Natural, transparent oil will enhance the colors and the grain structure. Oil with color will darken the wood. The oil absorbs a little bit into the wood, so you will have to put the furniture in the oil at least every year. It is better to do it once every three months. This way, you protect the wood optimally.
How to care for Acacia wood with Stain
Stain provides excellent protection, and it will bring out the wood and the grain. However, it will darken the wood. Stain also pulls a bit into the wood; because of this, the stain does not close off the wood.
When you start staining, I advise you to make a test piece on a piece of wood that is not directly in the wood. This way, you can determine for yourself whether you get the right color. When you are satisfied, you can stain the entire piece of furniture.
How to care for Acacia wood with Lacquer
Lacquer does seal the wood because it stays on the wood. This seals the wood off from the outside air and thus from weather influences. I assume you give it a transparent color and do not use an opaque color which makes the wood grains and colors disappear.
Read also: How to Age Wood with Soda, Vinegar, Stain
