Looking for new furniture for your deck or patio?

Why not try wood?

Long before there was plastic, or even aluminum outdoor furniture, people lounged on their porches and terraces on comfortable, attractive wooden furniture. Guess what? They still do.

"The styles and designs being made today are comfortable, even without padding," said Jody White. He and his wife Sherry own White's Unfinished Furniture & Hardwood in Kennewick.

They've carried wooden patio furniture for years but since moving to their new location at the corner of Kennewick Avenue and Washington Street, they are having trouble keeping it in stock.

"People like wood. Solid wood is affordable, which is not to say cheap. And it's substantial, not lightweight. It won't blow around on your deck or patio," he said.

Also, if you sit on a wooden bench or chair that's been out in the sun all day, it won't burn you as plastics and metal do.

"Wood doesn't get hot, it just gets warm," White said.

For decades teak, a tropical hardwood native to south and Southeast Asia, has been the premier wood for outdoor use. Shipbuilders used it for decks, park keepers used it for benches and homeowners chose it for their garden furniture because its natural oils act as a preservative.

It's ideal for outdoor use except for one drawback -- it's getting hard to find, which makes it nearly twice as expensive as other naturally weather-resistant hardwoods like eucalyptus, yellow balau and cypress.

They can be allowed to weather naturally to a soft silver-gray patina. Or sealed once or twice a year by brushing on a penetrating oil made for outdoor furniture.

"It depends on the look you want. Sealing helps maintain the wood's natural color and extends the life of the wood," White said.

The oil, White said, is a neutral color, which darkens the wood slightly.

Two other more common, and therefore less expensive, outdoor woods are cedar and redwood.

"They do very well for several years," White said, recommending that they, too, receive semi-annual treatments with the sealant.

The only outdoor furniture that never needs to be sealed are rustic pieces made from old weathered fencing and outbuildings. Sealing would destroy the weathered patina that makes it desirable.

"The rustic look isn't for everyone, but in wooden outdoor furniture there's a lot to choose from," White said, picking up a brochure from Whittier Wood out of Eugene, Ore.

Whittier's line, GardenWood, includes everything from traditional adirondak and steamer lounges to sleek, contemporary styles.

Some of its designs include lounges and chairs that fold up for storage and chairs that stack, just like the plastic ones. There's even an outdoor table that expands from 6 to 8 1/2 feet.

You'll find similar options in other manufacturers' outdoor furniture lines.

Wooden furniture for your deck or patio is an investment. But if you buy a quality piece -- with proper maintenance and normal wear and tear -- you can expect to enjoy it for 10 to 15 years or more.

And unlike some other materials used for outdoor furniture, wood ages gracefully.

"Weathering simply adds character," White said.

* Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com