Acacia wood furniture is becoming increasingly popular for its natural durability and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Thanks to its quick growth and eco-friendly sourcing, acacia wood furniture is quite affordable.
However, this sought-after wood isn’t without fault. Knowing what you’re getting into before choosing any outdoor wood furniture is important.
Throughout this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of acacia wood furniture. We’ll also dive into many of its innate characteristics, so you’ll have the information you need to determine if acacia wood outdoor furniture is right for you.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Outdoor Acacia Furniture
As stated, let’s dive into the advantages and disadvantages.
While acacia wood isn’t considered as fancy or exotic as some other hardwoods (like teak), it’s much more durable than most woods. Arguably, it’s also more beautiful. However, many question whether the pros of using it for outdoor furniture outweigh the cons.
After all, we discussed the cons of using acacia wood for anything in a previous article — that discussion still rages on.
If you’re in the market for acacia wood furniture for your patio or are simply interested in knowing what all the fuss is about, you’re in the right place.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the ups and downs of putting acacia wood furniture in your yard below.
Pros of Acacia Wood Outdoor Furniture
Durability
Acacia wood furniture is quite durable. If you’re looking for a new set of outdoor furniture that lasts many years, acacia wood should be near the top of your list. It’s sturdy enough to take a beating without showing it. This wood is quite scratch-resistant, too.
Water-resistance
Generally, you can put acacia wood furniture outdoors without going to great lengths to protect it from the rain. As long as it’s seasoned and treated properly, it will last much longer when facing the elements. This is for a few reasons.
Acacia wood grows worldwide — including in rainy African and European countries that accumulate much rainfall. Its origins make it one of the best woods for outdoor furniture, especially if you live in a place with lots of rain or snow.
Sturdiness
Most acacia wood furniture is heavy enough not to need stabilizers or mounts when it’s windy. Are you tired of your furniture blowing away during rainy days and wind storms? If so, acacia wood is the answer. You don’t need screws, bolts, and other hardware to prevent it from sliding around.
Attractiveness
Acacia wood is often praised for being beautiful, regardless of the stain or paint used to decorate it. It has wide, thick lines that stretch from one side to the other. This wood receives oil and stain very well, preventing it from dripping or fading.
Sealants not required
Gambrick claims acacia wood furniture doesn’t need sealants. It’s resistant to scratches, moisture, debris, and many other issues it’ll encounter outdoors. While you can seal acacia wood furniture, there’s usually no need. However, some people add slip-resistant sealants.
Cons of Acacia Wood Outdoor Furniture
Cost
Acacia wood isn’t as cheap as aluminum, particle board, and other outdoor furniture materials. Although it’s not the most expensive outdoor furniture, it’s significantly pricier than low-budget alternatives. Some people prefer acacia look-alikes for their appealing texture.
High-maintenance
According to Green Garbage Blog, acacia wood needs to be maintained and cleaned quite frequently. You can use various wood sprays, alcohols, and other products to keep it clean; otherwise, it’ll look dusty and dirty relatively fast. Always wash your outdoor acacia wood furniture after a rainstorm.
Prone to sun-damage
You can’t put acacia wood under direct sunlight for too many hours during the day. While it’s water-resistant, acacia wood furniture isn’t nearly as heat-resistant. The sun’s warmth and harsh UV rays will take their toll on the furniture, causing dullness and sun spots all over the surface of the furniture.
Will darken with age
It naturally darkens with age (this may or may not be a downside).
Some people enjoy the natural darkening of acacia. It’s often a selling point for many homeowners. Nevertheless, it’s a downside for unsuspecting buyers who think their new acacia wood outdoor furniture will look the same for many years.
Heaviness
Acacia wood is significantly heavier than most outdoor wood furniture. You might have trouble with acacia wood if you always move your outdoor setup. It can weigh hundreds of pounds, making it challenging for people with joint and muscle pain.
Furthermore, moving it incorrectly can scratch the deck or concrete below.
Is Acacia Wood Good for Outdoor Furniture?
Acacia wood is good for outdoor furniture because it provides numerous benefits you won’t find in other outdoor furniture. For example, it won’t easily be scuffed or degraded by leaves, rocks, and other debris. Furthermore, it’s durable and won’t break from snow, hail, and other natural debris.
Here’s an in-depth look at additional reasons acacia wood is good for outdoor furniture:
- Acacia wood comes in all sizes and patterns. You can choose whichever setup fits your patio furniture to complete the look. We do not doubt that you’ll love your acacia wood outdoor furniture because it’s one of the most visually stunning woods to choose from. Find the grain that matches your look.
- You don’t need to cover acacia wood furniture unless it’s under a lot of direct sunlight. It can handle most weather conditions, and it won’t attract lightning. This wood is resistant to snow, hail, rain, wind, etc. To reduce natural discoloration, you can lay a table cloth over the acacia wood.
- Acacia wood can handle the weight of anything you’d want to put on furniture. This includes lamps, books, book weights, decorative rocks, etc. Particleboard, plywood, and many other materials dent or wobble when you put something heavy on them, but that’s not the case with acacia wood furniture.
However, it’s important to remember that untreated acacia wood isn’t completely waterproof. It’s quite resistant, but there are a few problems it can run into when there’s too much moisture.
In the following section, let’s take a look at what can happen and why not all acacia wood furniture is waterproof enough for a heavy rainstorm.
Is Acacia Wood Waterproof?
Acacia wood isn’t waterproof, but it’s water-resistant to the point where most people think it’s waterproof. It wicks away moisture from rain, snow, hail, etc. However, acacia wood furniture can develop ring marks from condensation on the bottom of plates, glasses, and bowls. It’s important to dry these marks before they soak into the wood.
The good news is that you can use gazebos and outdoor umbrellas to keep rain from blowing on your patio. It’ll prevent your acacia wood furniture from getting too wet, and you must use a hand towel to remove the previously mentioned condensation stains. This combination makes acacia wood furniture as water-resistant as it gets.
That being said, there are many other elements acacia wood furniture has to deal with outside. For example, it could get too hot, cold, or humid.
Read on to know how well high-quality acacia wood holds up outside.
How Well Does Acacia Wood Hold Up Outside?
Acacia wood holds up very well outside because it can handle natural debris, humidity, rain, and wind. However, it’s not the best material for high heat exposure and long-term direct sunlight. Too much heat can warp acacia wood. Look for blurry lines and misshapen wood if you think your acacia wood furniture was exposed to too much sunlight.
So, how does acacia wood deal with various weather conditions? Let’s break it down below.
| Rain | Acacia wood wicks away rainwater, making it nearly impenetrable. You won’t have to deal with mold or wood rot (as long as the natural seal isn’t broken and there aren’t any chips in the wood). |
| Hail | Acacia wood stands up against hail without a problem. It won’t dent or scratch because it’s naturally scratch resistant. If you’re worried, you can add an extra layer of wood sealant to protect the color and prevent it from wearing down quicker. |
| Snow | Like hail and rain, snow is no match for acacia wood. We suggest wiping off the snow when it’s done falling, though. This process will prevent the wood from harboring foul odors from growing bacteria that need to be removed later. |
| Sunlight | Unfortunately, excessive heat can be problematic for acacia wood. You can keep the furniture under gazebos and patio covers if you don’t want it to warp. Too much heat and sunlight prove detrimental to most acacia wood furniture because it loosens and expands the cells. |
| Wind | Thanks to acacia wood’s density and heavy structure, the wind is no match for it. Strong windstorms won’t budget most acacia wood tables, side tables, chairs, etc. It’s sturdy and won’t even wobble in the wind (unless there’s a tornado or a hurricane, in which case you should bring any outdoor furniture inside). |
Quick Note: All solid acacia wood furniture should be treated with teak oil once every three months to prevent excessive dryness and color loss.
Final Thoughts
While acacia wood furniture isn’t for everyone, it’s an excellent choice for those who want sturdy, reliable, beautiful tables, chairs, and more. Acacia wood might be heavy, but it makes up for its longevity and mid-range budget affordability.