Outdoor Parametric Furniture Guide
Built to Last: Why Marine-Grade Baltic Birch Plywood Reigns Superior for Outdoor Furniture
While regular Baltic birch plywood is a fantastic choice for many indoor furniture projects, it doesn’t fare quite as well under the long-term strain of sun, rain, and humidity. Here's why Marine-Grade Baltic Birch tends to be our go-to choice for the outdoors:
Superior Glue: The key lies in the adhesive used to bond the layers of wood veneer in plywood. Marine-grade plywood boasts exterior-phenolic resin glue, specially formulated to withstand moisture and prevent delamination, the dreaded separation of the wood layers. Regular birch plywood typically uses a urea-formaldehyde glue, which can weaken and fail when exposed to constant moisture over long periods of time.
Unwavering Strength: Marine-grade plywood addresses this concern with its enhanced durability. The superior glue, combined with the inherent strength of Baltic birch, ensures your furniture can weather heavy rains, strong winds, and even the occasional spilled drink without compromising its structural integrity.
Weather-Ready Defense: Let's talk about the enemy: moisture. Marine-grade plywood is specifically treated to resist warping, swelling, and rotting caused by water exposure. This ensures your furniture maintains its original shape and doesn't succumb to the destructive forces of the elements.
Peace of Mind, Season After Season: Investing in quality outdoor wood means you shouldn't have to replace it every year. Marine-grade Baltic birch offers the peace of mind that comes with long-lasting performance. You can enjoy your outdoor oasis, lobby, lounge, or dining area season after season, knowing your furniture can handle whatever Mother Nature throws its way.
Versatility: One of the great advantages of regular/indoor Baltic Birch Plywood has always been its ability to be stained or colored any variety of ways. When using Marine-Grade, none of these advantages are lost.
Terraform Creations
The Terraform Design team has been using Marine-Grade Baltic Birch for a number of years when it comes to our parametric outdoor furniture pieces. Pictured is a customized variation of our Noctem Bench, stained in a walnut tone before being prepared for the warm sunny conditions of Los Angeles, California. When preparing and using pieces for outdoor use, a few key details are important to keep in mind:
Finish: All our wooden pieces are finished to the highest standard, and this absolutely includes our outdoor pieces. However the process we use to do so can vary from interior to exterior. For indoor pieces, oil and lacquer finishes are the way to go - but when it comes to the outdoors, even the strength of Marine-Grade wood should be paired with something a little more hardy & robust. Outdoor varnishes and UV-protection oils are among our common go-to’s for final outdoor preparation.
Avoid Puddles! At the end of the day, wood will always still be wood, and pools of sitting water will always be bad for any outdoor furniture. Wherever our outdoor furniture pieces are kept - whether it be under an solid structure, beneath a canopy, or out in the sunlight, we always recommend making sure that in the event of rain or other water, the pieces should be positioned so that the moisture can dissipate in a reasonable time frame at points where the piece touches the ground.
Re-coating: To ensure the piece stays in tip-top shape, we always include a recommended time frame for re-coating the outer exposed edges of our outdoor pieces. The outer exposed edges would be the areas where the visible ply/veneer layers that comprise the bench pieces are exposed to the most direct sunlight and rain. Our recommended time frame for re-coating depends on factors such as climate, amount of direct sunlight present, and covering, and therefore can vary from piece to piece.
Ready to elevate your outdoor space with a one-of-a-kind, parametric furniture piece crafted from marine-grade Baltic birch plywood? Our designs blend art and function, creating pieces that are as striking as they are durable. Let's bring your vision to life. Contact our design team today for a complimentary consultation to discuss your project and explore the endless possibilities of parametric design. Your outdoor oasis awaits.