Both teak and cedar are used widely in Canadian outdoor furniture, but they're fundamentally different materials with different price points, maintenance needs, and suitability for our climate. The right choice depends on whether your deck is covered, how much you're willing to maintain, and what you actually care about long-term.
Cedar is the dominant outdoor furniture wood in Canada — it's local, affordable, widely available, and performs well for the price when properly maintained. Teak is a premium choice: it requires less ongoing maintenance than cedar, handles exposure better, and lasts longer — but it costs two to four times as much upfront, and the supply chain is more complicated.
For most Canadian buyers, cedar is the practical choice. For buyers who want a 20-year set and don't want to oil it every season, teak makes financial sense over time.
Teak (Tectona grandis) is a tropical hardwood with unusually high natural oil content. That oil is what makes it exceptional outdoors — it repels water, resists insects, and prevents the cracking and checking that kills most other outdoor woods. Teak has a Janka hardness of around 1,070 lbf, making it resistant to dents and wear. A quality teak outdoor set, left completely untreated, will still be structurally sound after 15–20 years. It turns a silvery-grey as it weathers — which many people find attractive. If you want to preserve the golden-brown colour, apply teak oil every 1–2 years.
Western red cedar (the species most commonly used for outdoor furniture) has natural oils and resins that provide moderate rot resistance. It's significantly lighter than teak (a major practical advantage for moving furniture), softer (Janka around 350 lbf), and much more affordable. Cedar that's left completely untreated will weather to a silver-grey and remain structurally sound for 5–10 years depending on exposure. With regular sealing — every 1–2 years — expect 15+ years of service life from a quality cedar set.
The term "teak oil" is somewhat misleading — it's typically a blend of linseed or tung oil with mineral spirits and driers, not oil pressed from teak. It penetrates the wood and slows the weathering process, maintaining the warm brown colour. Apply annually at the start of the season with a cloth; no sanding required unless the wood has been left to grey significantly. If you prefer the grey patina, you can skip oiling entirely — just clean it with a teak cleaner every spring to remove mildew and dirt.
Teak does not need a film finish (varnish, urethane) and shouldn't get one — the natural oils will cause peeling.
Cedar needs a penetrating sealer or exterior wood oil applied every 1–2 years to maintain its colour and resist checking. In Canada, products like Cabot Australian Timber Oil, Ready Seal, or Duckback work well. Unfinished cedar weathers faster than unfinished teak, and once it starts to grey and crack, it's harder to restore. The maintenance window matters: seal cedar furniture in the spring when it's clean and dry. If it sits through a wet Canadian fall unprotected, you'll be sanding before sealing next spring.
Canadian winters are harder on outdoor furniture than most people expect — it's not just the cold, it's the freeze-thaw cycling, the wet snow that sits on surfaces, and the UV radiation on reflective snow that accelerates finish degradation.
Teak handles Canadian winters well. The high natural oil content protects against freeze-thaw damage — water doesn't penetrate deeply enough to cause cracking. Most teak furniture can stay outside year-round, though covering it or storing it in a shed is still recommended to reduce the maintenance interval. Snow load is not a concern for typical solid-construction teak chairs and tables.
Cedar is more vulnerable to extended winter exposure. The combination of freezing water in unchecked cracks and spring UV exposure accelerates deterioration. For cedar furniture:
Well-maintained cedar that's stored or properly covered through winter can last as long as entry-level teak. The question is whether you'll actually do it consistently.
| Item | Cedar (CAD) | Teak (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adirondack chair | $150–$350 | $500–$1,200 |
| 4-person dining set | $800–$2,000 | $2,500–$6,000+ |
| Bench (6 ft) | $400–$700 | $900–$2,000 |
| Lounge chair | $300–$600 | $900–$2,500 |
These ranges reflect quality Canadian-made or imported product — the bottom end of each range is entry-level. Budget cedar from big-box stores can undercut these prices significantly, but quality drops accordingly.
Covered deck or screened porch: Cedar is the better value. Under a roof, UV and precipitation exposure are dramatically reduced — cedar's vulnerabilities become much less significant. You'll still need to oil it periodically, but a quality cedar set under a cover can easily last 15–20 years. Teak's durability advantage is less important here, and the price premium is harder to justify.
Exposed deck, south or west-facing: Teak is worth serious consideration. Full sun, rain, and Canadian winters will work through a cedar finish faster than most people realize. If you're not willing to maintain cedar twice-annually in this exposure, you'll be replacing it in 7–10 years. Teak's higher upfront cost pays off over time when maintenance is factored in.
Cottage dock or waterfront: Teak. The combination of sun, water splash, humidity, and limited maintenance windows makes teak the practical choice even at the higher price. Teak dock furniture is a well-established category for exactly this reason.
This is where cedar has a clear advantage for most Canadian buyers. Cedar is a domestic product — western red cedar is grown and harvested in BC, eastern white cedar in Ontario and Quebec. Buying cedar furniture means buying into a supply chain that's almost entirely Canadian.
Teak is primarily grown in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Central America. Plantation-grown teak (as opposed to old-growth) is more sustainable, and FSC certification exists for teak — but supply chain verification is harder. When buying teak furniture in Canada, ask specifically whether the wood is FSC-certified or from a verified plantation source. Retailers who can't answer this question are selling product of unknown provenance.
Acacia furniture is sometimes sold as a "teak alternative" at lower prices — it's not the same material and does not perform comparably. Be clear about what you're buying.
Cedar: Local furniture makers (often the best quality), Canadian Tire (entry-level), Home Depot/RONA (mid-range), specialty outdoor retailers like Costco Wholesale (solid value). Ontario and BC have regional cedar furniture makers worth seeking out.
Teak: Specialty outdoor furniture stores in major cities carry teak; Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and similar retailers stock teak lines. Online options include Wayfair Canada (quality varies significantly — read reviews carefully) and direct importers. Expect to pay for delivery or freight to your door.