Beide materialen kunnen hiertegen, maar aluminium vereist echt geen onderhoud — niet oliën, niet afdekken, niet behandelen. Teakhout kan ook het hele jaar buiten blijven, maar zal zonder oliebehandeling vergrijzen. Als nul onderhoud de prioriteit heeft, is aluminium de duidelijkere keuze.

Aluminium cannot replicate the warmth, grain, and organic presence of teak. If the material quality of the furniture is part of what you are specifying — not just the function — teak is the specification that delivers that. A teak dining table has a presence that no powder coated metal achieves.

Teak is alleen verkrijgbaar in zijn natuurlijke tinten — goudbruin of zilvergrijs. Aluminium kan gepoedercoat worden in elke RAL-kleur. Als het matchen van kleuren met een specifiek exterieurontwerp, architectuur of palet belangrijk is, is aluminium de enige optie.

Both materials handle coastal environments well — teak's natural oils are genuinely salt-resistant, and powder coated aluminium is fully corrosion-resistant in salt air. For a purely practical specification in a very exposed position, aluminium has a slight edge due to zero maintenance. For a position where aesthetics matter equally, teak is equally valid.

Aluminium's weight advantage is very practical here. A teak dining chair can weigh 6–8kg; the aluminium equivalent 2–3kg. Across a full dining set or lounge configuration, the difference is significant when moving or stacking for storage. If reconfigurability matters, aluminium is considerably easier to manage.

Both can last 20+ years with appropriate care. Teak in particular has an almost indefinite structural lifespan if the natural oils are maintained and it is not left in standing water. A well-maintained teak set is an investment that passes between generations. Aluminium also lasts well, but does not have the same material narrative or increasing character with age that teak develops.