In article 1109803113.e4b776bba25f106595b685698066f84c@teran ews,
San Diego Joe wrote:
"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

San Diego Joe wrote:
Hi all, I'm new to the forum. Very nice, so little spam and flaming.

I have a question about finishing outdoor furniture. I'm planning to build a
sofa, chair and coffee table out of either teak or Honduran mahogany (if
someone has another good suggestion, I'm open.) I don't want the wood to
weather to grey but rather maintain the natural color of the wood. I realize
yearly maintenance will be required. I was thinking exterior grade
polyurethane. Can anyone give me some suggestions as to how to proceed?

You can't win this one, especially living in S/D.

If you don't want to believe me, take a walk down on Shelter Island and
look at some of the boats.
I don't want to believe you I want a mahogany sofa. I'd have to say
though, that I've seen many boats where the decks still look pretty good.

If you don't want to let it gray natural, might consider redwood. It
will still require maintenance, but at least you can stay with it.

Yeah, redwood is on my list too and maybe I'll just have to use it.

In your clime, Mahogany _will_ be maintenance intensive. Marine 'spar'
varnish with UV inhibitors -- with full strip/refinish required every
couple of years, and _probably_ more often. (Depends how much of the
time the furniture is in the shade, and how close to the water you are.
I had family in Mission Beach, on the strip between the Ocean and the Bay.
Stuff at that house *really* took a beating!) Teak, only a little less so.

Redwood will also require maintenance, but considerably less. A good
redwood/cedar oil stain will hold for several years, and re-treatment
is just wash the dirt off, and re-apply. "Rez" brand cedar stain is
*good* stuff on redwood.

Redwood, teak, and cypress, are about indestructible, but all turn 'grey'
if left to weather naturally. They _will_ retain the 'original' color,
if you keep up the oils in the wood.