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Caring for the Teak
We are often asked about the best ways to care for Teak Furniture.
Because of the hard and yet forgiving nature of the timber it will
withstand a great deal of abuse. But it will also repay a little
tender loving care, so you may care to read through this page and pick
up a few hints.
Generally, you can buy our Teak Garden Furniture in one of two
conditions:
Fine sanded
Oiled with Teak Oil.
Fine Sanded
If you buy your furniture fine sanded it will have only the natural
color of the wood coupled with the raw natural texture of the teak
grain. The untreated timber is a very pleasant yellowy-brown olive
color when still fresh.
If your furniture is to be used indoors, and away from a lot of
natural sunlight, over a period of time -perhaps six months to a year
- the wood will gradually become a darker shade of brown.
If on the other hand the furniture is left outdoors, the effects of
the suns rays will 'bleach out' the timbers natural color, gradually
turning it a soft silvery grey color. This silvery grey 'patina' which
develops over time gives Teak Furniture a distinctive appearance. The
silver grey color resulting from this natural ageing process is
considered to be very attractive, and allows the furniture to blend in
well with many outdoor environments. Teak furniture left in this state
is easily maintained, and needs no treatment whatsoever to give many
years of service. And this is about as easy as a maintenance schedule
as its possible to get!
Teak Oiled
If you buy your furniture already oiled with teak oil it will have a
darker than normal mid brown color and a soft sheen. Teak wood is of
itself naturally oily and requires no treatment to be used indoors or
outdoors, and the use of teak oil won't increase the life of the
timber. It does change the color somewhat and it can also help a
little to prevent stains from seeping into the timber grain. It will
slow down the greying effect caused by ultra violet rays.
To maintain its appearance teak oiled furniture will need to be
re-oiled periodically. If you decide to re-oil your furniture you can
contact us for supplies of teak oil, or buy from your local supplier.
A basic method for oiling is as follows:
The furniture will need to be cleaned first [see below] Afterwards
ensure that it is nice and dry before starting to oil. Have a good
look around the furniture first and attend to any areas requiring
sanding before starting work.
You will need some teak oil, a clean 1" or 2" paint brush, some clean
cotton rags, good light and plenty of space to work in. It can be a
little messy so be sure to wear some overalls, and wearing household
gloves to keep the oil off your hands is a good idea as well.
The oil can be applied with a clean brush, starting from the top and
working downwards. The surface should be left wet by the brush, but
try to avoid leaving too much surplus oil behind as you work.
After a few minutes - maybe 5 - 15 depending on the ambient
temperature, the oil will start to become 'tacky'. At this point the
surface of the furniture should be wiped down with a clean cotton rag,
carefully removing all surplus oil.
One coat is usually sufficient, but you can apply a second coat if
required, after a minimum of one hour for the first coat to dry. Once
you've completed the oiling and the surface is touch dry, a second
clean rag can be used to buff up the surface.
Please be sure to dispose of any used rags and cleaning cloths
carefully, and in accordance with the instructions from the oil
manufacturer.
Cleaning Teak Furniture
If your Teak furniture requires cleaning this can be done with a
normal household bristle brush [not too hard] and some warm mildly
soapy water. Wash down afterwards with clean water. There are also
proprietary cleaners on the market which can also be used to clean off
various deposits and accumulated dirt and stains.
We do not recommend the use of high pressure hoses, and steel wool or
steel wire brushes should not be used at all as any residue left in
the grain will rust and discolor the wood.
If the furniture has some stubborn and heavily ingrained stains these
can be removed by sanding with a fine grade of sandpaper, being sure
to work only with the direction of the timber grain. After sanding
stains away like this, if the furniture was previously teak oiled you
may wish to re-oil, or if it had previously been left natural, the
fresh teak color exposed by sanding will soon mellow in with the
existing silver grey patina.
Teak Wood [Tectonis Grandis]
Real Teak, First Quality Tectona Grandis
Teak Furniture From Teak Etcetera
Caring for Teak Furniture |
