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ALL ABOUT TEAK
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.
More Articles
About Teak:
Teak Wood [Tectonis Grandis]
Real Teak, First Quality Tectona Grandis
Teak Furniture From Teak Etcetera
Make Sure You're Getting Real Teak
Teak Wood Patio Furniture
Caring for Teak Furniture |
