TEAK WOOD ESSENTIALS
Teak is a tropical hardwood from the Far East, and is undeniably an excellent choice when investing in quality outdoor furniture. Because of its density, natural and unique beauty, strength & durability, and natural resistance to outdoor elements and insects, our grade A Teak from the sustainable forests of Indonesia is top choice for premium furniture. With minimal and simple care, teak lasts for many decades as it ages naturally and beautifully with its classic and sophisticated patina. If your preference is to maintain the golden brown, that is definitely possible as well.
Why Grade A teak? Because this is the highest quality available milled from the center of the log (the inner heartwood) of a fully matured tree. The heartwood contains a higher level of natural oil which provides valuable protection and sheen. The grain of the wood is close and uniform, and the color is a honey golden brown. The heartwood only comprises approximately 25% of the tree which explains the reason Grade A teak costs more than the lesser grades.
cleaning and maintaining
Over the lifetime of your outdoor and teak furniture, you will want to clean periodically as needed, to protect and revitalize the beauty of your furniture. The treatment and frequency can vary based on the material as well as the setting (The amount and type of direct weather exposure?) and usage (Heavy/Light, Residential, Commercial).
At our design center, our go to simple cleaning process for teak furniture is to use Dawn soap and a little bit of bleach mixed in a bucket of water applied with a scouring sponge ( ScotchBrite works well). Wet the wood down first to soften it up then dip your sponge into the solution and rub in the direction of the grain with moderate pressure. Rinse, then wait a couple of minutes (teak dries fast) to see if you like the finish. Repeat if needed. If you want to have the silver - grey patina, that teak is renowned for, do not rub too hard as you will remove the patina and expose the natural golden honey finish (a little lighter than the original).
There are many ways to clean teak and other types of outdoor furniture and we welcome your call if you have any questions.
Varnish and Paint
Not Recommended! Because teak produces its own oil from within, teak should not be varnished or painted. The oil in teak wood prevents varnish and paint from adhering to the wood, so over time, the varnish or paint will chip and peel.
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Try this instead... a few coats of sealant can be used to slow the patina oxidation process.
Oil for teak
Teak wood naturally produces its own oils, therefore, oiling is not necessary. By applying oil to the wood, teak will rely more on manual application and slow the natural process of producing its own oils. The reduction of natural oils can weaken the wood and reduce the lifetime of your furniture.
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As a manufacturer, we do not recommend oiling your teak furniture.
to seal or not?
If you would like to preserve the natural golden pigment of teak, you will need to apply a sealer periodically. Through age and exposure, teak goes through a natural process creating a lovely grey patina. If you do not apply a sealer, the surface of the teak will slowly turn into a beautiful silvery-grey color.
Although applying a sealer will not affect the longevity of teak, some sealers can help reduce the growth of mildew and protect the wood from UV rays.