Caring for 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
gray color. This silvery gray 'patina'
which develops over time gives Teak
Furniture a distinctive appearance. The
silver gray 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 graying 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 gray
patina |
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