Description and Care of Teakwood

This furniture is 100% solid, kiln dried plantation teak and excellent for withstanding wind, sun, rain, and snow and is, therefore, very strong. Teak furniture is extremely durable and is renowned for its longevity. Due to its oil content that naturally resists moisture, teakwood has a very long life expectancy. 

Since most customers prefer it, we tend to sell our furniture during our public sales with a couple of coats of teak oil (not a stain) already applied. If you place an advance order, you can buy the furniture with OR without the oil. Retail customers, who would be buying direct and in bulk, also have this option.  Note that the oil does eventually burn off, so if you chose to keep the coloring, regular maintenance is needed. See below for more information.  

We DO NOT use sapwood in our construction. Only quality wood and solid/sound construction is used. In addition, We do NOT sell kits which come in pieces and must be screwed together by the customer. Everything we sell is fully and solidly constructed and shipped directly to us by the manufacturer (except the table tops which we attached in the USA). There are very, very few external screws used as opposed to the kit/flat pack products on the market.  

The furniture being sold is constructed from Indonesian plantation grown teak from the island of Java. Though found in other parts of the world, the teak grown in Java is recognized as the world's finest. The  manufacturer, which our representative visits regularly, makes this furniture only from government controlled plantation teak that is maintained at a harvest rate equal to (or less than) replanting. In the early 1900's, the Indonesian government had the foresight to realize that teakwood would be a valuable resource to their country. The result was the creation of Perhutani teak plantations. Today, teak that originates in Indonesia can only be cut from the Perhutani plantations.  

Taking care of your furniture:

When you buy this furniture you are acquiring versatile furniture. If left outdoors, it can be left  to weather naturally to a silvery gray, or cleaned and oiled to retain its original teak color. Remember  though that just because teak wood is tough as nails, it will get dirty and there will be variation in its coloring and weathering of the wood. Teak furniture provides a lovely rustic look if not oiled or a sleek look if it is!  For easier maintenance, and less weathering and wear and tear, if that is important to the customer, it is recommended that outdoor furniture be covered if left out in the winter or brought indoors for the season and stored in an area that is not terribly dry.  If you do store your teak furniture indoors try not to move it from one extreme condition to another right away. For example if you move the teak furniture from the cold outside, do not place it into your heated home right away. Instead move it to your unheated garage, basement or shed and transition it into your home. 

We do not recommend using a power washer for cleaning. Power washing will strip off the thin silver-gray (oxidized) outer layer, or patina, of your teak furniture and it will return to a light brown color. HOWEVER, power washing could cause splits in the wood and/or open up joints or cause other long-term damage. Also, if you get too close with a powerful washer, you could gouge the wood. If the furniture is only 1-2 years old you can often remove the patina by simply washing with soap, water and a little bleach (or teak cleaner) and a soft bristle brush or scrub pad. Teak brightener products are also useful. It is recommended that the furniture be washed at least annually, though it is not critical. You really can just put it in your yard and forget about it.  If you want to remove a very heavy gray patina that has been on an item for some time (for example, so you can oil the wood and return it to it's original glory) it is best to either wash and sand off the thin outer layer or use a chemical stripper (available at most boating shops). 

Outdoor furniture takes a beating so don't expect it to look as pristine over time as when you first bought it. After all, it is wood and we do know that wood is not perfect.  Imperfections, which are inherent properties of any wood, will show over time. After all, wood is a natural product. The character of your furniture will alter, but its overall strength will remain. In humid or wet climates, or after rains, the wood will naturally expand and contract, causing the grain to rise and checking/light, fine surface cracking to occur. This is to be expected with exposure to the elements, particularly the hot sun. All wood, teak and others, left outside have this effect from the elements.  But teak wood offers a comfortable, warm, and natural look to your outdoor decor and you can be assured that, unlike others that decay, teak will last for many years to come. Don't look for perfection. Just let the wood adjust to its environment and you will enjoy its naturalness more and more each year. 

Our furniture is made using mortise and tenon construction with internal screws and teak dowels to hold the slats inside the mortise (square hole).  Some pieces also use tongue and grove construction. We do not sell kits/flat pack sets.  Everything we buy from the manufacturer (except table tops) is fully and solidly constructed. The only external screws, which are solid brass or part steal/brass, are primarily folding pieces (i.e. chairs, steamer chairs). 

Again, as with all wood, teak does expand and contract slightly.  Therefore, occasional tightening of some hardware, such as those in the folding chairs, etc. is recommended, particularly at the beginning of the season. Care should be taken not to under- or over-tighten hardware. You may find that after a few seasons, as the wood settles down in its movement, that you don't need to tighten anything as much as during the first few years.

Most stains from, for example, vegetable oil or wine spills, will weather out naturally or can be cleaned with soapy water and a soft pad. Other damage or stains can be removed by using ordinary sandpaper. If you ever scratch or dent it, or a piece is uneven in color or surfacing, simply sand it.  Sanding does not hurt it at all. Most of the time a fine or medium grade paper will work.  

For information on Teak maintenance, check out the following site: Marine Development Research - Marine companies seem to understand this wood the best.

The easiest way to go?  Definitely let it go gray!

Keep it in mind that the surface coloring is only cosmetic. It has nothing to do with the integrity of the wood. 

We recommend that you research the various products available on the market to find something that meets your maintenance goals.