Teak is a closed grained hardwood with a high natural oil content. This makes it hard wearing, highly resistant to rotting and almost impervious to the effects of sun, rain, frost or snow. These characteristics combine to make it the ideal timber for all outdoor applications. Many other hardwoods are used for outdoor furniture and some are even marketed as ‘teak substitutes’. However, there is no substitute for teak and no other hardwood will perform to the same standard as teak in outdoor conditions.

Teak has always been a prized material.  Because of teak wood’s density, natural oils, and tight grains, it is both an incredibly strong wood and one impenetrable to rot.  It is for these reasons that furniture makers and boat builders have always viewed teak wood as the gold standard of wood.

Teak is found in Southeast Asian nations like Thailand, Burma and Malaysia, but perhaps no central government takes its teak quite as seriously as Indonesia's. Since the country's post-colonial era of the mid-20th century, the Indonesian government has had a corporation in place dedicated to managing one of the nation's most valuable natural resources. The company, PT Perhutani, maintains the official teak plantations on the Indonesian island of Java. Here, a predetermined number of trees can be felled each year. Each tree is replaced with a new one that's planted on the plantation.

It's pretty clear that people prize teak wood above other woods such as pine, cedar, or oak. But why is that, exactly? In addition to being stunningly beautiful, the answer lies in the natural oils and rubber found within teak.

You'll find an abundance of natural oils and rubber locked right into the tight grain of the wood. All woods contain oils that protect the tree -- think maple sap or tea tree oil. Teak, however, can retain these oils and its rubber even after being felled and processed. Because of this, teak has greater natural weather-resistant properties than almost any other type of wood.

What's more, the oils and rubber protect the heart of the wood from invaders like fungi and parasites that can destroy other woods. Protecting wooden furniture from such intruders requires applications of weatherproof oils and treatments; not so with teak.

All of this makes teak a perfect material for outdoor furniture. As it weathers over time, the wood goes from a honey brown color to a silvery gray.  Since teak is also an extremely durable and strong wood, a teak patio set owner can leave their furniture exposed to the weather year-round, and should expect his or her purchase to last for decades!

Although teak garden furniture is a significant purchase…it is also a great investment that is both beautiful and guaranteed to outlast all other types of wooden furniture.

What kind of Teak should I look for?

Only premium grade mature teak of consistent quality which are a straight grain structure, the absence of knots, splits or cracks and an even overall color. And also look for teak sourced from sustainable plantations in Indonesia. The plantations are owned and managed by the Indonesian government agency Perum Perhutani, which is responsible for managing a strict policy regarding the size and quantity of trees felled each year together with annual replanting.

Why does new teak furniture sometimes have ‘wild’ dark or orange stripes?

These markings are perfectly normal and will disappear within a few days, following exposure to the UV spectrum in natural sunlight. These marks are commonly found following the kilning process, which is used to lower the moisture content of the timber prior to manufacture. This process reduces to a minimum the incidence of small cracks appearing in the furniture due to the changes in temperature and humidity that it encounters in an outdoor environment.

Why do occasional cracks appear on my furniture?

Teak wood is a natural material and as such fine cracks in the end grain of components, e.g. legs and arms, may appear and then disappear with changes in the weather and the consequent change in the moisture content of the wood. Such fine cracks are normal, especially in heavier components, and will not affect the life or serviceability of your furniture.

What is Teak Oil and what does it do? 

Teak oil does many things to protect and refinish your teak patio furniture.  First of all, it acts as a waterproofing agent and weather proofing agent from rain and sun.  Teak can be left in the sun and rain without fear of harming the wood. Teak oil also provides a stylistic attribute to the wood and keeps it changing and looking unique as the wood ages.

Can teak furniture be kept outside all year around?

Yes, teak furniture can be kept outside all year around. Of course, any furniture left outside all year will get more dirty then furniture that is just used in the summer, but the long-term performance and durability of the furniture is exactly the same. We suggest all our customer to store your furniture over the winter in a garden shed, garage or outhouse. Please do not move your teak furniture from the garden straight into a heated indoor room for storage, as the sharp differences in temperature and humidity may cause the wood split.

How and when should I clean my furniture?

Teak does not require any special maintenance routine apart from occasional cleaning. If left to age naturally outside by being exposed to light, air and rain, then the surface of the teak will gradually change to a soft, silver-grey as the pigments in the surface layer of the wood start to fade away. We recommend that you simply allow your furniture to weather naturally this way and maintain the silver patina with regular, gentle cleaning with soft-soap flakes dissolved in warm water (not detergent).

You Will Need:

• 2-part Teak cleaner (we use Teka Brand)

• Hard-bristled scrub brush

• Hose

• 120-grit sand paper (optional)

• Teak Oil (we use Star Brite Brand)

• Clean, dry cloth

Step 1:

Make sure you have all of the supplies listed above. Set your furniture in an outdoor space with decent drainage. Using your hose, soak the piece of furniture completely with water.

Step 2:

Apply a generous amount of Part A of your teak cleaner over a manageable area of your furniture (i.e. half of a table top). Immediately start scrubbing at the area with your brush. You will see a lot of dirt released and the table will quickly turn a red color.

Rinse the dirt off as you continue scrubbing. Once all of the dirt has been removed and the area looks clean, repeat the process on the rest of your furniture.

Step 3:

Once you have finished cleaning the whole piece with Part A, wet the piece with your hose and apply Part B of your teak cleaner to a manageable area. Softly scrub at the piece, following the grain of the wood. Some additional dirt should be released, and you will notice the Part B solution turning the teak a lighter shade.

Repeat this process on the rest of your furniture. (Part B typically takes a fraction of the time Part A takes).

Step 4:

Once you have finished cleaning the whole piece with your 2-part Teak cleaner, use your hose to completely soak the piece.

Leave to dry.

Step 5:

One your piece has completely dried (it should return to its original blonde color), you are ready to oil your teak.

Optional: You may wish to lightly sand your piece with 120-grit sand paper to smooth out any rough edges. Be sure the teak is free of sanding dust before you begin to apply your oil.

Step 6:

Shake a small amount of teak oil onto a clean, dry cloth, and begin to rub it onto your furniture.

Those dark spots on your teak furniture are actually mildew, a practically inevitable part of owning outdoor furniture, especially if you live in a humid climate. While teak wood contains oils that will prevent the wood from breaking down due to continuous exposure to the elements, the wood is still vulnerable to mold and mildew buildup.

You Will Need:

• Hose

• Laundry Detergent

• Bleach

• Bucket

• Bristle Brush

Step 1:

Rinse your piece of teak furniture with your hose to remove dirt and debris. Avoid using a high-pressure washer on teak wood, as this could cause surface erosion.

Step 2:

Fill the bucket with one gallon of water. Mix in 1/4 cup bleach and 2/3 cup laundry detergent. Apply this solution to your affected wood using your bristle brush, brushing in the direction of the wood grain.

Step 3:

Thoroughly rinse the piece with your hose. Do not leave any cleaner on the wood. Set your piece in the sun and allow to dry fully.

tip:

Keep your teak furniture in the sun to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, as the sun is a natural mold killer. Use a teak protector product that contains ultraviolet inhibitors to prevent sun damage. When storing your furniture, opt for a well-ventilated area to help prevent mildew growth.