Teak is an extremely durable wood and naturally requires little maintenance or care making it an ideal material for outdoor patio furniture.
Maintaining teak garden furniture.
It will help keep your garden furniture in its original look.
You will need to use a type of clear coat that is specially designed for teak furniture.
If left untreated teak will weather to a silver grey tone which is preferred by many people.
If the furniture was skillfully crafted it will last for generations.
Dust your outdoor furniture to remove any debris before applying the sealer.
After you oil your teak furniture soak the cloths in water.
Finish by rinsing the furniture thoroughly with fresh water.
Since teak varies from a blonde to golden amber to a rich warm caramel choosing the right product is important.
Set the teak furniture on a dropcloth to protect the area from overspray.
To make up a cleaning solution add 1 4 cup dishwashing soap and one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water and scrub furniture with a soft bristle brush.
It is typically sold in one of two conditions.
This means teak furniture can be left outside and endure years of rain wind heat and cold.
Let the first coat dry before applying the second coat.
Good quality teak can last for many years with no treatment at all.
Don t oil your garden furniture next to a fire zone such as a barbecue.
Tips and warnings about teak oil.
The construction of teak garden furniture lets the wood move in an optimal way without you even noticing it.
Teak oil is flammable.
Rub the sealer into the wood with a clean rag.
Teak will turn from a golden brown colour when new to a silvery grey when weathered.
Oil can be applied with a lint free cloth don t use paper towels because they can scratch the wood or fine triple zero steel wool.
What not to use on teak furniture.
Finely sanded in it s natural form and treated with teak oil.
If the original colour is preferred teak protector can be applied but this removes the natural patina.
Untreated teak furniture requires little maintenance other than an annual cleaning to remove dirt and dust.
Lightly sand the surface and then apply 2 coats of clear coat with a clean rag.
Clear coat should always be added after sealant and not the other way around.
Teak wood on indoor furniture should be oiled every 3 to 4 months.
Alternatively heavy duty waterproof covers will keep out the worst of the winter weather.
Maintaining your teak garden furniture.
Tilting furniture and keeping the feet off wet ground can help prevent rotting.
The oil also keeps water from seeping into the wood.
The key with teak furniture is to care for it in a way that brings out its natural color.
The natural oil present within teak wood offers it protection from pests such as termites.
Choose a sunny day to do this rinse your furniture with a garden hose to release debris and dirt not a high pressure one as this may cause surface erosion.