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Maintaining Your Teak Outdoor Furniture
October 27, 2015 01:38:47pm
Teakwood is a sturdy and beautiful wood, and an ideal choice for outdoor furniture. Teak wood furniture is easy to enjoy. However, when it comes to maintenance, teak wood can be just as easy to care for, or extremely difficult to care for, depending on which approach you choose.
Option 1: “Hands Off” Approach
The more popular approach to teak care is to let it age and weather naturally. Indeed, one of the facets that makes teak ideal for outdoor use, is that it requires very little upkeep. This may sound too good to be true, but teak is so durable, and its natural oils are so beneficial, that it will last for decades with very little work required of you.
- Avoid teak oil. – Teakwood contains a high amount of natural oil, namely teak oil. This teak oil nourishes the wood and keeps it healthy for decades, even when exposed to the elements. Teakwood is also an incredibly dense wood, and is one of the hardest woods used to make furniture. Due in part to this density, teakwood naturally resists most moisture. It will take in a small amount of moisture, and the wood may expand slightly along the grain, but the density, together with the natural oils in the wood, will protect the wood against moisture levels that are high enough to damage it.
- Let teak weather and age naturally. – As teak furniture weathers, the natural oils oxidize, and the surface turns silvery gray in color. Depending on where you live, it may take only a few weeks for this graying or weathering process to begin. Here in Northeast Florida, our outdoor furniture is exposed to a moist climate and heavy rains, as well as intense sunlight, so the teak will weather more rapidly than it would in a drier climate. During the process, slight discoloration may occur and water spots may appear. Hairline cracks may appear and you may even notice that the surface grain has become slightly raised. This is the natural response of the wood to the expansion and contraction caused by the elements, and the overall look will be a pleasant and uniform gray tone. This change in color does not affect the durability or longevity of your outdoor furniture. Indeed, if you can avoid applying anything to your teakwood pieces, they will age gracefully and be sturdy and handsome for decades.
- Gently clean. – Periodically, you will still want to clean your teak patio furniture in order to keep dirt buildup at bay. To do this, set the water pressure low on your garden hose and get the furniture wet. Use a mild dishwashing soap and lightly scrub the furniture with a soft-bristled brush. Thoroughly rinse all cleaner from the furniture, wipe it dry with a towel, and you’re done! If mildew or mold appears, and your dish detergent does not remove it, apply a very weak mixture of bleach and water to the affected areas, and rub lightly with a rag to remove the mold or mildew.
- Cover the furniture when not in use. – If you store your patio furniture during the winter months or while you’re out of town, you’ll want to pack up your teakwood under a fabric or otherwise breathable protection.
Option 2: “Hands On” Approach
While some teak furniture enthusiasts prefer the look of natural teak, others prefer a more polished look. To achieve this polished look, you will need to treat and maintain your teak significantly, and the cost, both in supplies and in labor, can be high. If you prefer the look of polished, refined teak wood, and choose to apply oils in order to preserve this look, you will be embarking on a costly and time-consuming teak oil maintenance regimen.
You will need to invest in the best possible oil for your teak wood. Many home improvement stores will label a product “teak oil,” when it is not. It’s important to note that such teak oil is not the same oil that is found naturally in the mature heartwood of teak wood, but rather, is a lesser quality substitute, likely made of linseed oil and solvents. Once you apply this “teak oil,” your furniture may take on a nice glow for a short time. However, this glow will soon fade, and in the meantime, the solvents have begun breaking down the natural oils found in the teakwood, and you are trapped in the cycle of having to apply fake teak oil to furniture that wouldn’t otherwise need it. You will need to sand and clean the furniture before each application of oil, and this process will need to be repeated multiple times per year, depending on how polished a look you want for your furniture. Also, the cost of the oil can be great.
The Best Jacksonville FL Furniture Refinishing Service
Jax Furniture Refinishing & Upholstering is the best and most trusted furniture refinishing shop, and the company to call when your teak furniture needs care and attention. We specialize in cleaning and restoring outdoor furniture, and teakwood is among our favorites to work with. There are many good furniture refinishing companies in Jacksonville, but only our company has a master craftsman at the helm, with over 30 years of experience refinishing, restoring, and upholstering the finest antiques, the most beloved heirlooms, and other fine furniture. Our clients all across Jacksonville, Ortega, Fernandina Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and beyond all rely on our team to refinish their most loved furniture, and we’d love to give your own favorite piece the luxury restoration it deserves!
