Teak Care and Maintenance

Qualified as an exotic essence, one of the major assets of teak is its resistance to rot and decay and its extraordinary resistance to external aggressions. However, to preserve its aesthetics in the long term, this wood must be maintained.

Wood protection

If teak is widely used in the manufacture of furniture, especially garden furniture, it is because this exotic wood withstands very well temperature variations, humidity and climatic hazards. Its only drawback? Very easily recognizable thanks to its beautiful copper brown color, the essence turns unsightly to gray when, without protection, the wood is continuously exposed outdoors.

Indeed, oleoresin and salicylic acid secreted by wood and which protects its surface become scarcer over time. Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize that the change in color of teak will not have any consequences on its solidity. Here, therefore, the protection gestures will mainly aim to preserve the natural appearance of your teak furniture.

To do this, once a year, with a clean cloth and if possible without lint, coat the surfaces of your furniture with teak oil. It is a mixture of different vegetable oils specially adapted to exotic woods. In addition, for optimized protection prefer an anti-UV oil. And for better adhesion, this product will only be applied to dry and previously cleaned furniture. Only downside, the wood will later have an oily appearance. To remedy this, gently rub the teak with white vinegar.

Wood cleaning

And always with the aim of extending the original appearance of teak, some combine teak oil with a wood sealer. Varnish and pure linseed oil, on the other hand, should be avoided. In addition, in winter, the thing not to do is to cover your teak furniture with a cover or tarpaulin, because it prevents it from breathing. The ideal would be to store them in a dry place with an ambient temperature.

As for its maintenance, this exotic wood fortunately does not require much attention and its cleaning is very easy. A brush with soft bristles and soapy water and voila. Why do you think teak is also found on the decks of boats? Moreover, a wash with sea water would be recommended from time to time.

Indeed, apart from preserving the wood from moisture, iodized salt also prevents the proliferation of mold and mosses. And in case your exotic wood has turned gray, you just have to sand it very gently with very fine-grained sandpaper in the direction of the grooves of its fibers. Teak will soon regain its original appearance. However, if you like this patina gray, do not do anything about it and let the wood evolve naturally.