Teak and Teak Care

CHARACTERISTICS OF TEAKWOOD

In order to understand how to care for your teak furniture it is important to know something about the wood itself. Teak is a very dense hardwood that has an extremely high oil and wax content. These traits make teak quite durable for both indoor and outdoor use. The wood is naturally resistant to rot or degradation caused by fungal decay plus the oil that is in the wood cells prevents attack by termites and other wood eating insects.

Proof of teaks extraordinary long term weather and wear resistance is the fact that it has been used for years in marine construction. Despite exposure to sun, salt, rain and heavy foot traffic, teak on boats lasts for decades.

Although teak is a very durable wood, it does undergo changes as time passes and the wood is subjected to use and environmental exposure.

HOW TEAK CHANGES OVER TIME

When teak is freshly cut it has a slightly tacky or sticky feel due to the oil and wax content. The color is a warm, golden brown with wide, darker brown grain. As the wood ages the oil and wax that is present at the surface leaches out, resulting in a dry to the touch surface with a lightening of the overall color. If the teak is subjected to outdoor exposure, even more of the natural oil and wax will come out of the cells, leaving cellulose cell walls present at the surface. The cellulose then combines with oxygen in the air resulting in a silvery gray coloration.

Whether you have indoor teak that is dry and light tan in color or outdoor teak that has turned gray, older teak furniture and accessories do not exhibit the beauty of new wood. With selected teak care products and a little time however, its easy to bring back that “like new” look.

RESTORING OUTDOOR TEAK FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES

The first step in restoring exterior teak is the application of a Teak Cleaner. Applying this product with a bristle brush or scrubber pad, rubbed in the direction of the wood grain will result in clean but darkish brown wood. Immediately rinse the cleaned wood with fresh water. If any mildew is still visible, rub the blackened area with Magic Scrub to remove the remaining discoloration. (Do not use steel wool to remove mildew as this will leave slivers of steel on the wood which will rust and leave a reddish brown stain.) While the wood is still wet from cleaning, apply Teak Brightener with a sponge, wiping in the direction of the wood grain. This step should lighten the wood color while accentuating the natural grain. Rinse the brightened wood thoroughly with fresh water and then allow the wood to dry completely.

Now an application of Teak Oil should be applied to bring back the original golden brown color while protecting the wood from future weathering. Teak Oil is best applied using a foam brush or rag, applied in the direction of the wood grain. If the oil is absorbed quickly and completely, another coat (or the application of several coats) is required. You have applied the right amount of Teak Oil when the application results in a slight puddling of excess oil on the woods surface. When this Occurs, wipe the surface with a lint free cloth to remove the excess oil and let set for several hours. A periodic reapplication of Teak Oil is recommended to maintain the woods appearance and provide continued protection.

TROPICAL TEAK OIL SEALER

If the wood you are treating is going to be exposed to harsh outdoor elements, you may want to consider applying a Teak Oil Sealer instead of regular Teak Oil. This product contains polymers and several UV blockers which make it much more resistant to degradation from the sun, rain and salt air. In harsh tropical-like conditions, Teak Oil Sealer will last 4 to 5 times longer than Teak Oil. At the first sign of the wood lightening in color, a cleaning with diluted Teak Cleaner followed by an application of a Teak Oil Sealer will revitalize the wood and restore the protective properties.

EXTERIOR TEAK NOTES AND PRECAUTIONS

Working on exterior teak is best done outdoors where run off from Teak Cleaner and Teak Brightener and drips from Teak Oil or Tropical Teak Oil Sealer will not do any damage. You may want to put a plastic tarp or large sheet of plastic under the piece being treated to avoid damaging or staining the outdoor surface where the work is being done. If there are any fabrics that are part of the teak piece being treated, like a teak chair with a fabric cushion, remove the fabrics before starting the restoration process. Furniture that has cut outs may be cleaned and brightened using a cone shaped brush to get into these hard to reach areas.

RESTORING INDOOR TEAK FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES

Indoor teak usually just becomes dry and lighter in color over time. If any stains are present, first wash the wood with a Teak Cleaner that has been diluted with an equal amount of water to remove the discoloration’s. Rinse the cleaned surface thoroughly with fresh water and let the wood dry completely. Next, a simple application of Teak Oil will bring back the rich golden brown color while accentuating the natural grain structure. Teak Oil contains a UV inhibitor that will help prevent future fading or lightening of the woods color. Additionally, the natural teak oil base of this product protects the wood by repelling most stain causing agents.

INTERIOR TEAK NOTES AND PRECAUTIONS

Most indoor teak is not solid wood but rather a layer of real teak bonded to particle board or another type of wood. This surface layer, called a veneer, is extremely thin and can easily be worn away if your try to sand the surface or do any scrubbing with an abrasive pad. For this reason when you apply diluted Teak Cleaner to the wood, use a sponge or very soft brush. Application of Teak Oil should be done with a foam type brush or rag.

As with the restoration of outdoor teak furniture, working on indoor teak items is best done outdoors. Run off from Teak Cleaner and Teak Brightener and drips from Teak Oil may damage or stain surfaces where the work is being done. It is therefore advisable to put down a plastic tarp or similar plastic sheeting to protect those surfaces. If fabric is part of the furniture you are treating, remove that fabric before any work is begun.

GENERAL TIPS ON TEAK CARE AND RESTORATION

Never clean teak using a pressure washer. The wood between the grain (called summer wood) is softer and less dense than grain wood (called winter wood). the use of a pressure washer will remove the soft summer wood resulting in a raised grain or wash board surface. If this occurs the wood will need to be sanded (not an easy task - see note below) to regain a smooth finish.

If you need to sand your teak, change the paper or pad often. Because teak has a high oil, wax and silica content, the sanding medium will quickly load up with removed wood. Once this occurs the abrasives of the sand paper or pad will be reduced and you will be doing a lot of work with little results. After sanding is completed, you need to apply Teak Cleaner to remove residue and open the wood pores at the surface before a final Teak Oil application can be made.

For exterior teak furniture and accessories, we recommend covering the items when not is use. A waterproof canvas or vinyl cover will shield the wood surface from the elements and therefore greatly extend the life of the protective oil. An added benefit from using a cover is that staining agents such as tree sap and bird droppings will not have a chance to get into the wood.