Caring for Teak
Despite its weather-resistant properties, teak furniture will naturally weather and lose its original color over time. Fortunately, it's easy to clean and restore to its original glory. You can sand it down with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any stains or discoloration. To preserve its natural shine, you can also apply a teak oil or protector. These products will help protect the wood from weathering and keep its natural beauty intact for years to come.
This teak bench is a testament to the weather-resistant and long-lasting qualities of our teak furniture. The bench was found in a customer's garden and had been exposed to the elements for 30 years. However, we were able to restore it to its original color by sanding it down and cleaning it thoroughly.
Teak furniture will weather to a handsome silver patina over time. This can take months or years, depending on the amount of exposure to ultraviolet rays and rainfall. As it weathers, there will be a slight lifting of the grain and there may even be a few small cracks.
These are not a defect, just a natural occurrence due to expansion and contraction of the wood. After weathering it will return to the smooth finish at which it began.
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For those who wish to prevent silvering, Bali Home Furnishings offers a number of high quality products designed for teak.
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Golden Care ® Teak Protector blocks UV rays and maintains your teak in a rich honey tone. Teak Shield provides spill protection, and when used in conjunction with Teak Protector offers a superb level of protection. Teak Shield can also be used for protection without Teak Protector: this allows your teak to silver but still provides protection against spills.
Teak Cleaner is an excellent product that can be used periodically (i.e. annually depending on need) to clean and restore your teak. All Golden Care ® products include a mold and mildew inhibitor as well.
SunShield is a Howard’s product you can also use on your outdoor teak furniture. This product is a unique blend of carnauba wax, beeswax, and orange oil combined with a high quality UV inhibitor that protects both the wood finish and wood color from sun fade. We also carry Daly’s Seafin ® Teak Oil for those who desire the classic dark look, and Daly’s Seafin Superspar ® Varnish with UVA block for the ultimate in protection.
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In summary, teak is a marvelously resilient wood that will last for decades even without any treatment.
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You can find much more information about teak maintenance on the Internet, but we will leave you with a few final tips:
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Stains can be removed simply by hand sanding with a fine sandpaper; usually one swipe does it.
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For furniture that will be left outdoors year ‘round, high-quality furniture covers may be useful. However, it is important to permit air to flow freely so as not to create an environment for mold growth – an environmental factor that can grow on anything given the right conditions.
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Teak can be cleaned with nothing more than a water hose and a scrub brush. Avoid using pressure washers since teak’s natural oils are key to its long life. Golden Care ® Teak Cleaner is the best.
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If you store your teak during winter weather, a watertight shed or garage is preferred. Avoid putting it in a heated space, as sudden changes in humidity can cause any wood to develop splits or cracks.
Thank you for shopping Bali Home Furnishings. We believe teak is superior to all other outdoor furniture, and your purchase of teak furniture will provide you with a lifetime of luxury in your outdoor living space. You will also save a great deal of money because we are a direct importer, with no middlemen between us and the actual artisans who build it – enabling us to offer it at extremely low prices.