If you’re lucky enough to own some beautiful teak garden furniture - or if you are planning for the warmer months and considering buying some - then you’ll probably already know that for good looks, comfort and outdoor durability in wooden garden furniture, teak is hard to beat.
But to get the best out of your beautiful teak outdoor table and chairs, dining table or sun lounger, you need to know how to look after it.
The teak experts at Luxus Home & Garden, whose stunning range of high-quality, sustainable teak garden furniture is lovingly crafted in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside and in Indonesia, have put together this essential guide to keeping your garden furniture the envy of your friends and neighbours.
Know your wood
Brand new teak furniture will be a gorgeous, rich honey-brown colour, but the wood will soon begin to age gradually on its way to a handsome, silvery grey hue after around six to 12 months.
However, there is no need to panic! This is a completely natural process and a real hallmark of the wood. It has no effect on the teak’s structural integrity, and it looks amazing.
Use a sealant
You can leave your teak furniture to age gracefully, or you may prefer the lovely honey-brown colour that it arrived with.
If that is the case, you can use a sealant. Teak sealants are usually solvent-based and of water-like viscosity, and they are used to protect against mould, ultraviolet light and moisture. They come in a range of hues, are easy to use and should be applied every nine to 12 months.
Cleaning
Just like your car, your teak garden furniture will benefit from being kept clean and free of dirt, debris and grease - it will look great and last longer.
All you really need to do is to give the teak an occasional scrub with a mild solution of soap and water. Don’t forget to rinse with clean water and allow it to dry thoroughly before using any kind treatment product - this can take 24-36 hours, depending on weather conditions.
For greasy marks, give the teak a light scrub with a degreaser, again followed by a good rinse with clean water and allow it to dry.
With regular cleaning, you will be able to prevent the build-up of dirt, mould and mildew, and thereby enjoy your beautiful teak furniture, year after year.
Repair instances of checking
Small cracks in the wood - known as checking - are a natural occurrence in all types of wooden garden furniture, including that made of teak.
It’s a minor cosmetic issue at worst and nothing to worry about, but if you like to keep your teak looking pristine, then you can fix it up with by rubbing in a little bit of exterior grade PVA glue and smoothing it off with some grade 180 (or used grade 120) sandpaper.
Checking normally takes place in the first three months of a product’s lifespan, so wait for at least this length of time to allow the wood to settle before tackling any cracks.
