Teak Outdoor Furniture

Considered to have the highest standard in outdoor furniture, teak is a hard durable yellowish brown wood of a tall tropical Asian timber tree that grows up to 40 meters tall. Countries like India, Indonesia and Myanmar are the highest exporter of this timber. A good example of an edifice built with teak is the Vimanmek Mansion in Bangkok Thailand. It is considered the largest golden teak building in the world.

Originally, teak is used in construction of boats but in 1950s and 1960s it was popularized by the Danish as an excellent material for outdoor furniture and other pieces that require weather resistance and durability. It became a symbol of luxury and gained high demand as heirloom pieces among the elites. Acquiring furniture made of teak is considered an extravagance because it costs much more than other woods and in today’s generation the timber is already endangered. But if you have money, teak outdoor furniture is a sound investment.

Teak outdoor furniture is built to last more than half a century even under extreme conditions. You do not have to locate this area to protected area or put cover on it. This is because the timber has natural oils which serve its superficial covering or exterior. Over time this covering turns the wood into silvery, grey color. Teak doesn’t require varnish or oil for maintenance. If you apply varnish to teak, it will peel and become hard to remove.

If you apply oil to teak, mold and mildew will form on the furniture. The best protectant to this timber is a teak sealer. It can be applied to let the timber breathe and preserve its natural honey color. Old teak can still be coated with teak sealer but you must clean it first. Recoating can be done once a year and you can buy teak sealer at any Do-it-Yourself store. You can apply generous amount of coating to prevent stains from sinking in.

Your worries will end after you had applied teak sealer to your favorite furniture. The process can be done again after a year to maintain its shine and condition. Dirt and simple stains can be washed with mild soap and water. Teak can withstand being left outside without protection like covers and shades. Choosing teak as outdoor furniture gives you the freedom to decorate your garden with less worry of moving in and out the furniture during bad weather. The intricate work in your furniture brings in elegance, style and sophistication that stand out with the beauty of lush flowers and greens.

Teak tables and chairs are hard to bend or break unlike metals. It is easy to relocate outdoor teak furniture because bumping to other elements doesn’t easily cause damage to it. Teak furniture is cooler than iron and doesn’t absorb heat. You also don’t have to worry about pests destroying this kind of furniture because it is resistant to termites.

You can clean weather-beaten teak furniture in two steps. First, wearing gloves and goggles, you scrub the base of your outdoor furniture using a soft-bristle brush with caustic soda. When the wood changes its color to deep brown rinse it thoroughly. With another soft-bristle brush, apply phosphoric acid at the same area that you have cleaned.

Follow only one direction in scrubbing with soda and applying acid. This process of cleaning will remove food stains and other dirt. You can sand roughness for a fresher finish.