5 Things to Know Before You Buy Teak Outdoor Furniture
Buy the right finish and learn how to maintain your teak furniture to get the best use out of it
Christine Tusher
18 November 2017
Houzz Contributor
Teak has long been a top choice for outdoor furnishings, due to its buttery gold colour and durability. Its high content of naturally occurring rubber and oils serves as Mother Nature’s weatherproofing, protecting against water, rot and insects, ensuring that your furnishings will last year after year.
But as perfect as teak is for outdoor areas, you should still go through the purchasing process armed with information. Here are five things to consider before taking the plunge with teak.
But as perfect as teak is for outdoor areas, you should still go through the purchasing process armed with information. Here are five things to consider before taking the plunge with teak.
1. Price
The same things that make teak so desirable also help drive up the price, making it most suitable for spaces you’re planning to use for years to come. So if you move around a lot or are the kind of person who likes to constantly redecorate, it might not be the best option.
The same things that make teak so desirable also help drive up the price, making it most suitable for spaces you’re planning to use for years to come. So if you move around a lot or are the kind of person who likes to constantly redecorate, it might not be the best option.
2. Sustainability
The demand for teak has helped drive deforestation across South and Southeast Asia, devastating ecosystems and contributing to the exploitation of local peoples. But not all teak comes with bad karma. These days it’s much easier to find teak grown on plantations that practice sustainable harvesting.
The demand for teak has helped drive deforestation across South and Southeast Asia, devastating ecosystems and contributing to the exploitation of local peoples. But not all teak comes with bad karma. These days it’s much easier to find teak grown on plantations that practice sustainable harvesting.
Buying FSC-certified teak is a great way to ensure that your furnishings are environmentally friendly. The certification means that the plantation’s techniques fulfil a rigorous set of requirements determined by the Forest Stewardship Council, including maintaining or restoring the ecosystem and respecting indigenous peoples.
Buying sustainable furniture in Singapore
Buying sustainable furniture in Singapore
3. Finishes and weathering
There are three general options for teak finishes: natural/unfinished, sealed and preweathered.
When exposed to the elements, teak naturally turns a silvery grey over time. You can see this starting to happen to the furniture shown here, especially on the arms. If you like this look, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy your teak furnishings; they’ll begin to grey within a few months.
Tip: Buy all your unfinished teak furnishings at the same time to ensure they’ll end up the same colour.
There are three general options for teak finishes: natural/unfinished, sealed and preweathered.
When exposed to the elements, teak naturally turns a silvery grey over time. You can see this starting to happen to the furniture shown here, especially on the arms. If you like this look, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy your teak furnishings; they’ll begin to grey within a few months.
Tip: Buy all your unfinished teak furnishings at the same time to ensure they’ll end up the same colour.
Buying pre-weathered teak is another great option if you like the silvery look. The advantage of going this route is that the colour you start with is the colour it will stay, making it easier to choose fabrics and accent pieces.
If you’d like to keep your furnishings looking golden brown, sealing can help slow down the weathering process. But sealants can also wear down, so ask the supplier about maintenance before purchasing.
Browse outdoor furniture
Browse outdoor furniture
4. To oil or not to oil
Some vendors recommend oiling teak as a preservative to help maintain its colour. The downside: Oiling can promote mould and mildew. When deciding whether or not to oil, consider where the furniture is placed. If it’s in a covered or enclosed area in constant shade, the sun won’t fade it as quickly. Indoor teak furnishings often won’t fade at all.
Some vendors recommend oiling teak as a preservative to help maintain its colour. The downside: Oiling can promote mould and mildew. When deciding whether or not to oil, consider where the furniture is placed. If it’s in a covered or enclosed area in constant shade, the sun won’t fade it as quickly. Indoor teak furnishings often won’t fade at all.
But placed in full sun, teak will weather. So you’ll have to weigh the risk of mould versus your desired visual effect. If you do decide to oil, you’ll need to do it once or twice a year to preserve the colour. All oils are not created equal, so ask the supplier for specific product recommendations.
5. Cleaning
Teak furniture needs to be cleaned at least once a year to remove dirt, dust and stains. This is something you can do yourself with a diluted household cleanser and a bristle brush. Ask your vendor which detergent you should use based on the finish you’ve chosen.
11 cleaning tricks for outdoor furniture
Teak furniture needs to be cleaned at least once a year to remove dirt, dust and stains. This is something you can do yourself with a diluted household cleanser and a bristle brush. Ask your vendor which detergent you should use based on the finish you’ve chosen.
11 cleaning tricks for outdoor furniture
Eventually someone is going to spill red wine or drip salad dressing on your furniture. In those cases be prepared to use a special teak cleanser to remove the stain. In extreme cases – and also in the case of a nasty scratch – mild sanding may be needed. But again, ask the manufacturer before working on the blemish.
TELL US
Do you like teak outdoor furniture or do you prefer plastic, stainless steel or synthetic resin? Tell us in the Comments section.
MORE
Weather-Friendly Woods to Use Outdoors
TELL US
Do you like teak outdoor furniture or do you prefer plastic, stainless steel or synthetic resin? Tell us in the Comments section.
MORE
Weather-Friendly Woods to Use Outdoors
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As someone already mentioned, so-called teak oil is prone to mold and mildew growth. I just wanted to add another possible reason for this.
The manufacturers do not list the ingredients on the can so it is hard to know what is in it but the main ingredient is usually boiled linseed oil. Some brands might start with mineral oil and those are the ones that are lighter in color.
The brand I most often see for sale is Watco.
If you buy a gallon of Watco Teak Oil and pour it into a bucket, then take a flashlight and look inside the can you will see a lot of sediment still at the bottom of the can. This sediment contains most or maybe all of the added ingredients that provide the mildew resistance.
I no longer use Watco but when I did I would always drop a handful of rocks inside the can and shake the you-know-what out of it until all of that sediment was thoroughly mixed in with the oil.
Boiled linseed oil is basically vegetable oil. So, using straight boiled linseed oil is like rubbing margarine all over the furniture. I have had customers tell me that their furniture looked good for a few weeks and then almost overnight it all turned completely black.
checkout www.decor26.com
any suggestions on how to turn teak that has molded bc of sealing when wet into the grey patina again?