When researching furniture, one product stands out above all other, teak wood furniture! It is often more expensive than others because it’s valuable both for its elegance and its durability. Beyond its beauty, it also possesses some natural properties that other woods don’t have. We have taken the time to address the most popular questions many people, upon their first encounter with this fine wood have posed. We hope you find them useful.
Teak wood comes from the tropical hardwood tree, Tectona grandis, which is native to south and southeast Asia in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Burma. Our products are manufactured and shipped directly from Indonesia.
What is Teak? Teak is a closed grained hardwood with a high natural oil content. This makes it hard wearing, highly resistant to rotting and almost impervious to the effects of sun, rain, frost or snow.
Many Asian countries, where teak is native, have established government-managed teak plantations that manage the growth and use of the teak wood. Trees that are between 40 and 80 years old provide the best quality wood, and are also full grown, so they supply the most lumber. Once the trees are chopped down, they must dry for one to two years before they are cut into lumber.
In Indonesia, teak regulations are serious. Since the country’s post-colonial era began in the mid-20th century, the Indonesian government has had a corporation in place dedicated to managing one of the nation’s most valuable natural resources. The company, PT Perhutani, maintains the official teak plantations on the Indonesian island of Java. Here, a predetermined number of trees that can be felled each year. Each tree is replaced with a new one that’s planted on the plantation.
Teak wood is one of the finest hardwoods available. Because it is only available in a small part of the world and the age of the tree has to be so great to produce ideal wood, it has become a wood that is exclusive to those who can afford it. While the price tag for teak wood furniture may be a little higher than other hardwood furniture, it is because it is almost indestructible and so durable that it will likely outlast its owner! Teak wood does not need to be stained or wax-coat finished and only requires a teak oil rub to regain its original beauty. Teak furniture can be placed anywhere, inside or out, and will weather well.
These markings are perfectly normal and will disappear within a few days, once it spends some time outdoors in the sun. All real teak furniture has these common markings. They are found following the kilning process, which is used to lower the moisture content of the timber prior to manufacture. This process reduces to a minimum the incidence of small cracks appearing in the furniture due to the changes in temperature and humidity that it encounters in an outdoor environment.
Teakwood is a natural material and as such fine cracks in the end grain of components, e.g. legs and arms, may appear and then disappear with changes in the weather and the consequent change in the moisture content of the wood. Such fine cracks are normal, especially in heavier components, and will not affect the life or serviceability of your furniture.
UV-resistant Teak Oil beautifies, nourishes and protects from deep within the teak wood pores, providing a protective Teak Oil barrier against water, stains and abrasions, while accentuation the wood grain with a warm rich appearance.
Yes, teak furniture can be kept outside all year round, even in extreme weather. However, if you live in an area with a seasonal climate you may wish to bring your teak furniture indoors or cover it over the winter to prevent it from getting dirty. Of course, any furniture left outside all year will get more dirty than furniture that is just used in the summer, but the long-term performance and durability of the furniture is exactly the same. Please do not move your teak furniture from the garden straight into a heated indoor room for storage, as the sharp differences in temperature and humidity may cause the wood split.
How and when should I clean my furniture? Teak does not require any special maintenance routine apart from occasional cleaning. If left to age naturally outside by being exposed to light, air and rain, then the surface of the teak will gradually change to a soft, silver-grey as the pigments in the surface layer of the wood start to fade away. We recommend that you simply allow your furniture to weather naturally this way and maintain the silver patina with regular, gentle cleaning with soft-soap flakes dissolved in warm water (not detergent).
SIMPLE CLEANING OF TEAK FURNITURE
To clean teak wood furniture you will need a mild detergent and water.
After the furniture has been thoroughly wiped down and cleaned, rinse the soap off the pieces and allow them to dry in the sun for two days. This will prevent the wood from becoming mildewed.
Yes, we warrant that our furniture is fit for its intended, reasonable use. We also warrant that our products are free from defective materials and workmanship. To make a warranty claim please contact our customer service department via our website www.teakboutiques.com\customerservice.
Most pieces of furniture are supplied either fully assembled or flat-packed in sub-assemblies to minimize the amount of final assembly required. Some pieces require assembly. Due to thoughtful design and the accuracy of our construction no glue is required when assembling the products. In most cases, your furniture can be assembled within a few minutes by with only a minimum of tools. Galvanized (prevents rusting) hardware is provided with products that require assembly.
