Natural Weathering of Teak Outdoor Furniture
New pieces of teak furniture appear in teak’s natural color, a light brown. When placed outdoors, teak’s light brown color will age over time into a handsome silver gray. The weathering process typically takes 8-12 months, depending on how much direct sunlight the teak receives. Weathered teak is purely cosmetic, and does not affect the structural integrity of the furniture. Leaving your teak to weather is a popular choice among many of our customers, and is Country Teak’s personal recommendation due to being practically maintenance free.
Caring for your weathered teak is very simple, depending on the use of your furniture it only needs maintenance as needed. For tables and pieces which get a lot of direct use, including food exposure, Country Teak recommends a seasonal cleaning. However, some pieces with less direct use and little to no food use can be cleaned far less often. Country Teak recommends the following cleaning process:
Step 1
Prepare a mixture of half bleach and half water in a pump up garden sprayer.
Step 2
Spray the mixture on your furniture and then wait about 15 minutes.
Step 3
Wash the bleach mixture off your teak.
For some furniture which has not been cleaned in a long time, it may be necessary to scrub the furniture before washing off the bleach mixture, however this is not typically necessary. Using bleach on your teak is perfectly safe, and provides a beautiful silver grey patina to the naturally darker greay weathered teak.
Preserving the Original Color of Teak
If you would like to preserve the original beauty of your teak furniture, Country Teak suggests a teak sealer. Teak sealers are the best way to preserve the original color of your teak furniture. Teak sealers come in a variety of shades, so you can find the perfect shade for your teak. Teak sealers increase the maintenance requirement of your teak, as they typically must be reapplied every 6-12 months. While teak sealers protect teak from weathering, they do not increase the lifespan of your teak as teak is naturally very oil dense and resistant to the elements. If you would like to use a sealer, we recommend visiting a marine store to purchase a teak sealer of your choice.
Teak Covers
While your outdoor teak furniture can be left outside all year round, Country teak offers specialty made covers for tables, lounge seating, among other furniture. Teak covers can decrease how often you need to clean your furniture, however they do not substantially increase the lifespan of your teak. If you are interested in a cover for your teak furniture please contact us for a quote!