TEAK MAINTENANCE
Teak is a hardwood tree, called Tectona grandis in latin. Apart from being very stylish, it's also exceptionally durable and it needs very low maintenance.Do note, however, that the latter isn't the same as“nomaintenance” .Below are a few tips on what to do, and what not to do.At Skargaarden we only use only high grade teak, harvested fromcarefully controlled plantations. You don't have to use any kind of pre- servatives or treatments to ensure the longevity of your outdoor teak.
NEW FURNITURE
All our teak furniture are sanded and polished at delivery - but that's it. If you're using the furniture outside, and they are exposed to water,they will get a bit rough. This is a natural process and is solved by sanding the teak. It usually only happens twice, in the beginning.
DON'T OIL OUTDOOR TEAK FURNITURE
Oiling teak is a good thing if you are planning on using the furniture indoors. Outdoor teak furniture should not be oiled.It will not make it last longer, but it will tie you into a tiresome maintenance routine. Oiled teak is more likely to mildew and will cause irregular coloring as it weathers.New teak furniture often appears smooth and“polished”- thiscomes from the oil that occurs naturally in the wood. The oil on thesurface of your teak will gradually evaporate when the furniture is outdoors (this is what happens when it turns grey). It's the oil that re- mains below the surface that gives the wood its strength and durability.This is why Skargaarden teak can be left outside all year long.
SOME SHADES OF GREY
As mentioned already, left outdoors,our teak furniture will naturally weather to a silver grey color. You will begin to notice this “greying” in a few months, depending on the amount of sun and rain your furni- ture is exposed to. During the weathering process there may be some roughening of the grain, occuring in spots. You may even notice a few small cracks. Water spots or other discoloration may also occur during the weathering process. All these Haws will eventually even out, and the furniture will take on a uniform silver-grey color.It's a natural, living material.
HOW TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL COLOR
So, what if you don't fancy the grey color and want to keep the orig- inal dark color of the teak? Your piece of furniture can be restored,by cleaning it with mild, soapy water and a soft bristle scrub brush.A good teak cleaner is also very effective.It requires no heavy scrubbing or polishing. A teak sealer can then be applied after cleaning, whichwill help to maintain the honey-like color of your teak. Teak sealerneeds to be reapplied about once a year,and should not be applied to new teak. Remember to wipe your teak furniture clean with water and a mild detergent and then let it dry - before you apply the sealer. Apply the sealer in a thin layer! Less is really more.
OTHER TIPS FOR PROTECTING AND CARING THE TEAK
Cleaning your teak furniture every now and then is a good thing. It helps maintaining the general appearance and prevents dirt from build- ing up. Hosing it will do the trick, so it's not that much of an effort. Just don't use a high-preasure washer. As mentioned earlier, use a mild detergent and rinse afterwards. You may of course cover your furniture when you are not using it for a long period of time. That will help keep it clean and protected (especially in areas with a lot of tree sap or dust), but is not essential. If you do choose to use protective covers, it is very important that you use only“breathable”covers that don't trap the humidity, but allow constant ventilation. If you're in a region with cold and snowy winters, we recommend you to store the furniture in a roof-covered place.