Use and Care Manual

Teak is an extremely durable hardwood. It requires little care and no

preservatives or treatment of any kind to protect it from the elements. Natural

teak will gradually weather to a beautiful silver-gray color if left outdoors. You

will begin to notice the "graying" after 3 month or so, depending upon the

amount of sun and rain the furniture is exposed to. Total weathering will take

about 6 to 9 months. This silvery gray 'patina' which develops over time,

gives teak furniture a distinctive appearance. The color resulting from this

natural aging process is considered to be very attractive, and allows

teak furniture to blend in well with many outdoor environments. Teak left in

this state is easily maintained, and needs no treatment whatsoever.

If your teak wood products or furniture is to be used indoors, and away

from natural sunlight, over a period of time -perhaps six months to a year - the

wood will gradually become a darker shade of brown.

If you wish to maintain the original tawny color of your furniture, you may want

to consider a light application of teak oil, see below for further instructions.

Furniture intended only for interior use should be oiled or given a light

application of a clear furniture wax such as "Johnson's" paste wax to enhance

its appearance as well as for extra protection.

We are often asked about the necessity of oiling teakwood furniture. To begin

with, please understand that it is not needed to protect the furniture**. Oiling is

done to maintain the warm tones of the wood - it keeps the furniture from

weathering to a soft gray color.

To maintain the color, you will need to oil the furniture approximately three

times each year. Remember, teak does not require oiling. It's completely

optional. For a lower maintenance finish, consider using a high-quality teak

sealer. Seal will usually last an entire year without needing re-application.

If you do wish to oil, please use the following as a guide:

1. Your furniture MUST BE completely dry, otherwise moisture trapped

within the wood may cause black mildew spots to appear after oiling.

Your furniture may take up to 48 hours to fully dry out after a rain.

2. You must apply teak oil before your furniture begins to weather. If it has

begun to weather, scrub your furniture with a stiff poly-bristle brush and

soapy water, rinsing as you go with the garden hose. (Note: there are

several wood deck cleaners available which will make the job much

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Teak is an extremely durable hardwood. It requires little care and no preservatives or treatment of any kind to protect it from the elements. Natural teak will gradually weather to a beautiful silver-gray color if left outdoors. You will begin to notice the "graying" after 3 month or so, depending upon the amount of sun and rain the furniture is exposed to. Total weathering will take about 6 to 9 months. This silvery gray 'patina' which develops over time, gives teak furniture a distinctive appearance.
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easier, or, a pressure washer works wonderfully too.) then allow the furniture to fully dry 3. Ensure the surface is clean and free from dust 4. Use true teak oil - do NOT use "finish". This is available from a store which would stock boating and marine supplies (teak oil is used extensively on boats). 5. The oil can be applied with a clean brush, starting from the top and working downwards. The surface should be left wet by the brush, but try to avoid leaving too much surplus oil behind as you work.