Make Your Teak Furniture Last a Lifetime

Teak is an extremely popular material for indoor and outdoor furniture. It's a rainforest wood, but it's one that lasts a very long time and is naturally resistant to the elements, insect damage, and decay. Teak may cost a little more than cedar or hardwoods, but it's worth it in the long run. Teak outdoor furniture is wonderfully durable and resilient. It takes a little care, however. Here's a look at what you need to do to make your teak furniture really last a lifetime.

Since you'll need to spend more to get good quality, sustainably sourced furniture made from teak, it's important to learn how to take care of it properly. Remember that untreated teak may still have problems facing the elements after a while. Fortunately, it's not hard to find good products to help you care for your teak outdoor furniture. Choose ones that will go well with your particular color of teak, and you'll have few problems.

Plain soap and water work well to get rid of built up moss, dirt, or other soiling. Don't use a power washer, since it can damage the furniture, and stick to a milk, non toxic type of soap. A little bit of bleach can be included in the wash water as well, if you're concerned about mildew staining. Use only soft bristle brushes to clean your teak, and don't scrub too hard. Rinse after the furniture is clean, to remove residues, and allow the teak to dry.

If you'd like to put a sealer on the furniture, try an oil based one - this is best for indoor types, however. Too much oil in your outdoor furniture can encourage mildew. Painting your teak is usually a poor idea, since the paint will tend to peel and blister over time. Stains and paint do not adhere well to teak because of the very natural oils that keep it from decaying. If you want to stain or paint teak, you need to consult someone who knows how to find a specialty product that will do the job.

If you choose to allow your teak to weather naturally, it will change color.  Eventually, like most weathered wood, it'll become a beautiful silvery gray color.  Some people aren't ready for this color change and wish to use protective finishes to keep their teak in its original condition.  This is an option, and you'll want to reapply this type of finish once every season.  The best ones don't add too much additional oil to the teak.

Remember to avoid allowing teak to be wet for long periods of time.  It shouldn't rest on wet ground, and water should not be allowed to pool on it.  Fortunately, teak isn't incredibly vulnerable to moisture, and will resist swelling, warping and shrinking.  The finish will remain smooth and is resistant to splintering.  Teak outdoor furniture can develop small cracks, but they are not structural.  Teak is relatively light weight and can generally stay out for most of the year.  In very wet climates, it may need to be taken inside during some parts of the year, or oiled heavily before being left out in severe weather.