The Nature of Teak
Teak Wood is a durable tropical hardwood recognized for its durability and stability in exterior climates. It is impervious to sun, rain and snow. Natural teak starts out in a golden-brown state, and depending on the amount of exposure to exterior elements it will turn to a beautiful silver-grey patina (when left untreated) in 5 to 12 months. Due to the wood density this weathering process occurs only on the surface and does not harm the teak in any way.
During the weathering process, it is common for the teak wood grain to lift slightly (feel rough) and for small fine cracks to appear. This is called “checking” which is a natural occurrence (due to variations in temperature and humidity). Checking does not affect the structural integrity of the furniture and is not covered under warranty. If the wood feels slightly rough, it can be lightly sanded with 180-grit sandpaper in the direction of the wood grain. Water spots will occur during rain and wet weather. These will even out with time and the furniture will achieve a more uniform, silver-grey patina.
Natural Teak
New teak product will secrete some of its natural oils for the first few weeks which can stain light coloured cushions (or porous stone patio surfaces). We recommend wiping down your new natural teak furniture with a damp cloth & allowing the oils in your furniture to dry for a minimum of 2 weeks before use. This should be done before placing new cushions on the product. If cushions/fabrics do become stained by the oils in the teak, we recommend the use of our Upholstery Cleaner.
General cleaning & maintenance
To protect your new teak furniture and accessories, we suggest seasonally cleaning your teak products. To clean teak and remove dirt, stains and mildew as well as restore your teak to a bright/clean finish, we recommend our Teak Cleaner. If the wood grain stands up a bit after cleaning, lightly sand down the surface with fine sandpaper.
To maintain honey colour
To clean & maintain the natural golden-brown we recommend cleaning and protecting your teak furniture with our Hauser Teak Care Kit. The protective coating can be applied at the time of purchase and maintained regularly following the instructions provided in the kit.
For surfaces that may experience food/drink spills, we recommend our Teak Shield. This product provides a clear repellent and helps prevent stains. It allows moisture to escape, has mold/mildew inhibitors and doesn’t change the natural look of the product.
For those that want to “skip the step” of waiting for their teak product to slowly weather in the exterior elements Instant Grey product will turn new golden-brown teak to the silver-grey patina within an hour.
Finished Teak
Some teak is first vigorously brushed to obtain a textured and seasoned finish. After a coat of waterproofing primer, five coats of grey finish are applied. This process protects the wood against the weather, UV’s and various stains such as wine, coffee or oil and therefore requires little maintenance.
If exposed to the elements, the finish will fade and wear through, exposing unfinished teak. Exposed teak will begin to acquire a silver-grey patina which is typical of unfinished teak.
General cleaning & maintenance
To maintain your finished teak, use a dry, clean cloth to dust furniture weekly.
To clean, wash gently with mild soap and water, and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners or a power washer.
Winter Protection
For winter protection, we suggest you store your teak furniture/accessories in dry/covered areas (such as a covered roof, garage, shed or basement). If you don’t have room to store your furniture, we strongly suggest quality BREATHABLE covers should be used. When using a protective cover on a flat furniture surface (such as a dining table), use a pool noodle/pail/bowl in the centre of the surface so the cover is tented for additional air circulation.
Shop our collection of furniture covers.
PDF Data Sheet
