Teak is a beautiful yet durable hardwood that has a variety of uses such as outdoor furniture, boat decks as well as other items that require weather and water resistance. Outdoor teak furniture is a beautiful addition to your garden or patio. Teak furniture is very durable which means that it does not succumb to the normal wear and tear that the elements may impose upon other outdoor furniture.
Teak, who's scientific name is tectona grandis, is native to Southeastern Asia. The terrain there is dry and displays undulating hills where the teak trees make their home. This hardwood resists rot, shrinking, swelling, and bending. It has a higher natural oil content and that is what preserves the wood, protecting it from mother nature and allowing it to be left outdoors for years, even decades.
Teak doesn't need a great deal of maintenance, but there are a couple of things that you may want to consider to keep your teak furniture in the best possible shape.
Dirt and dampness can cause mildew and this can make your teak furniture look unattractive. Be aware of these conditions and clean your teak furniture accordingly. This is particularly important for garden teak furniture. You may clean your teak furniture with a mild soap and water as needed.
The best solution for cleaning your teak furniture, especially your outdoor teak furniture is four parts laundry detergent or dishwasher soap and one part bleach. Use this solution with a soft bristle brush for best results. A special teak cleaner will actually remove the silver gray of weathered teak wood such as garden teak furniture. If you get scratches in your teak furniture, use a fine grain sandpaper to remove them.
If you leave your teak bare and do not sand it, it will, over time, fade to a natural silver gray color. This metamorphosis affects the color of the wood only and does not, in any way, affect the sturdiness or durability of the wood or of the teak furniture. This is mainly true for outdoor teak furniture that is constantly exposed to the weather.
If you wish to keep the golden brown color and smooth finish of the wood, then it is necessary to sand your teak wood from time to time. You may use teak oil and apply it to the wood to lengthen the period of time between sandings. However, if you choose to apply teak oil, you should do it every few months or whatever the instructions on the teak oil container indicate. If you want to keep your outdoor teak furniture looking new with the honey brown color and silky smooth finish, then some work will be required.
Teak furniture is wonderful for any household, but if you are looking for the best quality that money can buy, Danish teak furniture is the one to go for. You can find teak items for any house and in any style. You can get chairs, tables, dressers, stools, shelves and much, much more.
The great thing about Danish teak furniture is that it is long lasting, strong, always looks great and can be used for any style of home or era. A solid teak dining room table will brighten up and give character to any home and make your family dinners and parties an enjoyable time.
Vintage Danish teak furniture can be found all over Denmark and in fact, all over the world. There are some famous designers of Danish teak furniture like Greta Jalk, Hans J Wegner and Borge Mogensen who have turned furniture making into an art using some of the best wood available and crafting it into modern, classic and vintage designs.
One of the most important things when you buy a teak piece is how to maintain it and restore it if need be. You should contact a professional company that is experienced in furniture restoration of specifically teak furniture to get the best out of your old furniture pieces. One of the most important products to buy along with any teak furniture is teak oil to keep it looking perfect and well conditioned.
Teak is the type of vintage furniture that is most popularly collected and sought after. This is because it has properties that make it durable for use outside and does not really need to be polished or varnished that often. It is also very resistant to termites and makes for excellent choice of furniture for countries that have a termite problem.
Teak furniture experienced a boom in the 1950's and 1960's when it was taken by the Danish and created into a contemporary style called Danish Modern. This is where many of the vintage pieces are from and people will pay a large sum of money for Danish teak furniture like this. It is more than just furniture and is in fact a status symbol for many people. Aside from being quite rare and very resistant to the elements and used on various outdoor items like boats and buildings, this type of wood will actually last more than 70 years standing out in the rain, wind and extreme heat.
Teak furniture is used commonly in the form of outside chairs and tables, loungers, Muskoka chairs for near the poolside and in various hotels, benches, umbrellas, and many other marine uses. Over time, if teak furniture is left untreated and exposed to the elements it will turn a silvery grey color or patina. This does not harm the wood and is merely cosmetic. It is the result of the oxidation and weathering of chemicals and occurs mainly on metals, like the green color on the Statue of Liberty and various bronze coins.
Both Patricia Woods & Cecil Lilliston8 Cecil Lilliston8 are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Patricia Woods has sinced written about articles on various topics from Teak Wood Furniture, Teak Wood Furniture. Author: Patricia Woods is an long time teak furniture enthusiast. For more information on how you can use