An In-Depth Look At Teak Wood Outdoor Furniture
Teak wood outdoor furniture is highly sought after due to its natural weather resistant properties and durability. Researchers and discoverers have found medieval objects in Western India caves made out of teak. And although they were made more than 2,000 years ago, the objects remain undamaged.
It is more pricey than other typical types of wood as it is far more robust, durable and long-lasting. Moreover, this material is commonly used in outdoor furnishing. Yes, this type of furnishing is built to last a lifetime.
Characteristics of Teak Wood Furniture
Teak is a type of hardwood that’s native to South and South East Asia. Since it can withstand various types of weather conditions it is ideal for use outdoors. This material is usually used in creating boats, ships, and furnishing.
Pieces made of this type of lumber possess a gorgeous honey brown color. And over time, it’ll naturally turn into a classy patina grey. Properly maintained teak furniture can last for generations, making it a worthwhile investment for homeowners seeking longevity and value according to Castlery.
This type of furnishing won’t have its color faded like many other types of wood species. And even if it’s in contact with metal components, it won’t rust. This is the only type of wood that turns more stylish and eye-pleasing as time goes by.
What is Grade-A Teak Outdoor Furniture?
The grain that’s present in grade-a teak wood is even and tight. An outdoor piece made from this material contains a warm and consistent color that comes with golden shades and tones.
The natural components present in this type of wood make it purely resistant to harmful outdoor elements. Pests such as termites and moisture won’t ruin grade-a teak furnishing.
What makes this type of furnishing extra special? Well, it is the superior center-cut of the timber.
Around 30 to 40% of the timber is what makes it. This is produced by mature and strong teak trees, that’s why its appearance is highly special, well-developed, and does not discolor. Because of the purely natural components that are present in the lumber, the piece becomes highly suitable for outdoor use.
According to the Teak Warehouse, Grade-A-teak is characterized by a tight and even grain, warm golden wheat and honey tones, and a consistent color without knots or discolorations.
The organic oils and rubber both exist in this wood type. These components help prevent pest damage, moisture, and UV damage. They also make this furnishing all-weather and help maintain its integrity over time.
Grade-a teak is far better and more long-lasting than other hardwood types. If you want to add a set of luxury furnishing in your outdoor area, this outdoor furnishing type is undoubtedly an excellent choice. Compared to lower grades like B and C, it is more durable overall.
Teak Furniture Durability
Talking about durability, no doubt this type of furnishing is the most long-lasting, most durable, and most all-weather among hardwoods.
Ever since the middle ages, teak wood is mainly used for ships and boats. Nowadays, most high-grade ships and even yachts are made out of this material because of its ultra-high resistance to water.
In 1950, this lumber easily became one of the best choices for outdoor furnishing in the United States. Most of the pieces that can survive decades is made out of of this specific material.
If you’re going to obtain this furnishing for yourself, no doubt your grandchildren can still use them!
Teak Furniture Price
Talking about the teak wood furniture cost in India, this material is usually bought in cubic feet. Its standard price is generally around ₹3500 per cubic foot ($47 U.S). However, in the USA, its price is normally $25 to $30 per board foot.
Even though this furnishing is pricey, it’s actually worth the purchase. Due to its extreme durability, a person using it can actually have it for decades.
What are the factors that can affect the price? Here are some of the reasons why these pieces are expensive:
- Limited supply
- Logging restrictions
- Competition
- Inventory
- Exchange rates
- Tree size and quality
- Transport expenses
- Processing expenses
- Origin and age of the lumber
Despite the added costs, you can be certain that purchasing this furnishing will be completely worth it in the end due in large part to its natural beauty and longevity.
Another popular alternative to this material is acacia wood outdoor furniture.
How to Treat Teak Outdoor Furniture
To maintain the natural and gorgeous hues and colors of your teak wood furniture, you can apply a sealant to it. It will help in preventing moisture buildup. However, applying a sealant must only be done once a year. It’s so easy to treat and maintain!
But can you add teak oil once the furnishing is sealed? No. Never apply it as the oil could stop the sealant from working properly. Since adding the oil, molds and mildew might start to grow into your furniture.
So after applying the sealant, never add anything else. How then, can you add a sealant?
Here are some steps to treat teak furniture
- Get dish soap and water, mix them to form a cleaning solution, then cleanse your furnishing with it. For hard-to-reach and hard-to-clean areas or surfaces, use a soft bristle brush.
- Leave the outdoor furnishing under the sunlight to let it naturally dry and to have the grain opened.
- Get your sealant and spray it onto the furniture. Once done, gently rub the teak sealant on the wood with a lint-free and clean cloth.
How to Clean Teak Surfaces
Here are some of the things you need before cleaning teak wood furniture:
- Soft bristle brush
- Dish soap/ laundry detergent (You can use bleach if there are major stains)
- Teak protectant (only if you have)
- Teak-restoring products (only if you have)
Step #1: Prepare a mixture of water and soap (or water and bleach).
Step #2: Rigorously clean the furnishing using your water and soap/bleach solution. You can use a soft bristle brush to eliminate the dirt and grime.
Step #3: Let the furniture dry under the sun.
Step #4: If you have a teak protector, apply a thin layer of it using a sponge, cloth, or pressurized sprayer. Wait for 1 hour then apply a second layer of the teak protector.
Step #5: Let the furnishing dry. (Note: Only do this procedure once a year)
If there are much deeper stains like wine marks, coffee stains, or watermarks, you can try brushing it with a mixture of bleach and water.
If this doesn’t work, you can use rough sandpaper and follow it up with not-so-rough sandpaper so that the furniture’s texture won’t be ruined.
Can you Paint Teak?
The appearance of this furnishing type itself is already good enough to look elegant and stylish. That’s why painting isn’t always a good idea.
But despite that, if ever you want to try something new, we’ll inform you that this material can still be painted with different colors. Luckily, it is quite not difficult to paint.
Here are some reminders on what you should do if you’ve decided to paint your furnishings.
Wash it first. Make sure to eliminate the excess oil, dirt, molds, and mildew as they can ruin the adhesion of your paint. Clean it with a mixture of water and detergent powder and rub it with a sponge.
Abrade the wood with sandpaper and fill the holes with wood fillers. This step is important to ascertain that the paint will be applied smoothly.
You can use epoxy as a wood filler – just combine it with a hardener then spread it onto the holes. After applying it, let it dry for 5 to 7 minutes, then scuff it with finer sandpaper.
Apply a primer. Before painting, make sure to add a durable primer. You can apply it using a traditional paintbrush. Make sure that the primer is thick enough to protect the wood.
Apply your selected paint color. Now that you’ve come to the painting part, make sure to use oil or latex-based paint. These can be used over a primer that’s based on shellac. (Use a synthetic bristle brush when using latex paint, and a natural-bristle brush when using oil-based paint).
Make sure to coat the furniture with 2 layers of paint. Once the paint dries out, you can optionally add a clear polyurethane for added protection.
Visit this page for more related maintenance free outdoor furniture options.
