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When the
weather gets colder, many homeowners face a dilemma: to keep their patio
furniture outside, with proper weatherproofing, or take it inside and try to
accommodate in a basement or garage. But with teak patio furniture, you will
no longer want to stash the patio set in the basement. Instead, you will
want to flaunt it all year long.
Teak patio furniture is becoming more popular each day, with more designers
exploring the timeless charm of teak wood. This wood, which grows in Burma,
Indonesia and other exotic locations, is extremely durable, light and
convenient, and it ages with a stunning grace.
According to historians, woven wicker furniture was first used in ancient
Egypt. But since that time teak has become a favorite of garden furniture
manufacturers only in the beginning of the 20th century, when white garden
furniture has been labeled as boring and the prominent garden decorator
Gertrude Jekyll claimed that gray- or green-toned garden furniture is more
attractive. Since teak weathers to a beautiful silvery gray, it has soon
become a popular wood of choice for many garden and patio furniture
manufacturers.
Teak is one of the most valuable woods today. Teak wood grows in severe
climatic conditions in Burma and Indonesia. Teak is a very hard wood
resistant to wind, pests, sun, and humidity. In addition, teak does not
splinter. For centuries, teak was used in marine building, which means that
teak patio furniture can be easily left outside even in harsh climate
conditions.
One of the most remarkable features of teak wood is its ability to change
color with age. When new, its color varies from light to dark brown and over
years becomes a light silver gray. The first “gray hair” in teak furniture
will be noticeable after three to four months of use, depending on how
contrasting the climate conditions are in your area. For example, if you
have cold nights and hot sunny days, teak patio furniture will turn to gray
faster. Natural teak will become gray in about a year.
To preserve this beautiful taupe shade of gray, you can wash the teak patio
furniture every spring with mild detergent and water. To prevent dust
accumulation you may wash the furniture with your regular garden hose,
keeping the water pressure at low.
Even though teak wood does not splinter, it may develop small cracks with
time. Teak wood contains a high amount of natural wood oils, so it will not
develop deep structural cracks. There is no need to treat teak wood with any
kind of wood sprays or oils to protect it; however, the teak wood oil does
create a pretty surface sheen. You may apply oil when you plan to leave the
teak furniture outside for a long period of time, or when the wood starts to
show gray.
Since in most cases teak wood is left untreated when used for teak patio
furniture, you should avoid spilling food or drinks on the wood surface. If
you do happen to “leave your mark”, don’t use any harsh detergents to remove
it. Any marks will eventually fade with time. When the stain is noticeable,
you may scrub the area with mild sandpaper. Ultra-violet rays also damage
the sheen of the teak furniture, and an annual treatment with properly
labeled teak wood oil is recommended. Make sure that your teak wood
furniture is clean and dry before treating, because you don’t want to trap
any water under the coat of oil. |
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