Teak Wood FAQs

Teak Wood is known by some as the “Prince of Hardwoods” or even the “Rich Mans Wood”; it is a close grain hardwood that has a large content of natural rubber and oil. These oils and rubbers are part of what makes Teak wood such a desirable hardwood for outdoor use. The wood is basically impervious to all degrading factors including the effects of rain, snow, frost and even the sun. Additionally teak wood is highly resistant to rot and very resistant to bugs and other natural hazards. These desirable attributes keeps teak wood among the most sought-after wet environments like the boating industry. Boat builders have been using teak wood for centuries; it goes without saying: a wood capable of outperforming in demanding conditions like those in a marine environment is a superior wood for outdoor furniture.

The idea of “Teak Substitutes” is a marketing ploy. Teak has no substitute, it is unique in its characteristic properties, both from an aesthetic and a functional perspective. There is no other hardwood that will perform as well as teak in outdoor conditions. While many hardwood furniture exists, only Teak Furniture includes the inherent qualities needed to last in outdoor environments.

Javanese Teak is the only teak we use in the manufacture of our outdoor furniture in NZ. Javanese teak is an impeccable stock. The first plantations in Java were Dutch founded and controlled; the Dutch were the colonial power during that foundational period (the 1800’s). These plantations represent some of the oldest teak farms on the planet. These plantations are now owned and run by the Indonesian government, through the agency Perum Perhutani, responsible for all aspects of the teak forestry industry in the region. Specifically, Perum Perhutani is responsible for reforestation projects and planning, limiting the harvesting and felling of Tectona Grandis and controlling access to the wood.

When you receive your teak wood furniture it will be in its natural state which is a honey or golden brown color and can often appear to be polished or satiny. The polished appearance comes from oil which occurs naturally in the wood. This surface oil will evaporate after a few days outdoors. The oil that remains below the surface is part of what gives the wood its durability. If left to age naturally outside, teak furniture will develop a handsome silver-gray coloured patina. This patina process will take approximately 9-12 months, of course depending on the amount of ultraviolet light and the rain that the teak is exposed to. Teak wood is a natural material which means it’s subject to tiny variations in its structure. Teak specifically can have fine cracks on the end grain of parts of the wood; these may appear or disappear based on changing atmospheric conditions. These fine cracks are completely normal, specifically on bigger and heavier component parts, like legs and arms. This will not negatively affect the life span or durability of your new furniture.

Using oil to treat your teak wood furniture will not extend the life of your furniture. Specifically, using an oil on teak wood will accomplish only a cosmetic change. As such, we don’t recommend that you oil your furniture, as doing so results in unnecessary maintenance, where the teak wood already has such benefits.

If you want to preserve the color of your teak furniture, a teak sealer is recommended. Teak sealers are usually solvent based with water like viscosity, ultraviolet light and moisture protection. A variety of shades are available if you want other than the natural color. Sealers are easy to apply and are generally applied every 6-12 months. If you choose to use a sealer we recommend you visit a marine store and purchase specialty teak products as used on boats.

Teak requires very little maintenance apart from the occasional scrub with a mild solution of soapy water or a diluted mixture of Simple Green® and water to remove accumulated dirt. This is followed by a rinse with clean water. To remove grease spots, a light scrub with a degreasing agent is recommended. This is followed by a rinse with clean water. (This is why teak garden furniture is so perfect.)

If you want to remove the silver-gray patina and restore the furniture to its original color use a teak cleaner which can be purchased from a marine store.

No, teak furniture can be left outdoors uncovered all 12 months of the year, no matter where you live. If you choose to cover your teak furniture during winter, use a material that allows the wood to breathe.

Teak patio furniture can be left outdoors all year long. If you put your furniture away for the winter, do not store it in a heated room because this can dry out the wood and can cause cracks. The wood expands and contracts with changes in the weather – this is normal. Some of the joints are not glued, like the slats in the back of chairs. Some expanding and contracting of wood joints is also normal. From time to time you may need to tighten the fasteners. As the wood ages, small checks or cracks may appear on the surface, this is normal and doesn’t affect the durability of the furniture. These are not imperfections. Remember you are buying a natural product.

The outdoor furniture produced by Design Warehouse uses the time tested and proven techniques considered best practice. This includes mortise and tenon joinery, epoxy fortified glues and solid fittings made from brass and stainless steel. When we assemble and finish the furniture in our warehouse we utilize extra fine grit sandpaper to ensure the silky smooth finish our customers desire. We craft each piece specifically to achieve the highest quality product and do so adhering to multiple quality control processes. This ensures only the finest furniture is sold and delivered to you.

Yes, we do kiln dry our teak wood. This is a process which ultimately results in the highest quality and most uniform pieces of lumber. Specifically, it allows us to start with wood that is at the equilibrium for moisture content, which means that it is balanced and has a more exact dimension. Because this equilibrium has been reached properly, the wood used to craft the outdoor furniture we make can remain at its most stable level in a wide variety of environments. Kiln drying is also part of our quality construction and quality control processes.

There are several grades of teak. Specifically, the most well known teak grades are A, B and C grade. We use only A-grade teak in our furniture (except where we use reclaimed teak). Often Grade-A Teak is referred to “Super Grade A” or “Triple Grade A”. Grade A has a characteristic uniformity that cannot be matched by lesser grades of teak. It is evenly grained, evenly colored, and does not have cosmetic blemishes like you will find in Grade B and Grade C Teak wood. Such blemishes as are commonly found in Grade B or C teak include whitish residue on the surface, or contrarily blackish residue across the surface. Also, knots, holes and surface textural issues might also be present in lesser grade teak. Grade-A Teak does not have such cosmetic or structural concerns. As a tip for the discerning consumer, if “New” teak wood furniture is being sold with oils, stains or other “cosmetic enhancements” in tact, there is likely something to be hiding on the teak wood. Often, in addition to lesser quality teak wood, a manufacturer who would sell such product will also use poor quality fasteners and construction techniques.

Teak Wood is known by some as the “Prince of Hardwoods” or even the “Rich Mans Wood”; it is a close grain hardwood that has a large content of natural rubber and oil. These oils and rubbers are part of what makes Teak wood such a desirable hardwood for outdoor use. The wood is basically impervious to all degrading factors including the effects of rain, snow, frost and even the sun. Additionally teak wood is highly resistant to rot and very resistant to bugs and other natural hazards. These desirable attributes keeps teak wood among the most sought-after wet environments like the boating industry. Boat builders have been using teak wood for centuries; it goes without saying: a wood capable of outperforming in demanding conditions like those in a marine environment is a superior wood for outdoor furniture.

The idea of “Teak Substitutes” is a marketing ploy. Teak has no substitute, it is unique in its characteristic properties, both from an aesthetic and a functional perspective. There is no other hardwood that will perform as well as teak in outdoor conditions. While many hardwood furniture exists, only Teak Furniture includes the inherent qualities needed to last in outdoor environments.

Javanese Teak is the only teak we use in the manufacture of our outdoor furniture in NZ. Javanese teak is an impeccable stock. The first plantations in Java were Dutch founded and controlled; the Dutch were the colonial power during that foundational period (the 1800’s). These plantations represent some of the oldest teak farms on the planet. These plantations are now owned and run by the Indonesian government, through the agency Perum Perhutani, responsible for all aspects of the teak forestry industry in the region. Specifically, Perum Perhutani is responsible for reforestation projects and planning, limiting the harvesting and felling of Tectona Grandis and controlling access to the wood.

When you receive your teak wood furniture it will be in its natural state which is a honey or golden brown color and can often appear to be polished or satiny. The polished appearance comes from oil which occurs naturally in the wood. This surface oil will evaporate after a few days outdoors. The oil that remains below the surface is part of what gives the wood its durability. If left to age naturally outside, teak furniture will develop a handsome silver-gray coloured patina. This patina process will take approximately 9-12 months, of course depending on the amount of ultraviolet light and the rain that the teak is exposed to. Teak wood is a natural material which means it’s subject to tiny variations in its structure. Teak specifically can have fine cracks on the end grain of parts of the wood; these may appear or disappear based on changing atmospheric conditions. These fine cracks are completely normal, specifically on bigger and heavier component parts, like legs and arms. This will not negatively affect the life span or durability of your new furniture.

Using oil to treat your teak wood furniture will not extend the life of your furniture. Specifically, using an oil on teak wood will accomplish only a cosmetic change. As such, we don’t recommend that you oil your furniture, as doing so results in unnecessary maintenance, where the teak wood already has such benefits.

If you want to preserve the color of your teak furniture, a teak sealer is recommended. Teak sealers are usually solvent based with water like viscosity, ultraviolet light and moisture protection. A variety of shades are available if you want other than the natural color. Sealers are easy to apply and are generally applied every 6-12 months. If you choose to use a sealer we recommend you visit a marine store and purchase specialty teak products as used on boats.

Teak requires very little maintenance apart from the occasional scrub with a mild solution of soapy water or a diluted mixture of Simple Green® and water to remove accumulated dirt. This is followed by a rinse with clean water. To remove grease spots, a light scrub with a degreasing agent is recommended. This is followed by a rinse with clean water. (This is why teak garden furniture is so perfect.)

If you want to remove the silver-gray patina and restore the furniture to its original color use a teak cleaner which can be purchased from a marine store.

No, teak furniture can be left outdoors uncovered all 12 months of the year, no matter where you live. If you choose to cover your teak furniture during winter, use a material that allows the wood to breathe.

Teak patio furniture can be left outdoors all year long. If you put your furniture away for the winter, do not store it in a heated room because this can dry out the wood and can cause cracks. The wood expands and contracts with changes in the weather – this is normal. Some of the joints are not glued, like the slats in the back of chairs. Some expanding and contracting of wood joints is also normal. From time to time you may need to tighten the fasteners. As the wood ages, small checks or cracks may appear on the surface, this is normal and doesn’t affect the durability of the furniture. These are not imperfections. Remember you are buying a natural product.

The outdoor furniture produced by Design Warehouse uses the time tested and proven techniques considered best practice. This includes mortise and tenon joinery, epoxy fortified glues and solid fittings made from brass and stainless steel. When we assemble and finish the furniture in our warehouse we utilize extra fine grit sandpaper to ensure the silky smooth finish our customers desire. We craft each piece specifically to achieve the highest quality product and do so adhering to multiple quality control processes. This ensures only the finest furniture is sold and delivered to you.

Yes, we do kiln dry our teak wood. This is a process which ultimately results in the highest quality and most uniform pieces of lumber. Specifically, it allows us to start with wood that is at the equilibrium for moisture content, which means that it is balanced and has a more exact dimension. Because this equilibrium has been reached properly, the wood used to craft the outdoor furniture we make can remain at its most stable level in a wide variety of environments. Kiln drying is also part of our quality construction and quality control processes.

There are several grades of teak. Specifically, the most well known teak grades are A, B and C grade. We use only A-grade teak in our furniture (except where we use reclaimed teak). Often Grade-A Teak is referred to “Super Grade A” or “Triple Grade A”. Grade A has a characteristic uniformity that cannot be matched by lesser grades of teak. It is evenly grained, evenly colored, and does not have cosmetic blemishes like you will find in Grade B and Grade C Teak wood. Such blemishes as are commonly found in Grade B or C teak include whitish residue on the surface, or contrarily blackish residue across the surface. Also, knots, holes and surface textural issues might also be present in lesser grade teak. Grade-A Teak does not have such cosmetic or structural concerns. As a tip for the discerning consumer, if “New” teak wood furniture is being sold with oils, stains or other “cosmetic enhancements” in tact, there is likely something to be hiding on the teak wood. Often, in addition to lesser quality teak wood, a manufacturer who would sell such product will also use poor quality fasteners and construction techniques.