FAQs
FAQs about Teak Furniture
What is Teak? Teak is a closed grained hardwood with high natural oil content. This makes it hard wearing, highly resistant to rotting and almost impervious to the effects of sun, rain, frost or snow. These characteristics combine to make it the ideal timber for both outdoor and indoor applications. Many other hardwoods are used for outdoor furniture and some are even marketed as ‘teak substitutes’. However, there is no substitute for teak and no other hardwood will perform to the same standard as teak in both outdoor and indoor conditions.
What kind of Teak should I look for? Only premium grade mature teak of consistent quality, which has a straight grain structure, the absence of knots, splits or cracks and an even overall colour. Also look for teak sourced from sustainable plantations in Indonesia. The plantations are owned and managed by the Indonesian government agency Perum Perhutani (,https://perhutani.co.id/) which is responsible for managing a strict policy regarding the size and quantity of trees felled each year together with annual replanting.
Why does new teak furniture sometimes have ‘wild’ dark or orange stripes? These markings are perfectly normal and will disappear within a few days, following exposure to the UV spectrum in natural sunlight. These marks are commonly found following the kilning process, which is used to lower the moisture content of the timber prior to manufacture. This process reduces to a minimum the incidence of small cracks appearing in the furniture due to the changes in temperature and humidity that it encounters in an outdoor environment.
Why do occasional cracks appear on my furniture? Teakwood is a natural material and as such fine cracks in the end grain of components, e.g. legs and arms, may appear and then disappear with changes in the weather and the consequent change in the moisture content of the wood. Such fine cracks are normal, especially in heavier components, and will not affect the life or serviceability of your furniture.
What is Teak Oil and what does it do? Teak oil does many things to protect and refinish your teak patio furniture. First of all, it acts as a waterproofing agent and weather proofing agent from rain and sun. Teak can be left in the sun and rain without fear of harming the wood. Teak oil also provides a stylistic attribute to the wood and keeps it changing and looking unique as the wood ages.
Can teak furniture be kept outside all year around? Yes, teak furniture can be kept outside all year around. Of course, any furniture left outside all year will get more dirty then furniture that is just used in the summer, but the long-term performance and durability of the furniture is exactly the same. We suggest all our customer to store your furniture over the winter in a garden shed, garage or outhouse. Please do not move your teak furniture from the garden straight into a heated indoor room for storage, as the sharp differences in temperature and humidity may cause the wood split.
How and when should I clean my furniture? Teak does not require any special maintenance routine apart from occasional cleaning. If left to age naturally outside by being exposed to light, air and rain, then the surface of the teak will gradually change to a soft, silver-grey as the pigments in the surface layer of the wood start to fade away. We recommend that you simply allow your furniture to weather naturally this way and maintain the silver patina with regular, gentle cleaning with soft-soap flakes dissolved in warm water (not detergent).
Does your furniture carry a warranty? Yes, we warrant that our furniture is fit for its intended, reasonable use as specified from the manufacturer, see our Returns and Refunds Policy https://xevalia.com/pages/return-and-refunds. We also warrant that our products are free from defective materials and workmanship. To make a warranty claim please contact our customer service department mailto:contact@xevalia.com.