Care and Maintenance of Outdoor Wooden Furniture
What furniture is considered outdoor furniture?
Outdoor furniture is considered to be those that are made with materials that have proven resistance to different climatic conditions when they are outdoors, totally or partially exposed to the open air, sun, rain, high and low humidity and temperatures. The fact that a piece of furniture is considered to be outdoor does not mean that it cannot be damaged or spoiled over time – all materials do – if the piece of furniture is subjected to conditions that accelerate its natural degradation. Outdoor furniture is not indestructible, it only has greater durability than others against wear and tear.
When a manufacturer refers to outdoor, terrace or garden furniture, unless the manufacturer explicitly specifies otherwise, it assumes that the furniture will be, totally or partially, under a roof or protected by some means against adverse or extreme weather conditions. in relation to the material with which said furniture is made. In turn, the manufacturer assumes that the buyer has read the care and periodic maintenance recommendations for the protection and prevention of damage, the objective of this document.
Teak Wood
Teak wood is one of the most weather-resistant natural materials. It is a hard wood, of high density and weight, which presents a physiognomy of great beauty, with an irregular grain that links soft and warm light and ocher tones contrasted between the sapwood and the heartwood. Teak wood, even after being baked, retains natural oils that prevent wood rot, for a relatively long time, compared to other woods, even after prolonged exposure to adverse weather conditions, to such an extent that it is possible, but not advisable to have untreated teak furniture outdoors.
The most recommended finish for teak wood in outdoor furniture is oil, which can be of vegetable, mineral or synthetic origin. The oil nourishes the wood and covers the pores, reducing the ability to twist due to overdrying or the possibility of it penetrating into the water and causing mold or rotting of the wood. Other treatments may include polyurethane-based varnishes. Regardless of the treatment, when teak wood is exposed to the sun for a long time, it turns a silvery gray color, which is completely natural, but its physical integrity will not be initially altered. To maintain its natural color for longer, it is possible to apply a teak sealer.
Maintenance of outdoor wooden furniture
Recommendations for care and maintenance of outdoor furniture
To prevent your teak wood furniture from deteriorating prematurely and to be able to preserve it for a long time, it is advisable to carry out some simple prevention and maintenance tasks that will extend the useful life of your furniture. The frequency of these tasks will vary depending on the climatic conditions of the region where you are located and the level of exposure to the elements of your furniture at each time of year. With this objective, we present below a series of recommendations for the prevention and conservation of outdoor furniture made of teak wood.
Considerations to care and maintain outdoor wooden furniture
- Excessively humid or dry places, or with high and low temperatures, direct sun or rain and other factors to which your furniture is exposed, will affect the behavior of teak wood.
- Teak wood can crack or warp if it is too close to a heat source, such as a radiator or fireplace, or even fire. Furniture must be kept away from any source of intense heat.
- Do not place the furniture in direct sunlight constantly. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause discoloration of the wood or excessive and uneven drying between the parts of the furniture.
- If it rains or spills liquids on teak wood furniture, creating puddles on it or on any of its parts, they must be dried as soon as possible. The excess of water on the wood can cause the appearance of mold after a while.
- Hot objects, such as pots or hot dishes, should never be placed directly on wooden furniture, to avoid unwanted marks or deformation. A trivet, heat insulation pad, or protector is highly recommended for using such hot items on wood.
- In coastal areas, in addition to humidity, saltpeter can affect the wood, so it is recommended to clean teak wood furniture more frequently.
- The pores of the wood can absorb liquids, so certain colored liquids, such as wine and other alcohols, fruit juices, dyes, paints or the like can leave marks if not cleaned immediately after contact with the wood.
- Teak wood is highly resistant to pest attacks, however, it is advisable to fumigate it from time to time.
- Outdoor furniture that is located under a covered area, protected from the relent, dew and humidity have greater durability than those that are located in partially or completely uncovered areas.
- Before applying any product, be it oils, sealing varnishes, or any other treatment, it is advisable to do a test on a piece of teak wood or on a hidden part of your furniture. This way you will be able to observe the result and avoid tints, discolorations or results that you do not want.
Prevention and Conservation of outdoor wooden furniture
- If your furniture has an oil finish, at least two or three times a year you should apply teak furniture oil evenly over the entire surface of the wood, allowing it to dry for 24 hours before using the furniture again.
- Before applying the oil, clean the furniture of dust, dirt or stains. If the furniture absorbs the oil very quickly, you can repeat the operation. The furniture will be saturated with oil when it no longer absorbs any more.
- If your furniture has a varnish finish, you will need to sand and refinish your furniture any time the finish warps. It is recommended to turn to a professional for this operation and to apply the varnish with a spray gun.
- Whenever you are not using your furniture, or when you suspect it will be subjected to adverse conditions (direct sun, direct rain, snow or hail), cover your furniture with covers or a protective tarp.
- All treatments should be performed and completed in a dry environment, before exposing the furniture to the weather again.
Care and Cleaning of outdoor wooden furniture
- Clean your furniture regularly using a dry or slightly damp cloth.
- Do not clean wooden furniture with excessive water and let it dry as soon as possible.
- Never clean or use chemicals on wooden furniture.
- Do not use cloths with abrasive fibers or metallic scouring pads.
- If the furniture is very dirty, you can clean the wood using a soft plastic bristle brush (never a hard or wire brush) and water with a little neutral soap.
- For stronger stains you can add fine sand to the soap. This will reveal the color of the natural teak, but it won’t be long before it turns silver again, unless you apply a sealer.
- If you want to restore the natural color of teak wood in your furniture, wash the furniture with soapy water, let it dry, sand lightly and then apply the oil.
Recommended products for care and maintenance of outdoor woodenfurniture
- Natural finishes: teak oil, grape seed oil, linseed oil.
- Synthetic finishes: Danish oil, protective varnish for exterior.
- Others: mineral oils for wood.
We recommend that you carefully read the instructions and application methods of any product before using it. If you have questions about the care and maintenance of your furniture or need additional information, do not hesitate to contact us. At PAROTAS we offer our clients an annual maintenance service for their furniture.
If you have any additional questions or require our help for the care and maintenance of outdoor wooden furniture, please send an email to PAROTAS and we will gladly help you car for you outdoor furniture.
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