Care and cleaning of teak wood
Teak wood is best known for its resistance to natural conditions. Teak is impervious to the effects of snow, ice, rain, sun, heat, cold, and humidity and withstands weather better than any other wood. You can leave a piece of teak furniture outside and come back in 80 years and it will not have rotted or worn away due to the weather!
That is one of the big reasons that teak wood is chosen for yacht and luxury ship decks. Are you concerned about where you live? No need to worry! No matter where you live: Northern reaches of Canada, Florida, Maine, Washington, Hawaii, Cancun, Mojave Desert, Tibet….our teak furniture WILL NOT degrade like other woods. And that is without any preservatives whatsoever!
Over time, however, you may need to clean your teak wood. Although cleaning is not necessary, it does enhance the color of your furniture.
Over time the teak will turn a soft grey which many teak furniture owners love!
However, a few teak owners prefer to keep the wood its original light brown color. This can be done with a good teak oil/sealer and cleaner.
Once again, the resilience of teak wood is encouraged, and we recommend letting the teak furniture whether it’s a beautiful silver sheen. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SEAL, STAIN, OIL, VARNISH, or PAINT your teak furniture!
Cleaning Teak Furniture If your Teak furniture requires cleaning this can be done with a normal household bristle brush [not too hard] and some warm, mild soapy water. Wash down afterward with clean water. There are also proprietary cleaners on the market that can also be used to clean off various deposits and accumulated dirt and stains.
We do not recommend the use of high-pressure hoses, and steel wool or steel wire brushes should not be used at all as any residue left in the grain will rust and discolor the wood.
If the furniture has some stubborn and heavily ingrained stains these can be removed by sanding with a fine grade of sandpaper, being sure to work only with the direction of the timber grain. After sanding stains away like this, if the furniture was previously teak oiled you may wish to re-oil, or if it had previously been left natural, the fresh teak color exposed by sanding will soon mellow in with the existing silver-gray patina.
Caring for your cedar or oak patio furniture
Your new cedar product has been treated with Superdeck stain, which is an oil-based, semi-transparent substance. To maintain its current finish, you will need to reapply an oil-based stain one to three times per year, depending on the amount of rain, sun, or humidity your furniture is exposed to.
When your cedar starts to fade, a fresh coat of stain will keep it looking like new. Note: It is important to use an oil-based stain — the oil in the stain will keep your wood properly lubricated, and it will also act as a water-repellent. Warning: Do NOT use a water-based sealer, polyurethane, or varnish. This may damage your wood by either causing mildew to form, or your wood could become hard, dry, and brittle.
If you choose not to maintain your furniture it will gray naturally and become brittle. Your furniture can safely be washed with warm, soapy water or a deck detergent.
To find out if Superdeck is available in your area, call 800-825-5382