NEW FURNITURE Before placing items on your new teak furniture, wipe all wood surfaces with a damp cloth to remove any dust from the manufacturing process. This dust contains natural teak oils that can discolor upholstery. For teak furniture that will be exposed to food and drink, we recommend applying our Teak Shield product to help prevent stains. This treatment is recommended for both painted and unpainted teak finishes. If the furniture will be used indoors, teak that is unpainted should be periodically treated with a thin coat of paste wax (Briwax or Johnson's Wax). This helps protect the wood from spotting caused by natural body oils or hand lotions.
WEATHERING
Teak wood is rich in natural oils. When furniture is new, some of these oils may surface from the wood during damp or humid conditions. To help prevent oil from discoloring upholstery, remove cushions from frames and pull sling chairs out from beneath dining tables when furniture is not in use. This should no longer be necessary after a few rainfalls have occurred and the furniture has begun to weather. While oil surfacing is most common with unpainted teak furniture, it sometimes occurs with painted teak finishes. A painted surface that becomes discolored by oil can generally be touched up or will weather away naturally. After the first few rainfalls, unpainted teak furniture may feel slightly rough due to a lifting of the grain. This is caused when small wood fibers on the surface absorb moisture, swell, and stand-up, making the finish feel less smooth. These fibers will gradually lay down and the wood will return to a smooth surface through normal use.
Naturally weathered teak
Teak wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in temperature and humidity. Over time this can result in small cracks or "checking" on surfaces of the furniture. Checking is cosmetic only and typically has no impact on the structural integrity of the frame. On painted teak furniture, expansion and contraction of the wood may similarly result in small cracks in the paint finish. When used outdoors, teak wood that does not have a painted finish will gradually form a handsome silver-gray patina. This process typically takes nine to twelve months depending on climate and level of exposure. If the golden-brown color of new teak is preferred, we recommend the periodic application of our Teak Protector product. Like any painted finish, the finish on our painted teak furniture will gradually fade and wear away with exposure to the elements. As the finish flakes off, the exposed, natural teak underneath will gradually turn gray. The pace at which the finish weathers will vary based on the level and type of exposure, use and maintenance. To extend the life of the original finish, we recommend using our protective covers when the furniture is not in use.
Painted teak furniture with our Antiqued White finish can easily be touched up or periodically repainted using high-quality outdoor paint.
Note : See kingsleybate.com for important information on furniture care and maintenance, and for more details on our care products.
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