End grain checking, what exactly is it?

You have ordered your beautiful teak garden furniture from Ottena and it now has pride of place in your garden, patio or on your balcony, but you have noticed that some small cracks have appeared in the teak outdoor furniture. Are they anything to be concerned about and what causes them? This article will explain a little bit about what these types of cracks are and how they can be caused.

All of our stunning garden benches and patio table and chair sets are manufactured from eco-friendly, solid, long lasting teak. This is a natural material and your teak garden furniture will expand and contract regularly in changing climates once it has been exposed to the elements. This is a completely natural process and it is not something to be concerned about. This process can result in small hairline cracks developing in your teak garden bench, teak table and chair set or teak Adirondack. These small cracks are known as end grain checking. 

These small cracks are the result of the changing temperature and humidity levels, something we know all too well here in the UK! Your teak garden furniture will naturally expand and contract, dependant on temperature and humidity levels, and also absorb moisture from the atmosphere. These effects can cause the teak of your garden bench, folding patio dining set or Adirondack chairs to expand and contract, resulting in the small splits and cracks that can sometimes appear in your teak garden furniture.

This is what is known as “end grain checking” and occurs when the teak adjusts to its environment and surroundings, causing these small surface hairline cracks or splits. These cracks will usually appear on the end grain sections of your teak garden furniture. The most important thing to remember in all of this is that in no way does this end grain checking and the hairline cracks that are typically associated with it, affect the strength or integrity of your teak garden furniture. This is a completely natural process. These cracks and splits can occur in any type of teak garden furniture, be it a teak Lutyens bench, teak Adirondack chair or teak table and chair set, and will often come and go as the environment around your teak garden furniture varies from season to season. Teak is an extremely durable material and it is therefore greatly suited to use as outdoor furniture. This natural process will not affect the ongoing use, life or strength of your teak outdoor furniture.

If you need any more help or have any questions regarding cracking or end grain checking in your teak garden furniture then please do not hesitate to contact us at hello@ottena.co.uk and we will be happy to help in the best way possible.