The very simple answer to this question is, yes! Teak is a fantastic timber that we love and is built to withstand pretty much whatever the elements can throw its way. With its naturally high oil content and tight grain structure, it is the perfect timber for your outdoor garden furniture. We may be a little biased but put simply, it is a fantastic timber to use for outdoor furniture.
Solid teak is known for its glorious golden brown tones and will add a touch of class and style to any outdoor location. However, after a while you will start to see the teak turning a more silvery grey tone. We have had many a phone call and email over the years asking as to why my new teak garden furniture is fading or changing colour? The answer to most of these questions is quite simply that this is a natural process the teak is going through and at no point is this detrimental to the strength, rigidity and quality of your teak garden furniture.
When teak is exposed to the sun’s rays, rain (which we certainly have plenty of) and the general atmosphere it is situated in, the oils on the surface of the wood start to oxidise and the colour of the teak starts to fade into that silvery grey patina that you see. It is very similar in principle to red cars that you sometimes see have changed to an almost faded pink colour. It is the same process, the sun and atmospheric conditions causing the surface to change.
This process can start to occur after approximately 3-6 months, depending on whether the sun decides to shine! By about 12 months, usually your teak patio furniture will have that wonderful silver grey patina. What to remember here, and where a lot of people go wrong, is thinking that this is a fault in the timber. The silver grey colour change is just a surface finish, the wood underneath will still be as strong, durable and rot resistant as we all know teak to be. This patina is purely a cosmetic change and is in no way detrimental to the strength of your teak garden furniture. This is one of the reasons boat builders use teak, as it is an extremely hard wearing timber and can withstand all the elements thrown at it, especially when out in the middle of the ocean!
So, is there anything I can do about this natural fading process?
Well, there are a few things you can do. A lot of customers I speak to prefer their teak to take on that silvery grey patina, as some are not so keen on the golden honey colour that teak naturally has at the start of its life. For them, allowing the teak to fade naturally is just the right choice. For those who want this finish a little quicker, there are what’s called patinizers, which will help to give and maintain this silvery grey finish.
If you would prefer to keep the lovely honey colour of teak then there is a range of products to help you. From teak oil to teak sealers, there are many options for your teak garden furniture. At this point all we would say is whatever decision you make with regards to applying a teak product to your teak patio furniture is that you ensure all application guidelines and instructions are followed, as we would not want you to damage or permanently stain your teak garden furniture by incorrect application of your chosen oil or sealer. It is essential that all teak furniture is free of debris and dry before any application is made.
We really hope this has shed a little light on why your teak furniture turns to that silver grey colour, but if you still have any questions or queries then please do not hesitate to send them to [email protected] and we will be extremely happy to help.
