If you have noticed your teak garden furniture taking on a silvery-grey tone this summer, you are not alone. With the UK enjoying an unusually hot and dry start to the season, complete with several heatwaves, we have had a number of customers asking the same question: why is my teak changing colour so quickly?
The short answer is that this is completely natural, entirely harmless, and one of the things that makes teak such a remarkable wood in the first place. Here is what is actually happening, and what you can do about it if you would prefer to keep that warm golden glow.
What causes teak to turn grey?
When teak is freshly cut and finished, it has a rich, honey-brown colour that comes from its natural oils and pigments. Over time, exposure to sunlight gradually changes that appearance.
The main culprit is ultraviolet (UV) light. Sunlight breaks down a compound in the wood called lignin, which is the natural “glue” that binds the wood fibres together and holds much of its colour. As the lignin at the very surface degrades, the golden pigments fade and a thin layer of weathered fibres is left behind. These fibres scatter light in a way that gives teak its characteristic silvery-grey, often called a patina.
The key thing to understand is that this is a surface-only process. It typically affects just the top fraction of a millimetre of the wood. Underneath, your furniture remains exactly the same warm colour it always was, and just as strong.
Why has it happened so fast this year?
UV light is the primary driver of greying, and this summer has delivered plenty of it. Long stretches of clear skies, intense sunshine and successive heatwaves mean your garden furniture has been soaking up far more UV than in a typical damp British summer.
Repeated cycles of hot, dry days also draw some of the natural surface oils out of the wood, which can speed up the weathering a little further. So if your teak seems to have turned grey faster than you expected, the weather is very likely the reason.
Does greying damage the furniture?
No, and this is the reassuring part. Unlike many other woods, teak contains high levels of natural oils and silica that make it exceptionally resistant to rot, insects and moisture. It is the same reason teak has been used for centuries in shipbuilding and outdoor settings.
Greying is purely cosmetic. A piece of teak patio furniture that has silvered over many years is every bit as durable and long-lasting as the day it arrived. In fact, the weathered look is prized by many people. You will see it on the decks of classic yachts and throughout the gardens of grand country houses, where the soft grey is considered part of the charm.
Patina or golden glow? The choice is yours
As the greying process does no harm, whether you keep it comes down entirely to personal taste.
Plenty of our customers love the natural, understated elegance of weathered teak and simply let it develop. Others prefer to maintain the original golden-brown warmth. There is no right or wrong answer, and you can happily change your mind from one year to the next.
How to restore the golden colour
If you would like to bring back that fresh, honey-toned look, the process is straightforward.
First, clean the wood. A dedicated teak cleaner, or a gentle scrub with warm soapy water and a soft brush, will lift away the grey surface layer and reveal the golden wood beneath. For more stubborn areas, a very light sanding along the grain can help. Always let the furniture dry fully before the next step.
Once clean and dry, apply a good quality teak oil. This replenishes the surface, deepens the colour and helps slow down future greying. The results can be lovely, but correct application really does matter.
Tips for applying teak oil correctly
- Choose a good quality teak oil rather than the cheapest option, as poor products can leave a patchy or sticky finish.
- Only apply on a warm, dry day when no rain is forecast, ideally out of direct sunlight so the oil does not dry too quickly.
- Work thin coats into the wood with a clean cloth or brush, following the grain.
- Wipe away any excess before it becomes tacky. Too much oil is the most common mistake and can actually encourage mould or mildew in damp conditions.
- Expect to reoil once or twice a season to keep the colour looking its best.
It is worth stressing that oiling is entirely optional. Teak does not need it to stay healthy, since the wood already contains its own protective oils. Oiling is simply a way to maintain the appearance you prefer.
In short
A silvery-grey tone on your teak garden furniture is nothing to worry about. It is a natural, weather-driven process that leaves the strength and longevity of your furniture completely intact. This summer’s heatwaves have simply sped things along. Whether you embrace the patina or restore the golden glow with a little cleaning and oiling, your teak will continue to serve you beautifully for many years to come.
