Material Properties Contrary to popular belief, teak furniture does not require any special maintenance routine or any additional protection apart from occasional cleaning. Left to weather naturally, teak will turn from a golden-brown color to a light silvery grey as the pigments in the surface layer of the wood begin to fade away. This process will take from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the location, and the elements.
Gloster does not apply any ‘finishes’ to our teak. All of our teak has a natural finish. Some of our products are just sanded to a very fine finish (normally 220 grit). Other products are then subject to buffing. Buffing brings the natural teak oils to the surface and burnishes the teak to an ultra-smooth surface which has a slight gloss, adding more richness and color to the teak surface. Buffing is a cosmetic process - it is not meant to last. It will quickly disappear when exposed to the elements (rain and sun), or when the furniture is cleaned with water.
We recommend that you allow your teak furniture to weather naturally and simply clean thoroughly once or twice a year with either a water and mild detergent solution or ideally, our Teak & Upholstery Cleaner. Teak furniture may also benefit from an occasional light sanding to remove any raised grain and restore a smooth finish to the surface. Under no circumstances should a power washer be used to clean teak as this will erode the soft surface and leave it rough to the touch.
Gloster Teak & Upholstery Stain Protector can be also applied over the weathered surface to help repel moisture and to protect the teak from staining from foods and drinks. Apply the Teak & Upholstery Protector once a year to give the best results and twice a year for table tops (in April and October) to help protect these more exposed horizontal surfaces during the winter months.
To keep teak looking the same as it does when it is fresh out of the box, it should be sealed when new with
Gloster Teak Sealer. This will help to maintain the natural, brown color of fresh teak, without darkening the teak too much.
Gloster Teak & Upholstery Cleaner should be applied to furniture once a year. Gloster Teak Protector should then be added on top of the sealer to help repel moisture and to prevent stains.
Because teak is a naturally oily wood, it is not possible to paint or varnish. Any paint or varnish applied will not adhere properly to the surface and after a short while will start to peel off. We do not recommend the use of teak oil or any other wood oil on teak that is to be used outdoors. Teak is already a naturally ‘oily’ wood and the addition of further oil does not add any additional protection. If oiled regularly, mildew can start form on the oils left on the surface and the teak will gradually turn black. This black coloration can then only be removed with aggressive sanding.
