Teak Furniture is a great option for any outdoor living environment but teak furniture maintenance is one aspect of teak ownership that should not be overlooked.  Teak is a beautiful hardwood that is sturdy and durable, not to mention beautiful, and is becoming more popular all the time for a prime source for outdoor furniture.   Teak is full of natural oils that helps to defend it from the infestation of insects and also helps it resist warping, shrinking or rotting because of exposure to water. When you purchase new teak furniture, it is a beautiful honey color. However, through the effects of age and exposure to the sun and weather, the color turns gray or silver over time if it is left untreated. This is where Teak Furniture Maintenance comes into play.

The Importance of Teak Furniture Maintenance

As the oil on the surface of the wood slowly evaporates the unprotected wood is exposed to the elements. However, if you have professional Teak Furniture Maintenance done on a regular basis, you can retain the beautiful honey color indefinitely. Cleaning the wood is the first step. Some experts recommend washing the wood with a mixture of water and mild detergent and using a soft bristle brush. Even if you decide you like the silvered color, you should clean your teak at least once each year because bacteria can remain on the surface of the wood if it is not properly cleaned. In addition, if you leave the grayed teak unprotected, it can actually degrade more quickly than if you refinish and maintain it.

Some people think that they can maintain the original color of their teak furniture by wiping it with teak oil. While this seems to work initially, the teak oil actually builds up over time and can darken the color of your teak. In addition, it tends to be sticky and actually attracts dirt and grime to your teak. After a few applications, you will need to strip the oil totally from the surface of your teak if you want it to look natural again. Professionals, such as the trained staff at Teak & Deck Professionals, will use special sealers that are designed to work well with teak so that this type of problem doesn’t happen.

If you work with a professional Teak Furniture Maintenance company, you may have them treat and seal your teak when your first get it or when you have it restored so that the maintenance is needed less frequently. Having professionals handle the maintenance of your furniture means that you can count on it looking nice without having to go to the trouble of completely restoring it every few years. Remember that opting for professional teak furniture maintenance is the best way to keep your teak furniture looking great and remaining durable for many years.

When you are looking for a kind of wood that is durable and strong, teak is usually the answer but teak furniture cleaning is an issue you will have to deal with.  Teak is one of the most popular woods used in a variety of outdoor applications.  Not only will you find teak used in outdoor patios and decks, but in outdoor furniture as well.  It is important to remember that if you keep your teak well-maintained it will last for many years.  This is why it is important to remember to have professional Teak Furniture Cleaning done when it is necessary.

Something that occurs with teak, probably more than with any other type of wood is the way it changes color when it has been exposed to the sun for a long period of time.  The original honey color of the teak tends to become a dull shade of gray.  Some people really prefer the rustic look of the gray, weathered teak, but many others prefer to keep their teak looking like new.  In order to do your teak furniture cleaning properly, you need to understand what must be done to take care of it properly so that you will not damage it.

Tips on Teak Furniture Cleaning

When you do your outdoor teak furniture cleaning, you should plan to care for the wood just like you would care for other outdoor wood.  When teak is not kept properly clean, it can be an excellent location for mold and mildew to grow.  Keeping the teak properly cleaned and sealed is a good way to keep the mildew and mold from taking over the furniture. Some people like to use a high pressure sprayer to remove the dirt and debris, but professional Teak Furniture Cleaning companies will warn you that the high pressure could cause damage to the wood.

If you are trying to do it yourself, you may find that there are a variety of products available for teak furniture cleaning.  It is important to use something that has been formulated to clean teak. You may find that you can find both one aond two part cleaners. You will have so scrub longer with the one part cleaner to see results, but the two part cleaner is harder to work with and could damage your teak. For the best results, you should have a Teak Furniture Cleaning company handle the cleaning process for you. This is the best way to ensure that the job is done properly and with the proper materials. You can have them seal the furniture after it is cleaned in order to protect it, especially if you don’t want your furniture turning grey again soon.

Cleaning Outdoor Teak Furniture

If you own outdoor teak furniture, now is the perfect time to get it in shape for Spring and Summer.  Cleaning outdoor teak with the right materials and a little hard work or you can trust the cleaning and sealing to a service company like Teak & Deck Professionals.

When cleaning outdoor teak furniture, use a mild house detergent to scrub away all discoloration and then rinse your pieces well. You can also use a commercial-grade oxygen bleach that will clean and brighten your teak piece back to their original state.  When sealing your teak furniture, only use a fully penetrating teak sealer. Never use teak oil as it does not penetrate the wood and will eventually darken your pieces. Cleaning outdoor teak done on a regular basis, your teak furniture can look its best all the time.

Do You Need Professional For Cleaning Outdoor Teak?

If you choose to use a professional to treat your teak furniture pieces, Teak & Deck Professionals can take care of all your needs as they do for over 750 active outdoor maintenance customers across Southern California. Call them 1t 800-517-9362 to get a free estimate on maintaining your outdoor pieces.

Cleaning Outdoor Teak Since 1999

To Seal or Not Seal new teak furniture?

A question we get all the time in our office is whether or not new teak furniture should be sealed. The simplest answer is a resounding ‘yes’ but there are reasons why some people may not choose to seal their pieces when new. Here are the top 3 reasons to seal pieces when new, along with reasons for not sealing as well.

1) Keep your teak furniture looking like-new all the time - Left unsealed, new teak furniture will begin to fade and lighten in a matter of months when left outside.  Only a properly applied, penetrating teak sealer (NOT Teak Oil!), will ensure that your pieces keep their showroom appearance for as long as possible.

2) Protect your teak furniture from the elements – When sealed with a marine-grade, penetrating, teak sealer, your new teak pieces will stay well protected from both sun and water damage.

3) Guard against the high cost of future restoration – By sealing your teak furniture when new, you enable future maintenance to be much less costly than if you didn’t have it sealed at all.  If you keep up with maintenance on an annual basis, it should only cost you between $25 and $50 per piece to keep your furniture looking its best. As a comparison, the cost to restore gray pieces that were not originally sealed can cost at least $100 per piece.

There are certainly those teak owners that like the look of weathered, gray teak furniture and they certainly don’t need their pieces to be sealed when new. If you like the look of your teak when purchased, sealing it when new is the best way to assure its longevity and good looks going forward.  If you’d like more information on sealing new teak furniture, please visit our webpage at www.teakanddeck.com/teak-refinishing/teak-sealing or call us directly at 800-517-9362.  We’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have or provide a free customized estimate right over the phone.

With all the rain we’ve been getting over the past week in Southern California, many of our customers are asking if there is anything they should be doing to safeguard their teak furniture. The short answer is “nothing”.

As long as you perform regular annual or semi-annual maintenance to your teak furniture, including the application of a marine-grade penetrating sealer, your teak furniture is prepared to withstand downpours and hold up against the strongest UV damage. It is only with furniture whose sealer’s protective qualities have degraded, that you need worry about the effects of water and sun on the wood itself.

Many of our residential customers see the obvious benefits associated with regular teak maintenance, and ask to be contacted at least once per year to have such a service performed at their home. Almost all of our commercial customers are on regular maintenance programs so that their teak is always looking its best and is always properly protected. These maintenance programs do pay off in times like these when outdoor furniture is exposed to the worst that Mother Nature has to offer.

10,000 Pieces of teak furniture and Counting!

Teak & Deck Professional is proud to announce that it has recently restored it’s 10,000th piece of teak furniture. “With residential and commercial customers all across Southern California, including San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles Counties, we’re not surprised that we reached this milestone but are certainly proud of its meaning”, states owner, Drew Isaacman. “With over 800 active customers, we also maintain these same pieces that we once brought back to life, which makes us doubly proud.

For information on how Teak & Deck Professionals can make your outdoor teak furniture look new again, give them a call at 800-517-9362.  They service all of Southern California including San Diego, Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles and almost any other city from Santa Barbara to the Mexican Coast. They’ll provide a detailed teak restoration estimate right over the phone so you can make an informed decision.

Preparing Teak Furniture for Wintertime

While winters are certainly not harsh here in Southern California, your teak furniture will be exposed to more rain than normal over the coming few months. Combined with the regular sunlight that we receive in the winter, your teak furniture needs to be well protected for the coming months. Here are some ways to ensure that your furniture will looks its best going forward:

1) Make sure that the teak sealer on your outdoor teak furniture is still strong and active. If you haven’t had your teak maintained in the past 12 months, you can safely assume that your sealer is no longer able to do its job. Have your pieces maintained now so that the water will not dwell on your unprotected furniture. Your pieces will still look great come springtime and you’ll have the piece of mind that they are well protected for the winter.

2) If your pieces do have a recent sealer on them, try to keep them as clean and dry as possible over the coming months. A monthly cleaning with a mild cleaning agent should do the trick.

3) If you choose to cover your pieces over the winter, only use fully breathable, high-quality covers that will not trap moisture. These are not easy to find and we can recommend a high-quality source if you need one.

Above all else, know that your teak furniture is designed to withstand the winter months and should be enjoyed and used.

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 Teak & Deck Professionals launched a new website in September of 2010. The new site, located at www.teakandddeck.com, contains helpful information of teak refinishing and deck cleaning while showing off the many customer pictures taken over the past year. Have a look around and let us know what you think. Check this blog often for updates regarding teak refinishing, deck restoration and stone cleaning and sealing in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles.

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