Teak will take seasonal upkeep and maintenance. Dust and dirt can collect on your outdoor teak furniture which can be cleaned. Depending on your environment cleaning needs to be done every 3-6 months. Cleaning teak regularly will help prevent mildew build-up and potential discoloration. Our Natural Teak furniture can be cleaned and refreshed with mild soap and water, and with our teak cleaning and maintenance products.
Because this is an organic material, the original appearance and maturing of color will be unique to each item and when exposed to the elements, will begin to gray or silver over time, caused by the loss of natural oils in the wood. This is a normal process and we offer this as a finished ‘look’ in our oyster teak finish.
Due to its high-quality center cut, and natural oils, teak will age gracefully without the help of cleaners and protectors.
All of our teak is sustainably sourced from Indonesia and we use the heartwood of the tree, also known as Grade A or marine-grade teak. To further strengthen each piece, the furniture is joined with mortise and tenon construction using old-world craftsmanship and modern technology.
Complete with gorgeous grains and rich color, outdoor furniture constructed from teak is one of Summer Classics most popular items. The elegant warmth of the wood brings out the natural beauty of your well-kept yard.
Teak is used as a material in many of our luxury collections, including Ashland, Avondale Teak, Charleston Teak, Club Teak, Coast, Croquet Teak, Haley, Malta, Montauk, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Woodlawn. There is sure to be a Summer Classics option in teak for your patio, poolside or porch.
While Summer Classics teak furniture is guaranteed to be the best quality, it’s important to follow our guide for protecting, maintaining, and cleaning teak in order to ensure its long and beautiful life. Follow the steps given below, and your teak is sure to shine through all of life’s seasons.
Summer Classics teak has two options in many of our collections – ‘oyster’ teak and ‘natural’ teak. Natural Teak has a classic look and Oyster Teak is made to mimic the aging of teak in a gray patina finish.
Natural Teak Finish Furniture Care
At Summer Classics we recognize the natural beauty of teak. Due to its high-quality center cut, and natural oils, teak will age gracefully without the help of cleaners and protectors. Over time Natural Teak will begin to develop a silver/gray patina, which we think is inherently beautiful and is mimicked in our Oyster Teak finish. If you do not want your teak to morph into this naturally beautiful gray state, there are many teak cleaners and protectors for your use. Summer Classics offers its own teak cleaning, maintenance and protection products available in any Summer Classics furniture dealer or SC Home Store.
These products are not designed for pieces in our ‘oyster’ teak finish which has been developed to showcase the beauty of weathered teak.
Before You Start
Equipment you will need
- Rubber Gloves
- Eye Protection
- Clean Water
- Light Sandpaper
- Ground Protector
- Clean Cloth
- Application Pads
1. Teak Cleaner
For the restoration of Weathered, Gray Teak and other hardwoods. Cleaner & Brightener in one.
To clean and brighten your Natural Teak, use Summer Classics teak cleaner! If you prefer the color of new, golden honey teak, use this product first to restore the color, then apply the Teak Protector immediately after drying to preserve the natural teak color.
If you prefer your Natural Teak to continue weathering over time, there is no need to apply the teak protector afterward as the teak wood will continue to gray and age when exposed to the outdoors.
We recommend that when cleaning teak you do so on a disposable plastic or thick fabric drop cloth. This will prevent you from staining or damaging the surface under the product being cleaned.
Do not use this product on Oyster Teak, it will remove the finish and show the young raw teak underneath!
2. Teak Protector
Maintains the original, honey brown color of Natural Teak for a longer time.
Our teak protector can be used to maintain the original, honey brown color of Natural Teak for a longer time. This actually lasts 4 times longer than applied with teak oil and 2 times longer than applied with teak sealer.
It should be used as soon as the product starts to gray and should be applied at least once a year depending on the environment in which you live. It also is resistant to mold and prevents black spots from forming on teak.
If black spots appear on your teak after being exposed to the elements, please note that this is not harmful black mold. They are natural wood mold spores and may be cleaned to remove.
Our teak is from a center cut, making it the most expensive and luxe cut available for teak. Due to this, and certain climates, the teak will leak oils that can be green, red, brown or yellow in color during the first 3 to 9 months when it is acclimatizing, and for several weeks after the application of our Teak Protector, or other types of teak oil. This can stain cushions, and hard surface porches, so be sure to store your cushions during this period of time.
3. Teak Shield
Makes Teak and other hardwoods repellent to water and moisture and to prevent stains caused by food and drinks.
Always apply teak protector before the teak shield. You cannot seal the teak and expect the oil to get in after sealing.
Cleaning teak regularly will help prevent mildew build-up and potential discoloration.
To make your teak furniture repellent to water and moisture use our teak shield product. This will prevent all kinds of food stains as well including coffee, red wine, olive oil, ketchup, and mustard from penetrating into the teak. This product basically creates a transparent layer on the teak, rejecting moisture, dirt, mold, and mildew. Please allow new products to weather outside for two weeks before applying the Teak Shield and/or clean with Teak Cleaner.
Unlike the teak cleaner and the teak protector, Summer Classics Teak Shield can be applied to our Oyster teak finish.
Summer Classics Unique Oyster Teak Finish
Tips for Cleaning
For everyday cleaning use mild soap and a soft cloth. Harsh cleaners can remove the finish on Oyster Teak. Make sure to use a soft plastic brush as metal brushes can scratch and damage the teak’s surface and finish.
Make sure to use a soft plastic brush as metal brushes can scratch and damage the teak’s surface. Do NOT use our Teak Cleaner and Teak Protector on Oyster Teak as they will ruin the finish.
As for Natural Teak, the Teak Shield can be used to prevent water, moisture and food stains from penetrating into the finish of Oyster Teak. A degree of natural oil in the product is needed before application, so please be sure to allow new products to sit outdoors for two weeks before use.
In high altitude, low-temperature environments oyster teak finish can develop rough patches. Lightly sand down these areas, but do not use power sanding tools or pressure washing tools as the heat may cause dark marks on the wood and will remove the finish on oyster teak.