Teak is one of the most favored materials for furniture, and building in general. It is one of the strongest and most durable hardwoods, especially when exposed to weather conditions. Many experts say that there is no need for treating it with wood finish. But if you still want to?
Theoretically, teak does not require any type of finish to maintain its life. Teakwood in its raw form is impervious to sun, salt water, insects, and whatever else you can think of. This is because of its high natural oil content and tight wood grain.
When left unfinished, teak weathers to a light gray color, and can be easily cleaned using a soft brush and some soap and water. This is the preferred look for teak for many applications, including lawn and garden furniture. Especially in England, there is numerous outdoor furniture that has been in use for one hundred years with no protective coating applied.
Two suggestions for teak finishes
- Teak oil
If you want to treat your teak, teak oil is the most popular option. There are many types of teak oil, running from thin, lightweight oils to thick, heavy oils. The lightweight oils are easy to apply and give the teak a lighter-colored look, but they require maintenance on a more regular basis. The heavier or thicker oils are more laborious to apply and give the teak a darker color, but maintain their finished appearance longer and require less maintenance. - Varnish
Another choice is to use varnish. Varnish is much more difficult to apply than any of the oils available, but provides a gloss coat that will last for a long time. The only potential problem with using vanish is that the natural oil that is contained in teak can get trapped between the varnish coat and the teak, creating milky spots in the finish.
Every teak finish needs maintenance
No finish that you apply to teak is permanent. Without some sort of maintenance, the oil or varnish will begin to crack, peel, or become mottled after a period of time. If the teak item is left out in the sun and weather, the finish will begin to become blotchy and fade, and will eventually disappear. This will look unattractive for the period of time required for the finish to disappear, but it will not harm the teak.
Choose the right teak accessories
Both tradition and aesthetics can be reasons to have accessories in teak, but it is also in other respects an ideal material for outside use. The greasy and hard wood can withstand extreme temperature differences, harsh weather, and fungal and insect infestations.
