A new piece of teak furniture is golden, almost honey-coloured. Left outdoors, it turns silver grey within a few months, under the effect of the sun. Many people worry about it: it is not deterioration. The grey layer is only a few tenths of a millimetre thick; beneath it, the wood is intact, still protected by its natural oil. So it is a question of appearance, not of lifespan.
Letting it weather. This is the no-maintenance option, and often the most beautiful one by the Bay: the silver grey of the teak echoes the cabins, the jetties and the pines. All it needs is a wash with soapy water once or twice a year.
Keeping the golden tone. In that case the wood has to be fed, once or twice a year:
- clean with soapy water and a soft brush, then let it dry completely;
- apply a thin coat of teak oil with a cloth, following the grain;
- wipe off the excess after about twenty minutes, so as not to leave a sticky film;
- repeat whenever the grey returns.
Bringing back the gold of teak that has already greyed. A teak cleaner or restorer, then a light sanding with fine paper, and finally the oil. Avoid pressure washers, which damage the fibres.
And the pines? Under the pines around the Bay, a drop of resin may fall on the table: remove it with a cloth dampened with a little methylated spirit, then rinse.
At the showroom, we keep pieces in both finishes: come and compare.