Caring for Grade-A Teak

Teak is one of the few woods that does well with very little attention. The Royal Teak Collection furniture we curate is built from responsibly harvested plantation-grown Grade-A teak: dense, uniformly golden heartwood whose natural oils let it sit outdoors without rot and without any finish at all. Stainless steel hardware is used throughout.

Decide on silver or honey

Silver. Left outside untreated, teak weathers to a soft driftwood gray within roughly four to twelve months and holds that color. This is not damage; it is how teak naturally ages. If you like the silvered look, care is minimal.

Honey. To keep the warm golden tone, clean and seal. Royal Teak recommends teak cleaner, a 48-hour drying period, then two thin coats of sealer applied with the grain, repeated once a year. We stock the Royal Teak Collection Teak Cleaner and Teak Sealer. The sealer is water-based, non-toxic and biodegradable, in a 33 oz bottle.

The routine

1. Hose down once a season. Plain water removes pollen and dust. Use a soft brush in corners.
2. Tighten hardware once a year. Wood expands and contracts with humidity, so check exposed bolts on tables and tighten by hand.
3. Never use teak oil. Royal Teak advises against it: it can feed mildew and darken unpredictably. Use sealer or nothing.
4. Do not power-wash above 1,000 PSI, and do not sand to bring back color.

Water spots and tannin marks

New teak is rich in natural oils and tannins. Standing water from pooled rain, sprinklers, wet glasses, planters or damp cushions can leave dark rings or streaks, especially in the first few months. Wipe up standing water, use coasters and trivets, and keep planters and wet cushions off bare wood. Most marks fade as the teak silvers. For faster results, clean along the grain with teak cleaner and a soft brush, rinse, and let dry. Royal Teak notes that water spots and tannin staining come from the environment and use, and its warranty does not cover them.

Cushions, slings and rope

• Cushions. Blot spills promptly and clean with mild soap and lukewarm water. Covers zip off. In seasonal climates, store cushions indoors from late autumn through spring, standing on edge rather than stacked flat.
• Slings (Sundaze, Steamer, Captiva, Sailmate) and all-weather rope (Admiral, Cannes). Hose down monthly in season and use mild soap and a soft brush for spots.

Winter

Royal Teak frames are designed to stay outside year-round. If you cover them, use a breathable, vented furniture cover, never a plastic tarp, and never cover pieces while they are wet.

Warranty

Royal Teak Collection offers a three-year residential frame warranty, a one-year commercial frame warranty, and a five-year warranty on Sunbrella cushion fabric.

Questions: customerservice@made4outdoor.com

Made 4 Outdoor is an authorized retailer and curator of Royal Teak Collection and Cove Outdoor Living. We do not manufacture the furniture we sell.