Best Patio Furniture Choices

One of the most attractive types of tropical hardwoods is teak wood. The wood is used on many marine vessels, as well as on teak patio furniture. Chaise lounges, benches and outdoor dining sets are just three examples of where you can find teak patio furniture around a house. Teak is famous for its natural hard and waxy oil composition that protects the wood from the effects of temperature, sun, and rain as well as the effects of insects and disease.

Teak patio furniture will withstand a great deal of abuse from both weather and humans. However, after long-term exposure to the sun, your teak chaise lounge, bench or outdoor dining set will eventually start to lose its golden glow and take on a slivery grey appearance. This silvery grey color is part of the natural aging process, and is often considered to be very attractive. It is perfectly acceptable to leave the furniture in this state with no maintenance whatsoever.

However, if you would like your teak patio furniture to maintain a rich brown or honey color, you will want to oil the furniture at least once a year. The oiling won’t increase the life of the wood, but it will slow the graying effect caused by the sun. This will keep your chaise lounge chairs and outdoor dining sets looking their best for many years.

Supplies for Oiling Teak Chairs and Tables

In order to oil your teak patio furniture, you will need the following short list of supplies. Your teak oil may have a more specific set of necessary items.

• Mild soap or detergent for washing the furniture.
• Teak oil. Usually available in 16 oz. and 32 oz. sizes. Look for oil made especially for outdoor furniture. Usually teak oil for the outdoors is available from marine suppliers.
• A 1” or 2” paint brush to apply the oil
• Clean rags (preferably cotton) for wiping down all surplus oil.

How to Oil Your Teak Patio Furniture

The following instructions are meant to give you a general idea of the process for re-oiling your teak patio furniture. Please follow the specific instructions that are enclosed with your teak oil.

1. Wash the furniture with the warm mildly soapy water. Rinse the furniture with clean water afterwards.
2. Wait until the furniture is completely dry before proceeding. This may take 24 to 48 hours. Any moisture trapped in the wood may cause mildew to appear after oiling.
3. (optional) If you want a smoother finish, sand your teak patio furniture with fine grain sandpaper. Make sure all sanding dust is removed from the surface.
4. Follow the instructions on the teak oil. Usually you will use a paintbrush to apply the oil, let the oil dry until tacky, and wipe off the surplus with a cotton rag.
5. For an extra smooth finish, apply a second coat of oil to your teak patio furniture, sand it down when dry, and apply another coat of oil as stated previously.

With a little bit of loving care once a year, you can slow down the greying effect of the sun on your teak patio furniture. This will maintain the wonderful appearance of any chaise lounge, bench, outdoor dining set, or other patio furniture you have that is made from this wonderful tropical hardwood!

About The Author:

David Caban is a successful author and publisher of http://www.best-in-patio-furniture.com. A one-stop source of free information on patio furniture and outdoor décor for patios, decks and porches.