Teak: Tropical Beauty for Your Outdoor Space

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Picture a teak sofa adorned with cushions under a voluminous willow which pulls in the rich natural colors around it and provides them with a golden glow. Or perhaps a teak dining set and chairs overlooking a gorgeous cityscape provides a stark and stylish contrast to the modern feel around it. What do these pieces have in common? The gorgeous and versatile wood teak. But where does teak come from, and why is it perfectly suited to outdoor furniture?

Tropical Teak

From humble beginnings in wild tropics like Thailand and Indonesia right to your very own patio comes teak wood, one of the most prized timbers in the world. This exotic wood creates its own oils and through a resin unique to teak, also acts as a repellent for bugs and insects.

As it matures, teak develops a deep vibrant golden tone under layers of bright bark. This pattern, called heartwood, is extremely valuable and an exquisite favorite the world over. After a thorough processing period, the raw wood is transformed to create refined furnishings with remarkable longevity.

No-Fuss Maintenance

When used as an outdoor furniture material, teak comes packed with versatility, durability, and style. With rich golden tones and unmatched endurance, the material adds a touch of beauty and nature to enhance any outdoor space.

In addition to its vast versatility, teak is also gifted with a low-maintenance power from nature: providing its own protective oils. These rich oils work to ensure beauty and durability, preventing moisture from invading the wood and causing dryness or rotting. Teak is, by far, the most durable and easily maintained choice for outdoor wood furniture and it’s all thanks to nature. The material takes care of preventing cracks, dents, or warps all on its own. A light dusting is all teak needs to flourish and remain healthy.

Unique Patina

Over time, teak patio furniture has the unique ability to develop a gorgeous silver luster in lieu of its original rich golden tones. This feature allows the furniture to gradually transform, adding a refreshed look to a space using only time to soak up the sun’s rays.

Don’t fret, however, as those that wish to forgo the silver patina, and instead opt to savor the natural golden hue of teak, are in luck. While an old wive’s tale says to apply teak oil to the material, this will serve as an unnecessary step while possible creating mildew, since teak already creates its own oils. Instead, it is wise to use what’s called a sealant on teak wood to preserve its color.

Keep the Luster

For best results, let the teak have time to open its grain under the sun (about two weeks). Then, a sealant should be evenly applied and thoroughly rubbed in—twice. This will effectively preserve, or seal, the color at the time of application, preventing the silver patina from emerging. Add a clear coat to enhance the furniture further by giving it a rich, glossy sheen.

If the teak furniture has already developed it’s silver luster, and a different color is desired, teak is also easy to stain using your favorite gentle method, or easy to gently sand down so the golden hues still lurking underneath are once again exposed. It is a recommended best-practice to begin the sealant process once this is achieved.

Bringing one of the earth’s most precious woods to your home is a decision that will add beauty, nature, and undeniable functionality to your outdoor space. Your patio will be one to envy, no matter the size or terrain. At Frontera, we would love to help you transform your home’s outdoor area and give it the beauty and refinement that perfectly suits your style. Download our new spring LookBook for the the newest teak styles.