No, teak furniture does not need a finish to last a lifetime, but adding a finish can enhance its longevity even further. Teak is a naturally durable wood, rich in oils that protect it from moisture, pests, and decay. These natural properties make it an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor furniture without requiring a finish to maintain its longevity. With simple care and routine cleaning, teak can last a lifetime, weathering beautifully over time.
Simple Care and Maintenance
Teak furniture is low-maintenance, and simple routine cleaning is all that's required to help maintain its excellent condition over time:
Cleaning: | Wash your teak furniture with mild soapy water and a soft brush or cloth to remove dirt and debris. |
Rinsing: | After cleaning, rinse the furniture with clean water to prevent soap build-up that could dull its appearance. |
Avoid Harsh Chemicals: | Steer clear of harsh chemicals or power washers, as they can damage the wood and deplete its natural oils. |
Seasonal Maintenance: | If your teak furniture is outdoors and exposed to the elements, consider cleaning it more frequently, though annual cleaning is often enough. |
Natural Aging Process
Over time, untreated teak will naturally weather to a silver-grey patina. This change in color does not affect the wood's integrity or longevity. For those who prefer this naturally aged look, no finish is required - just simple cleaning and care.
Optional Finishes
If you prefer to maintain the warm, honey-brown color of new teak or opt for other finishes, applying a teak sealer can help preserve its appearance. While not essential for the wood's durability, a finish can offer additional protection against UV rays and slow down the weathering process, allowing the wood to retain its original color or chosen finish for longer and increase its longevity.
As one of the leading online distributors of teak furniture in North America, Westminster Teak recognizes the influence it plays on the industry and the impact it has on the environment specifically in regard to forest conservation and management.
We have made it our company’s policy to source our teak wood from well managed, credibly certified plantations. Our factory was the first to join Nusa Hijau, the Indonesian Chapter of the Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN), an initiative of WWF®(World Wildlife Fund) to eliminate illegal logging and improve the management of valuable and threatened forests.
We purchase wood only from Perum Perhutani, the government-managed plantation that promotes biodiversity and the livelihoods of the people that depend on them by allowing multiple crops to be planted amidst teak trees, for the benefits of the local economy. Perum Perhutani offers both SVLK and FSC certified wood. And, because it is the only source in our supply chain for wood base material, we have 100% transparency; we know exactly where all our lumber comes from for every component of our furniture, from the forest floor to retail floor.
All of our teak wood holds SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu) or INDO-TLAS (Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System) Certification. SVLK certification not only ensures that only legal timber is exported from Indonesia, but effectively manages sustainable forestry practices while reducing illegal logging and trading. Required by law for Indonesian timber to be exported, you can be assured that the furniture you purchase is a finely crafted product, from legally and sustainably harvested wood.
We also offer FSC Certified Teak Furniture for projects where FSC is required. Please Contact us for more information.
WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY
White Glove service includes delivery with appointment, inside delivery, opening and removal of packing materials, and assembly and installation in your room of choice. The average White Glove Delivery Service will add 20% to your total order with a minimum of $250.00.
* Applies only to Standard Delivery within the Continental USA. Does not include any other special Deliveries including White Glove. Does not apply to Reseller Orders.
Free Return Shipping*
And unlike our competitors, we will assume the high expense of shipping the furniture back to our warehouse, in the event you are unhappy with the quality of your purchase. Shipping furniture regardless of size is a very expensive affair indeed! This alone demonstrates the absolute level of confidence we have in our product.
*Free Return Shipping does not apply to Reseller Orders from Trade Accounts.
Please note that international orders may require wire transfer as form of payment.
On the internet, the selection of outdoor teak furniture is as wide-ranging as its prices that many customers often wonder why such a large range in price for products that looks so similar. The difference is in quality. Though helpful, pictures cannot give you a fair representation of quality and service. We're glad that you're making this effort to learn more before making your purchasing decision and hope that the information and knowledge that we share will help make the difference.
As one of the leading online distributors of teak furniture in North America, Westminster Teak recognizes the influence it plays on the industry and the impact it has on the environment, specifically in regard to forest conservation and management. We have made it our company’s policy to source our teak wood from sustainably harvested and credibly certified plantations. Our factory, the first to join Nusa Hijau, the Indonesian Chapter of the Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN), an initiative of WWF® (World Wildlife Fund) in the archipelago, purchases wood only from plantations managed by Perum Perhutani (The Ministry Of Forestry), whose primary mission is to eliminate illegal logging and improve the management of threatened forests. It also works to promote biodiversity and the livelihoods of the people that depend on them.
A very large percentage of furniture coming out of Indonesia comes from cottage industry. With exceptionally low labor cost, ’handmade’ furniture there could be produced at a price we in the US could hardly get for the cost of lumber. ’Cottage-industry’ in Indonesia -- usually operated through a loose network of home-based carpenters, craftsmen and artisans where entire families work on a particular type of furniture -- also means there are no actual quality control procedures or processes to follow.
There are no set guidelines in the selection of even basic raw materials such as wood, which very likely do not come from certified plantations. This makes the sourcing of the wood by both local and international standards, illegal. There are no set manufacturing production standards and procedures to follow and no modern equipment such as commercial kilns and modern plant tools and equipment, etc. These places lack the most basic modern tools we take for granted. So, the next time you shop for teak furniture, or any other hardwood furniture, floor or lumber for that matter, ask for the source. We know exactly where ours come from.
’Handmade’ may suggest quality and tradition here in the US but without the proper precision tools and selected raw materials, quality is often greatly compromised, especially when the furniture concerned is to be used outdoors and expected to last for a long, long time. ’Handmade’ is not synonymous with quality.
Check for the following pertinent factors in construction that highlights the difference in quality.
Quality of wood used
Like genuine leather and other luxury materials we’ve come to appreciate, there are varying qualities of teak. Westminster Teak uses only premium grade 100% Tectona grandis, teak wood. Only the finest cuts are selected and used in the production of our furniture. Much of the lumber used in the cottage industry is of secondary quality that may include sapwood. We use only select kiln-dried teak wood with characteristics that include: straight grain structure, absence of knots, splits or cracks, and an even tone in color.
Kiln drying process
Our process takes about two weeks of kiln drying to achieve a moisture content of about 10% and an additional week or so of ’resting’ to allow the wood to reabsorb moisture from the air. This natural ’reabsorbing of moisture’ process will ensure that the wood regains its dimensional stability and will not warp or split during or after the manufacturing process. This crucial stage of reabsorbing moisture also ensures the stability of the furniture to withstand the rigors of climatic changes.
Joinery
All critical connections are made in the traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery with the strictest tolerances. Each piece is precision cut to ensure perfect fit using only high performance weatherproof glues.
Without the use of modern machinery to produce precision cuts, the structural integrity of the furniture (especially for outdoor furniture) will always be in question.
Each of our furniture pieces comes with their own set of solid teak dowels that are pre-dried to a moisture content much lower than that of the furniture. This has been so designed to allow the dowels to reabsorb moisture from the air, creating an extraordinarily strong joint once fitted into the furniture.
Hardware
Only premium quality brass hardware is used in our furniture. Beware of ’plated’ or other alloys that are often passed off as brass. We have also begun to combine and will continue the use of other materials such as stainless steel in our designs. Our research has shown that teak complements well with stainless steel and the market’s response to it is positive as well.
Finish
Every piece of teak furniture does not leave the factory without being inspected not only for quality in construction but for smoothness to the touch. Every piece is sanded with very fine grit sandpaper and buffed to a fine ’micro’ finish that is silky smooth to the touch.
Packaging
We take pride in how we build our furniture and care very much in ensuring that you will receive them as beautifully as they were made, at your doorstep. We've made every effort (and always striving to improve) to make sure that every piece of furniture reaches your home the same way it left our warehouses. The packaging of every box is inspected before each shipment. Most packages (except for small boxes) are often hand-crated before they leave our warehouses.
Guarantee
Westminster Teak’s product is guaranteed to withstand the test of time and the rigors of the outdoor use and weathering. We also believe that providing the best quality also means providing the best guarantee. That is why we have the unmatched guarantee of:
Free Return Shipping is an expensive undertaking in the furniture business that none of our competitors have been willing to do. This unprecedented assurance comes only with the confidence on the quality built over years of determination to produce the best quality products.
There are no shortcuts in producing a quality product. Outdoor teak furniture should age gracefully and last through many changes of the seasons. Any shortcuts taken will quickly show up within the first year -- as warping, splitting, cracking, etc. Do not hesitate to look thoroughly at a piece of furniture the next time you go shopping for chairs or a table. Look closely at the joints, look at its underside, feel the finish.
Yes! When on the product page look under the main photo for a red button link that says "CADdetails" or visit our page on CADdetails.com. If you still cannot find the CAD or AutoCad drawing you need then please Contact Us and let us know what you need.
The time a finish lasts depends on exposed environmental conditions and whether or not the furniture is covered. Estimates for each finish are stated on our Teak Finishes page, simply find your chosen finish on the page and you'll see estimated times.
In the event you are not satisfied with your purchase, simply call or email us and we will make arrangements for a pick-up. All you have to do is to make sure that the product is in 'like new condition' and is repacked with the original packaging materials. It's that simple! Pending inspections, a refund will be issued for the full value of your purchase.
ALL SALES OF NON-STOCK CUSHIONS, INCLUDING C.O.M. (Customer's Own Material) ARE FINAL AND NOT RETURNABLE, unless error is manufacturing.
To further ensure that we meet every customer's unique needs, we offer you the following delivery options:
STANDARD DELIVERY
Standard shipping is curbside delivery only. It is the customer's responsibility to assist in the delivery if necessary and to remove all packaging materials which could include cardboard cartons as well as a protective wooden crate. Additional levels of delivery are available as optional choices.
INSIDE DELIVERY
This level of delivery service offered for those who prefer to have their furniture placed in the 'room of choice' at the point of delivery. We highly recommend this service to those customers whose dwelling includes apartments and multi-unit high-rises or office buildings.
Inside Delivery does not include opening and removal of the packing materials. It also does not include the assembly of furniture or moving of existing items at customer's premises. Following are pricing structure for Inside Delivery:
Inside Delivery - Ground Floor: | Add $250.00 |
Inside Delivery - Above Ground Floor w/Elevator: | Add $300.00 |
Inside Delivery - Above Ground Floor without/Elevator: | Add $400.00 (1st floor) +$50.00/floor |
WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY
White Glove Delivery is full service. Your furniture will be delivered to the location of your choice, assembled and all
delivery packaging will be removed. This is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and is the most hassle free option.
WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY
White Glove service includes delivery with appointment, inside delivery, opening and removal of packing materials, and assembly and installation in your room of choice. The average White Glove Delivery Service will add 20% to your total order with a minimum of $250.00.
Orders will ship from either our Florida or California warehouses within 24 business hours if items are in stock. Depending on your location from the shipping warehouse and under normal circumstances, orders will deliver anywhere in the Continental USA within 2-5 business days from the day that the order is placed. Please note that only in stock cushions are shipped together with the furniture. Otherwise, made to order cushions or umbrella fabrics are shipped separately from our vendors and usually take 6-12 weeks to deliver, depending on the off/on season. Please call 888-592-8325 and a customer service representative will be glad to assist you if your shipping needs including international orders.
We take pride in how we build our furniture and care very much in ensuring that you will receive them as beautifully as they were made, at your doorstep. We've made every effort (and are always striving to improve) to make sure that every piece of furniture reaches your home the same way it left our warehouses. The packaging of every box is inspected before each shipment. Most packages (except for small boxes) are often hand-crated before they leave our warehouses.
* Applies only to Standard Delivery within the Continental USA. Does not include any other special Deliveries including White Glove. Does not apply to Reseller Orders.
Free Return Shipping*
And unlike our competitors, we will assume the high expense of shipping the furniture back to our warehouse, in the event you are unhappy with the quality of your purchase. Shipping furniture regardless of size is a very expensive affair indeed! This alone demonstrates the absolute level of confidence we have in our product.
*Free Return Shipping does not apply to Reseller Orders from Trade Accounts.
We ship international, to all countries. Additional shipping charges will apply. Please Contact Us for details about other destinations, additional shipping costs and customs clearance.
Please note that international orders may require wire transfer as form of payment.
No, teak furniture does not need a finish to last a lifetime, but adding a finish can enhance its longevity even further. Teak is a naturally durable wood, rich in oils that protect it from moisture, pests, and decay. These natural properties make it an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor furniture without requiring a finish to maintain its longevity. With simple care and routine cleaning, teak can last a lifetime, weathering beautifully over time.
Simple Care and Maintenance
Teak furniture is low-maintenance, and simple routine cleaning is all that's required to help maintain its excellent condition over time:
Cleaning: | Wash your teak furniture with mild soapy water and a soft brush or cloth to remove dirt and debris. |
Rinsing: | After cleaning, rinse the furniture with clean water to prevent soap build-up that could dull its appearance. |
Avoid Harsh Chemicals: | Steer clear of harsh chemicals or power washers, as they can damage the wood and deplete its natural oils. |
Seasonal Maintenance: | If your teak furniture is outdoors and exposed to the elements, consider cleaning it more frequently, though annual cleaning is often enough. |
Natural Aging Process
Over time, untreated teak will naturally weather to a silver-grey patina. This change in color does not affect the wood's integrity or longevity. For those who prefer this naturally aged look, no finish is required - just simple cleaning and care.
Optional Finishes
If you prefer to maintain the warm, honey-brown color of new teak or opt for other finishes, applying a teak sealer can help preserve its appearance. While not essential for the wood's durability, a finish can offer additional protection against UV rays and slow down the weathering process, allowing the wood to retain its original color or chosen finish for longer and increase its longevity.
Yes! We carry Amazon's Golden Teak Oil, the best performing teak oil we have seen. We offer two sizes: a 16 ounce size and a 32 ounce size
Please Contact Us and we will provide you with detailed instructions on how to replace your fabric on your chair or lounger.
The short answer is that teak needs no care or special maintenance regimen. Untreated, natural teak (without oil) will weather to a handsome soft-silvery patina within a year or so, depending on the amount of sun and weather it is being exposed to. Mild soapy water, and a soft brush or pad, will clean away any accumulation of dirt. Finish by hosing it down with water. Depending on the environment, you should not have to do this more than twice a year. Over the years, your furniture will weather gracefully. If mold and mildew are persistent then consider using a 1:2 salt water rinse to clean your furniture. For best results, we recommend the use of our Teak Furniture Cleaner.
For those that wish to maintain or restore the original color we have options on our Furniture Care page.