CARL HANSEN & SØN
OCTOBER 2021

MAINTENANCE GUIDETEAK (OUTDOOR)
1/2Teak (outdoor)
Teak is the ideal type of wood for outdoor furniture. The wood is very durable and resistant to windand weather due to its natural oil content and it is not attacked by insects and rot. We only use
FSC®-certified teak at Carl Hansen & Søn.
Normal cleaning and maintenance – oil treated teakOil treated teak furniture has a nice reddish-brown color. If you want to preserve the reddishbrown color, the furniture needs regular maintenance with teak oil.
How often the furniture has to be retreated with oil depends on the environment where thefurniture is located. Outdoor furniture requires retreatment more often than furniture under aneaves or a covered terrace. If you want to maintain the teakwood’s beautiful golden color, thefurniture must be treated before the wood begins to appear dry and pale.
To achieve the best results, it is important that the furniture is thoroughly cleaned before
retreatment. If the oil is applied to a dirty surface, it may become moldy and discolored. The
furniture is easiest to clean with warm water with a small amount of a gentle cleaning agent. Usea soft brush to remove dirt. When the furniture is completely dry, lightly sand the surface with finesandpaper, grain 180-220. Apply the oil afterwards. Do not apply the oil in direct sunlight.
For instructions on oil treatment: See tabletops in solid wood.
If you do not retreat your teak furniture, the color will gradually change. The reddish-brown color
will diminish over time, turning it into a beautiful silver-gray surface which is characteristic forteak. The natural oil content of teak allows the wood to be left untreated without compromisingdurability and strength.
For normal cleaning, use a damp cloth soaked in warm water.
Normal cleaning and maintenance - untreated teakBefore using your new teak furniture, you should consider which kind of look you prefer for yourfurniture. If you choose to leave your furniture untreated, the color of the light brown teak willchange to the very characteristic silver-gray surface, for which untreated teak is known. This
process of transformation depends on the specific environment where the furniture is locatedand will happen within weeks or months.
If, on the other hand, you want the furniture to remain a golden, warm color, you get the best
results by oil-treating the furniture before using it the first time.

CARL HANSEN & SØNOCTOBER 2021

MAINTENANCE GUIDETEAK (OUTDOOR)
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Special maintenance - Teak
It is important to regularly clean teak furniture, whether oil treated or untreated. Regular cleaning
prevents dirt and algae from discoloring the surface. If normal cleaning is not sufficient to remove
dirt, we recommend using a special wood cleaning agent. After thoroughly cleaning the wood,
oiled furniture should be retreated with oil.
Special consideration - Teak
Teak is a natural material where variations in color and texture of the furniture may occur.
For retreatment, use oil for outdoor use. Oil for outdoor use contains fungicides, which prevent
microorganisms from discoloring the surface.
Over time, alternating humidity and weather conditions may cause the veins of the wood to rise,
resulting in a rough surface. Furthermore, due to weathering, very small cracks may appear in thewood. Minor cracks do not affect the design of the furniture nor compromise durability.
To take the best possible care of teak furniture, we recommend that the furniture is stored in an
unheated shelter during the winter season.
Please note that untreated teak is prone to discolor if the wood gets wet, e.g. from rain or ring
stains from drinking glasses.
We recommend covering teak furniture when not in use for protection from the elements.