If you are ever in doubt how best to care for your purchases just ask your retailer or the manufacturer who should be happy to help. The information below should however be used as a quick reference in conjunction with the instructions provided with your garden furniture purchase. There are three main types of wooden garden furniture namely Teak, Iroko and Jarrah (Eucalyptus), this article will detail basic care advice for all three types of wood and can be applied to various others, in conjunction with manufacturer guidelines.
The furniture may be left untreated and will, over a few months, weather to a soft silvery grey this look is preferred by some people. However, the use of timber treatment or teak oil is recommended to keep the furniture looking at its best and slow down the natural weathering process. There are many excellent products available and various shades with which to treat the wood. Treated wood will maintain a glossy brighter colour depending on the type of oil used and the variety of wood. Cleaning wooden garden furniture is relatively simple, treated or not the furniture will need to be kept clean. An occasional wipe or scrub down as necessary with warm water and detergent, or timber cleaner, is recommended. The wood should be completely clean and dry before treating. After initial treatment regular light applications of timber treatment will be necessary to retain the finish, please see care label or fact sheet for full details.
Storage is always a problem especially if you live in harsher climates, if you have storage space it is best practice to put the garden furniture away for the worst months as this will keep it in peak condition. If you have no storage space get a specialist garden furniture cover preferably made by the same manufacturer as the garden furniture so the fit is correct, these will protect from water wind and sun. This practice will prolong the life and keep your new wooden garden furniture looking excellent. This leads to the next topic of weathering. As part of the weathering process, cracks and splits will appear particularly on the end grain and to a lesser extent on the surface, within a few weeks to months depending on your climate. But should not be too significant else I would suggest you contact you supplier. As with other close grain hardwoods such as oak, this is normal behaviour of the timber. Natural oils and minerals in the wood evaporate due to exposure to the elements. The furniture is designed with this in mind and its strength and durability remain unaffected
One last after though is to ensure proper care of your cushions if you have any, they are particularly sensitive to harsh weather conditions like strong sun which can bleach the colour, so cover them up or put them in storage while not in use. Observe the proper cleaning instruction as per the manufactures recommendations or cleaning labels.
Garden furniture is an excellent addition to any outdoor environment and is an expensive investment so take proper care of it and you will reap the rewards later.
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