What is teak?
Teak is a dense-grained hardwood indigenous to Indonesia. Tectona grandis (Latin for teak) is a deciduous hardwood tree indigenous to the dry, hilly terrains of Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Teak is extremely dense-grained and highly resistant to rot, warping, shrinkage and swelling. Its high natural oil content acts as a natural preservative to the wood so it can be left outdoors for decades.
How durable is teak?
The first outdoor teak benches were made of recycled decking from old sailing ships. Many public parks in England are furnished with such teak benches, some of which are nearly a century old. It is impervious to wind, rain, sun, snow, salty ocean air and even chlorinated air from pools and spas.
Why is teak furniture more expensive than other hardwood furniture on the market?
There are a number of less expensive hardwoods used for outdoor furniture and all of them are inferior to teak. Jarrah and shorea are the most common of these inferior woods and they do not have the same life expectancy as teak nor do they have the luxurious look or feel as teak. Quality outdoor teak patio furniture has a natural life expectancy of 75 years, so teak furniture is really not expensive when you consider it will last a lifetime.
How long will my teak furniture last?
Quality teak furniture should last a lifetime. Our top grade outdoor teak patio furniture is made with only top grade kiln-dried teak timbers, mortise and tenon joinery, teak dowels, stainless steel and solid brass. It naturally has a high oil content which makes it resistant to warping and rotting.
What is the quality of Outdoor Teak Store®’s outdoor teak garden furniture?
We sell outdoor teak patio furniture made from only premium quality, plantation grown, Javanese Tectona Grandis, or true teak, which the native people call "JATI".
What does it mean when an item is being shipped “knocked-down”?
Most of the furniture offered by Outdoor Teak Store® is partially-assembled and packed flat for efficient shipping. This is known in the industry as ‚“knocked-down‚”. “Knocked-down” furniture offered by Outdoor Teak Store® can be easily reassembled using the hardware, dowels, glue and instruction manual provided with each item. It is possible for one person to assemble the furniture within a few minutes with a minimum amount of tools. However, a helper is always useful!
What is Outdoor Teak Store®’s Return Policy?
Your satisfaction is guaranteed! If you are unhappy with your purchase from Outdoor Teak Store® you may return the item(s) for a refund or exchange within 30 days of your receipt. The item(s) must be in new condition, unused and in original packaging material. Please call to obtain an authorization number for the return and to ensure you receive full credit.
All items returned under this policy are eligible for a refund. We will happily refund the purchase price minus our actual shipping and handling and a 20% restocking fee will be credited to the same form of payment used in the original purchase. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. If your furniture arrives damaged, defective, or is not the item(s) you ordered, we will remedy that at our expense. Customers should insure all returns for the purchase price of the product to protect you in the event of loss or damage.
Whatever the issue, please give us a call or e-mail us so that we can do our best to help. To reach a customer care representative, please call us at (800) 554-4170 Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm (Eastern) or email us customercare@outdoorteakstore.com.
Returns made without prior authorization may be refused and full credit may not be assessed.
How to I cancel an order?
To cancel an order, you must CALL toll-free at (800) 554-4170. We can not accept a cancellation request via e-mail or fax. Orders cancelled after 24 hours may be charged to your account if product shipment cannot be stopped. Outdoor Teak Store will attempt to accommodate your request but cannot guarantee cancellations made after 4:00 P.M. EST on the day that you placed the order. Cancellations made according to these guidelines within 24 hours of order placement may not be subject to penalty charges.
Does Outdoor Teak Store®’s patio furniture come with a warranty?
Yes! All of our products are backed-up by a manufacturer warranty. Also, our outdoor teak garden furniture is warranted to be free of defective materials and workmanship. Special conditions may apply to products purchased for general public or commercial use.
All of our products carry a 2 year warranty to the original purchaser against manufacturer defects. This warranty does not apply to damage resulting from accidents, alterations, misuse, tampering, negligence, abuse or normal wear and tear.
Does Outdoor Teak Store® carry other teak products not shown on this website?
Yes, we have many, many quality teak products available and could not offer them all on this website. It would be just too overwhelming! If you have something in mind that you did not see in Outdoor Teak Store®, please e-mail us at customercare@outdoorteakstore.com or call us at (800) 554-4170.
What about other furniture made from woods that are “teak like”, “as good as teak” or in the “family of teak”?
Quite simply, there isn’t anything “teak like‚” or better than teak on the market today. Teak has been known for centuries to be the finest wood available.
How should I store my teak furniture?
Teak furniture may be left outside all year round without an outdoor furniture cover. Snow and freezing temperatures will not harm the furniture. If you prefer to store your furniture, we recommend doing so in a dry, unheated garage or garden shed. We do not recommend the use of furniture covers, as many varieties do not provide proper ventilation and can make the wood susceptible to mildew growth.
How do I clean and care for my teak furniture?
The only maintenance necessary for your furniture is periodic cleaning. First, hose down the furniture with fresh water. Avoid spraying the teak with a high pressure hose, as high pressure can erode the surface of the timber. Next, scrub the wet furniture using a soft bristle brush and a solution of 2/3 cup laundry detergent and 1/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon of warm water. When finished, rinse the entire piece with fresh water to remove any remaining cleaning solution. For more difficult stains like grease and red wine, we recommend using a teak cleaner. This will remove the silver-gray patina and restore the furniture’s original color.
What do I do about spills, stains, chips or scratches?
Most drinks stains will weather out naturally or can be cleaned with soapy water and a soft bristle brush. Other damage or stains can be removed using ordinary sandpaper for wood. The grade of sandpaper depends on the degree of damage. Seriously damaged areas should be sanded down with a more course grade sandpaper then gradually move to a finer grade to smooth the area. Lightly damaged areas can be treated with fine grade sandpaper. Stains usually disappear with a light sanding.
Can I paint my teak furniture?
Painting teak is usually not recommended as the wood's natural oils can affect how the paint adheres. If you wish to paint your teak, we recommend contacting a marine or boat store for paint suggestions that will not compromise the durability of your furniture.
How do I care for and clean my cushions?
Our cushions are made with Sunbrella® fabrics. The best way to keep your cushions looking good is to simply clean them as needed. Rinse off dust and dirt, wipe spills as soon as they occur or spot clean soon after stains occur. Occasional rainfall will help keep your outdoor furniture clean. Removable cushion covers may be machine-washed in cold water with mild laundry soap and air-dried. Simple care instructions accompany every one of our products.
Do I need to worry about mildew on my cushions?
Mildew will not grow on the cushion fabric unless there is food, dirt or other organic matter is on the fabric. Keeping the fabric clean is the best defense against mildew. Bleach and other mildew removers do not affect the fabric, so cleaning mildew is easy if it becomes necessary.
Does Outdoor Teak Store® offer other cushion colors and custom cushions?
Yes! If the colors or fabric patterns offered do not match your taste or decor we offer other colors and patterns which may be special ordered. Please contact us directly via e-mail at customercare@outdoorteakstore.com or by telephone at (800) 554-4170 to discuss options and prices. You may also visit Sunbrella’s® official website at www.sunbrella.com for more color choices.
Does Outdoor Teak Store® offer bulk or commercial discounts?
Absolutely! We are happy to accommodate any order great or small. If you are ordering a large quantity of items, please call us directly at (800) 554-4170 and speak to one of our customer care representatives who will be happy to help.
Who manufacturers Outdoor Teak Store®’s furniture?
We carry Anderson Teak manufactured by Anderson Furniture located in Semarang, the capital city of central Java, Indonesia. Anderson Furniture's teak plantation and their 8000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant are located on Java Island. They are committed to producing the highest quality furniture using only the finest timbers. Anderson Furniture is specialized in teak garden furniture manufacturing. They have more experience than any other company in this field. Every Anderson product is manufactured to the highest standards, by skilled carpenters and each item is hand finished to guarantee quality products you will be proud to own for generations.
I see "cracks” appear in my teak patio furniture and then go away. Is this normal?
This is perfectly normal. As teak wood breathes it reacts to variations in the moisture content of the air making it appear cracked. The “cracking” tends to appear on the end grain sections and usually happens early in the life of the furniture. “Cracks” come and go depending on seasonal variations but rarely do they affect the strength, performance or life expectancy of the furniture.
