Zimbabwean teak is a tropical hardwood and if given basic care, will withstand the elements for centuries. To get the best out of your investment, please read the advice given below.

Doors, Windows and Ancillary products

Timberland products are delivered to your home or building site carefully wrapped in plastic with abundant cardboard wrapping for protection during transport. Prior to leaving the factory we would have applied one coat of protective wood oil. This is an oil-based product compatible with other specialised brands of wood care preparation. It is specifically applied to stabilise the wood, both in transit and during installation, pending the completion of your building operations.

We strongly recommend that the plastic cover is not removed during installation, as it protects the wood from both the elements and wet cement, paint etc. When building operations are complete, the plastic is cut away and 3 to 4 coats of external wood care liquid with an ultra-violet sun-block must then be applied.
Note: In Southern Africa we recommend the “Woodoc” range of wood care products. In other countries, we urge you to consult your local wood and timber care specialist or hardware merchant.

We do not recommend the utilisation of an exterior wood varnish.

Teak Furniture

Formal indoor furniture, or patio furniture to be used under cover is normally supplied with a polyurethane finish in either matt or gloss as requested by the customer at the time of ordering. Polyurethane coated surfaces do not need anything further after this except an occasional cleaning with ordinary surface cleaners e.g. “Mr. Min”. It is pointless to apply wood oil to such a surface.

However, furniture which is to be left continually outdoors or exposed to the elements, is delivered in one of two conditions: Fine sanded, or oiled and waxed. (Because polyurethane finish or varnishes will crack and flake in the sun and rain.)

Fine Sanded:
If you buy your furniture “fine sanded”, it is untreated and raw, with only the natural light brown colour of the wood and its beautiful grain. Once exposed to the sunlight, the colour will slowly oxidise and turn a deep red-brown. If the furniture is indoors or under cover, thus being away from a lot of natural sunlight, it may take 6 months to a year for the wood to reach its final colouration. However we strongly recommend that you apply some form of protective wood care product to avoid the development of uneven stains.

Oiled & waxed:
Should you request and “oiled & waxed” finish, your furniture will already have deep red-brown colour. The process of oiling and waxing helps to protect the wood from the elements as well as helping to prevent irregular stains from seeping into the timber. To maintain its appearance, furniture which has been oiled and waxed will need to be re-oiled periodically with furniture oil and/or a suitable penetrating wax sealant. (e.g. the Woodoc range). Please consult your local timber specialist or, if unsure, contact us for advice on products available for oiling and the basic method of doing so.

Note: The frequency of application depends on how harsh the climate is, and on the owner’s personal preference as to the appearance of the wood. Teak furniture which has been left out in the rain needs only to be dried off and rubbed over with wood oil.