Teak wood is the product of the rainforest in places such as Thailand, India and Malaysia. It is durable and strong and long been a ship building favorite material. Teak is also a popular material for furniture as well. Teak is limited in supply as it takes 50 to 60 years to grow to maturity. Teak is also resilient and not subject to rot or decay even when coupled with metal.
Teak furniture is highly durable and adds elegance to any room. Teak furniture does not require maintenance other than wiping up spills and a general wipe down after each use. The color will change over the years from an orangery brown blonde to dark brown. To prevent the color from becoming too dark, oil the table with teak wood oil. It will also keep the table looking new and give it a shine that will be the envy of all the dining tables in the neighborhood.
Teak dining furniture includes table, chairs, buffet or side board and hutch. The table comes in different shapes and can accommodate anywhere two to 12 people or more. Usually, two leafs are added to the table to make it larger and then removed to make it smaller. The chairs come with no arms or with arms for added comfort. The buffet or sideboard is used for serving or storing dishes and silver ware. The hutch is used for dish and silver storage with a secondary use as a server.
Teak dining furniture is constructed of the same teak wood as outdoor furniture. Teak is a heavy material, so any furniture built with teak will have heft to it. Teak is heat resistant but a hot dish or pan placed directly on the table may leave a burn mark. To avoid burning or scarring the table, place a hot plate or trivet under the hot pan or plate. If the table does get marred with heat, it is easy to repair.
If your teak table top gets scratched or burned from a hot pan or dish, it is easy to repair. It may take some time, but it can be down. It would be preferable to repair the table out of doors or in a workshop, but if in the house is the only option, extra care should be taken. First put a drop cloth or old newspapers under the table. The table top will be sanded with fine-grain sandpaper. Use a hand or electric sander but do not apply a lot of pressure. The idea is to sand away the top layer and not gouge the table.
Once the table top is sanded, wipe off the dust with a soft cloth. A slightly damp cloth may help to remove the dust particles Using a clean cloth, pour teak oil into the cloth and apply it to the table using even strokes in the same direction as the grain. Keep smoothing on light layers of oil until the wood will not absorb any more.
Allow the table top to dry and buff with a dry, clean cloth. Using another clean cloth, pour teak sealer into the cloth and rub the sealer into the table in the same direction of the grain. Allow the table to dry and buff with a clean, dry cloth. The table top will look as good as new.