Teak Finishes
TEAK CARE PRODUCTS
Taking care of teak wood and teak products is important because if not then teak products will quickly lose their beautiful golden glow and weather to a silvery gray. Pollutants can also turn bare teak nearly black and scrubbing tends to leave behind a mottled appearance. There are three methods that you can use to take care of teak products on a boat:
1. Varnish
2. Teak oil
3. Sealers
Varnish:
Varnish is a permanent method to take care of teak products. Varnish offers genuine protection for the teak wood and it will not dry and split. Another advantage of varnishing teak products is that they will not absorb moisture and rot and they will not be affected by dirt and pollution.
Many professionals recommend choosing a quality spar varnish fortified with UV inhibitors. Ultraviolet radiation penetrates the coating, carbonizing the oils in the wood. This causes the wood to darken beneath the varnish. Take into consideration that teak wood does not hold varnish like other woods because of its oil content. Be sure to look for information about varnishing techniques that would work better for your specific boating needs and your teak products.
Oil:
Oil enhances the colors and grain patterns of wood and gives the teak wood a rich, warm appearance. Oil improves the beauty of the wood and it restores some of the teak's natural oils and resins.
The disadvantage is that repeated between-coat scrubbing wears teak wood away. Oiling teak products may not protect them that much but they will recover and maintain the beautiful golden glow that they had when they were new.
There are different kinds of teak oils, but usually after the application oil carbonizes in the sun and turns dark. To diminish this problem some oils include additives, pigments, UV filters and mildew retardants. If you are going to oil your teak products it is a good idea to ask other boat owners for recommendations. It is important to apply teak oil with a paint brush. Be sure to immediately wipe up (with a spirits-dampened cloth) any drips or runs on fiberglass or painted surfaces. If you don’t do this immediately the resins the oil contains will leave dark, nearly-impossible-to-remove stains. Watch out for sneaky runs below the rail. When you oil teak wood you should apply multiple coats. It is a good idea to thin the first coat about 20% with mineral spirits or turpentine so that the oil can penetrate the wood more deeply. By the third coat, oil will begin to stand in some areas. It is important to wipe up excess oil with a cloth. Continue brushing on the oil and wipe away any excess until the wood is saturated. The teak wood should have a matte finish without any shiny spots.
Sealers: The application of a sealer is another way to achieve a natural look on teak products. Sealers are very popular because they are durable and easy to apply. Sealers seal out moisture and dirt, and seal in natural oils and resins. Before applying a sealer it is important to apply teak oil first. The reason for this is that oils and resins in teak products may already be lost and applying teak oil thoroughly will restore the oil content. Many professionals recommend cleaning and bleaching the wood to a smooth finish and then oil it until it refuses to accept more. The resins will dry in two weeks and then you can apply the sealer. Before applying the sealer, wash the wood and let it dry completely. It is important to remove all the oil from the surface of the teak products, because a sealer needs an oil-free surface to attach to. Remove all the oil from the surface. This can by wiping the wood heavily with a cloth soaked in acetone. Many professionals recommend using acetone on teak products because it is a quick-flashing solvent and the oil absorbed by the wood will not be affected by it. When applying the sealer on teak products be sure to follow the instructions to the letter. It is important to apply all the necessary coats until the surface shows a smooth matte finish. Every three months wash the seal wood and apply a fresh coat of sealer on the teak products. This will keep the teak wood Maintain sealed wood by washing it and applying a fresh coat of sealer every two to three months.
Taking care of teak wood and teak products is important because if not then teak products will quickly lose their beautiful golden glow and weather to a silvery gray. Pollutants can also turn bare teak nearly black and scrubbing tends to leave behind a mottled appearance. There are three methods that you can use to take care of teak products on a boat:
1. Varnish
2. Teak oil
3. Sealers
Varnish:
Varnish is a permanent method to take care of teak products. Varnish offers genuine protection for the teak wood and it will not dry and split. Another advantage of varnishing teak products is that they will not absorb moisture and rot and they will not be affected by dirt and pollution.
Many professionals recommend choosing a quality spar varnish fortified with UV inhibitors. Ultraviolet radiation penetrates the coating, carbonizing the oils in the wood. This causes the wood to darken beneath the varnish. Take into consideration that teak wood does not hold varnish like other woods because of its oil content. Be sure to look for information about varnishing techniques that would work better for your specific boating needs and your teak products.
Oil:
Oil enhances the colors and grain patterns of wood and gives the teak wood a rich, warm appearance. Oil improves the beauty of the wood and it restores some of the teak's natural oils and resins.
The disadvantage is that repeated between-coat scrubbing wears teak wood away. Oiling teak products may not protect them that much but they will recover and maintain the beautiful golden glow that they had when they were new.
There are different kinds of teak oils, but usually after the application oil carbonizes in the sun and turns dark. To diminish this problem some oils include additives, pigments, UV filters and mildew retardants. If you are going to oil your teak products it is a good idea to ask other boat owners for recommendations. It is important to apply teak oil with a paint brush. Be sure to immediately wipe up (with a spirits-dampened cloth) any drips or runs on fiberglass or painted surfaces. If you don’t do this immediately the resins the oil contains will leave dark, nearly-impossible-to-remove stains. Watch out for sneaky runs below the rail. When you oil teak wood you should apply multiple coats. It is a good idea to thin the first coat about 20% with mineral spirits or turpentine so that the oil can penetrate the wood more deeply. By the third coat, oil will begin to stand in some areas. It is important to wipe up excess oil with a cloth. Continue brushing on the oil and wipe away any excess until the wood is saturated. The teak wood should have a matte finish without any shiny spots.
Sealers: The application of a sealer is another way to achieve a natural look on teak products. Sealers are very popular because they are durable and easy to apply. Sealers seal out moisture and dirt, and seal in natural oils and resins. Before applying a sealer it is important to apply teak oil first. The reason for this is that oils and resins in teak products may already be lost and applying teak oil thoroughly will restore the oil content. Many professionals recommend cleaning and bleaching the wood to a smooth finish and then oil it until it refuses to accept more. The resins will dry in two weeks and then you can apply the sealer. Before applying the sealer, wash the wood and let it dry completely. It is important to remove all the oil from the surface of the teak products, because a sealer needs an oil-free surface to attach to. Remove all the oil from the surface. This can by wiping the wood heavily with a cloth soaked in acetone. Many professionals recommend using acetone on teak products because it is a quick-flashing solvent and the oil absorbed by the wood will not be affected by it. When applying the sealer on teak products be sure to follow the instructions to the letter. It is important to apply all the necessary coats until the surface shows a smooth matte finish. Every three months wash the seal wood and apply a fresh coat of sealer on the teak products. This will keep the teak wood Maintain sealed wood by washing it and applying a fresh coat of sealer every two to three months.