| Environment White House Garden Furniture and the Environment
Teak and the environment.
Teak is a very dense and compact wood with high oil content. Thanks to these properties it does not absorb water, so that dry rot, cracks (except in cross-cuts) and mould will not normally affect it.
Teak will not warp and even after being in the open for a long time it will keep its shape. These characteristics hold only for machine-processed and oven-dried heartwood of mature trees – the kind of wood selected for White House garden furniture. By contrast, teak from young trees, not dried or worked manually will not meet these high expectations.
For many centuries teakwood has been the mainstay of shipbuilding and marine constructions such as wharves and docks etc. There are many fine examples of teak benches in our parks and gardens which are well over 50 years old.
Over the last 150 years teakwood has become the most sought after and prestigious of timber for outdoor garden furniture.
Contrary to widely held belief, teak does not need any maintenance to remain in good shape, even when it is kept out in the open all year round for many years. Still, if teak furniture is to keep its pleasant looks regular cleaning with a brush and a mild detergent or teak cleaner is required.
Without any further treatment teak will in due course acquire its typical silver-grey patina.
If you prefer its original honey-brown colour, you can prevent the silver patina from emerging by a treatment with teak protector (after cleaning).
As is the case with all hardwoods, minor hairline cracks may appear, especially in the end grain, which in no way affects the furniture's strength and durability.
As a natural product, the unique grain and colour can vary from piece to piece, but on exposure to natural light any colour variations will steadily even out.
White House Garden Furniture guarantee to only use wood sourced through the Indonesian state controlled plantations. Only the highest quality materials are used by White House from the best plantations in Central Java, Indonesia. These sustainable plantations created by the Dutch almost two centuries ago are now owned and managed by the Indonesian Government.
The Indonesian Forestry Department stringently control and certify the cutting and replanting programme thus ensuring not only a regular supply of sustainable mature timber but, in addition, providing considerable local employment.  | Featured Products |  | |
| |
