FAQ's about Teak Garden Furniture

1. Why teak and why Java teak?

Teak (tectona grandis) is the supreme hardwood for long life and weather resistance. You really can leave the furniture outside all the year round with absolutely no need to apply teak oil or preservatives. Teak was used for the decks of battleships and when they were scrapped it was taken up and re-used for garden furniture. There is no teak superior to Java teak, even Burma teak which is logged from the natural rainforests of Burma.

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2. Does your teak come from a sustainable resource?

There is no teak in the wild forests of Indonesia as it is not a native species. It was introduced as a long term plantation crop by Dutch colonists when Indonesia was the Dutch East Indies. It is only felled when it has reached an age of 50-60 years. Replanting of the teak forests is ongoing, as is seed development and cloning research, and Indonesia's teak forest management is monitored by Rainforest Alliance. It is a truly sustainable resource.

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3. Why do you consider your teak furniture to be the best?

Because we are only interested in retailing the finest quality, we will not be seduced into selling furniture using poor quality teak, and because feedback from our customers tell us it is the best.

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4. Why is there so much teak garden furniture on the market and at such widely different prices and qualities?

Teak is like any other tree - it has knots, cracks and other grain defects. after the prime part of the log has been used for the best garden furniture the poorer grades are still available. Our supplier receives 10 - 20 unsolicited e-mails every year from manufacturers, offering teak garden furniture at low prices which can only be achieved by cutting corners on quality both of the teak timber used and the methods of construction. Neither our suppliers or us will ever use teak from these manufacturers, and buyers should be wary of newspaper advertisements offering teak at "factory prices" as they will not be able to offer the quality of well made garden furniture.

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5. What about iroko?

Iroko (chlorophlora excelsa) is an African hardwood. It is not teak (tectona grandis). It does not have the long term stability to resist cracking and warping that teak possesses.

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6. How is your furniture delivered?

All our prices include FREE delivery fully assembled throughout the mainland of England, Scotland and Wales. Tables have the legs removed for a major saving in transport volume and hence price, but no DIY skills are needed to fit the legs. For seats and some armchairs a significant saving in price (shown in the prices section of each product page) is available for those who do not mind receiving their seat in five major components. Putting these together takes about 25 minutes and, again, no DIY or carpentry skills are needed.

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7. Do you deliver outside UK?

Yes, we can deliver to most countries within the EEC. We calculate delivery charges on an individual basis, so please contact us for a quote before placing your order. VAT will be charged at the UK rate, currently 17.5%.

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8. How long will delivery take, and when will it arrive?

Because most items are in stock you will normally receive your furniture within 5 days of order if boxed and 10 days if pre-assembled. Occasionally an item may be out of stock in which case you will be advised if delivery will take longer.

Furniture will arrive from Mondays to Fridays, usually during normal working hours, but occasionally a little later. We will advise you by email of the carrier and consignment number so that, if you wish, you can track your parcel.

Deliveries outside UK will normally take longer, but we will advise you when you place your order. They are generally within 28 days if we have the items in stock.

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9. How can I be sure that your furniture will meet my expectations?

We are so confident you will love the quality of our furniture, its comfort, its strength and its looks, we offer the following money-back guarantee. If you are not 100% satisfied with it for any reason whatever, simply return it to us within 30 days and we’ll refund your money IN FULL. No questions asked. We will even pay your delivery costs.

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10. How do I maintain my furniture?

Teak is totally maintenance free, and will last a lifetime outdoors with no need for teak oil or other preservatives. However in some particularly damp locations it will acquire a green mould colour on parts of the surface. This and any other dirt marks can simply be scrubbed off using a bristle brush and warm soapy water, once a year or so.

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11. Do I need to apply teak oil?

We do not recommend the use of teak oil because it does not prolong the life of the furniture. But it will gradually deepen the colour of the furniture.

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12. What is weathering?

Weathering is the natural change of colour that occurs if you leave your furniture out in the open for a few months, from the light tan when it is new to a lovely silvery grey.

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13. How is your furniture constructed?

This mortice and tenon joint is the traditional joinery method for securing two components together with great strength and position accuracy. Teak dowels pass through the tenon into the wood the other side.

Brass and stainless steel fastenings: Both metals have high resistance to corrosion. Brass where it is visible; stainless steel where more strength is needed, such as in the weight-bearing swivel points of folding furniture.

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14. FSC Certification

For more than two years there has been no certification of teak from Java, Indonesia to the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This is primarily because teak timber and logs are traded too widely within the country for the FSC's strict criteria for traceability from plantation to factory to be met. The FSC is currently (February 2005) endeavouring to restart certification in selected forest districts of the Java plantations. Our supplier holds an FSC chain of custody certificate, number: SGS-COC-1654D, which is valid until 18 February 2009. This certificate is based on certified furniture we imported when certified teak was still available some items of which have been very slow selling and are still in our unsold stock. Additionally Walkham is actively engaged with the Tropical Forest Trust (TFT) to develop systems for the factory to enable fully traceable teak to be used for our products. Please also see "Does your teak come from a sustainable resource?" question above.