What teak and outdoor wood furniture has taught me about time, texture, and exterior furnishings

When a number of our outdoor furniture pieces had been put away in storage last fall, I knew that my work was cut out for me when the season shifted to the gorgeous spring that it has become. The experiential increase in the square footage in which we reside feels expansive now in April. 

In addition, I was given an older teak dining set that had been left to weather for years on a deck ... .this was added to our collection that has been built over the years. 

Wood, weather, sun and aging can take their toll on these pieces. 

Hardware store list;

• Sandpaper sheets and sanding block

• Round sandpaper discs for my neighbors power sander that she generously has lent me

• Dawn dish soap and Simple Green 

• Teak Oil and extra brushes

What surprised me most about this endeavor is what a physical workout it became and how much time it actually took to bring the furnishings back to life. 

Equally the satisfaction that came with the hours spent in, what turned out to be, a meditative process. As the sand paper went over the surfaces, the visual difference was extremely satisfying. Realizing that everything would need an extra cleaning after sanding proceeded to be another unexpected task, a toothbrush between the rungs of the chair was then enlisted to remove built up moss with a little bleach to coax it to clean.

The application of the teak oil is the real culmination of the task; the wood subsequently appears  luminous, undergoing a profound change.

I want to emphasize the significance of natural wood furniture over the 'fast fashion' alternatives often seen in garden settings, such as plastic or other non-wood materials.

While outdoor furniture may seem demanding in terms of upkeep, as it occasionally necessitates specialized attention, the processes of restoring, reusing, and repurposing these items are entirely consistent with current lifestyle trends and forecasting expectations.

This led to and was somehow connected to a major sauna rehabilitation on the property as well….

All of the walls were wiped down and lightly sanded, a new timer was added along with a small white light for reading at night over the upper benches.