The Teak Pre-Treatment Process

Chic Teak garden furniture sets are all made with sustainable plantation timber grown in Java, Indonesia. None of it is taken from natural rainforest trees. We exercise a high degree of quality control above and beyond insisting on ethical and fully renewable sources, too.

Although teak is an ideal material for garden furniture sets, not all teak is created equal. Obviously we are careful to exclude any timber harvested unethically, but the plantations we use are also established and run by knowledgeable government foresters who understand when a tree is ready to be felled. They know how it should be done to maintain the best quality timber for garden benches or outdoor coffee tables, or any other use.

We use only the heartwood, although this makes up only a small proportion of what is harvested. This is the older, denser wood in the middle of the tree. It is more resistant to decay and provides a much better timber for garden furniture sets. The young sapwood is used for other purposes, although not by us at Chic Teak.

After felling, the timber goes through a basic milling process then needs to be dried. This process takes time, and we don’t rush it. Leaving moisture in wood at the moment it’s made into garden furniture or planking means that it won’t last as long, and may crack or warp over time. Our timbers are kiln dried to a very high standard before they go off to be shaped and made into the final product by skilled carpenters.