Teak, Tectona Grandis, is a tropical hardwood. It is the highest quality timber available.

A-grade teak is rich in natural oil that repels water and makes it virtually immune to rotting. This natural oil content also means there is no specific maintenance required, such as oiling or staining, which is a big plus for people who just want to enjoy their furniture.

A-grade teak also possesses a dense grain structure, which makes it tough and hard-wearing. As it ages, the fine and dense grain also allows the timber to remain smooth to touch (unlike other wood that can become rough over time. The combination of natural oil and hard-wearing properties of teak also makes it resistant to termites and other insects.

Absolutely, teak is generally graded A, B or C. The different grades refer to the overall quality (contents of oil, density of grain and appearance) of the timber. A-grade has superior quality and is usually found at the core of the log (the most established part). The B and C grades are located at the outer rings of the log.

The exact grading process and criteria can be quite complex and technical. But as a rule of thumb, in its raw and unfinished state, the appearance and look of the timber can be used as a gauge. Higher grades are more consistent in grain and colour. Lower grades would have more timber knots and inconsistency in grain and shade. However it is difficult to differentiate the grade, as some furniture companies treat the timber with chemicals to achieve an even colour and smooth surface.

Teak is a tropical hardwood that grows primarily in the dry terrain of Southeast Asia and India. The teak we use is not sourced from rainforests, it harvested from sustainable plantations regulated by the Indonesian government.

What is the difference between Javanese and Burmese teak?

Wintons Teak only uses A-Grade teak which is rich in natural oil and possesses a fine yet strong grain/fibre. This ensures that no additional preservative, colouring or finishing material is needed to protect the furniture against the harsh weather. In addition, as A-Grade has a uniformed honey gold colour, it is not necessary to put additional stain on the furniture.

It is not necessary to cover the table when not in use. It does not prolong the life of your furniture. However, it does protect your furniture from staining agents such as wood sap or bird droppings. Please make sure that you cover your outdoor furniture with a proper cover that allows air flow and circulation; otherwise mould can develop particularly in moist areas.

The grey look on your furniture develops from about 12-18 months. It is caused by oxidized oil that’s risen to the timber surface. To remove the grey patina, use a solution of laundry detergent and warm water. Apply the solution on the timber and use a soft bristled scrubber (such as kitchen/pot scrubber) then rub in the direction of the wood grain. Repeat the process if necessary.

There are different care requirements between the different grades of teak. Please see follow links for care and maintenance booklet.

Most food stains can be washed or wiped off with a mild soap and water solution. Stains from food oil, red wine, or colourful children’s juice drinks may take more effort. Use a weak solution of bleach, laundry detergent and warm water and use a soft bristled scrubber (such as kitchen/pot scrubber) to stroke in the direction of the grain. If the stain persists, use 150 grit sand paper to lightly sand the surface of the timber.

Cracks may occur at the end of a timber component that makes up your furniture, such as the top of legs or the end of arms. Known as ‘end checks’, it is due to the outer surface drying at a faster rate than the core of the component. Thus, the core acts as a restraint to the ends and causes it to crack. Note that this is a normal occurrence for any timber furniture, including teak.

Dead timber cell is a very fine filament that appears on the surface of your furniture. This can occur within the first few weeks after it is exposed to the weather. It’s due to the surface being exposed to the weather and the natural oil content of the timber not rising up to this surface. Consequently the surface dries up and gives off dead timber cell.

It is not a problem to remove dead timber cell. Simply use a solution of warm soapy water and soft bristled scrub. It is advised that you do this after approximately three weeks after you put your furniture out or when it appears that the surface had given off most of the dead timber cell.

In the furniture industry, ‘hand made’ refers to the use of simple (motorised) machinery used to make of your furniture. Compare this to ‘machine made’, where modern machinery is used. Our collection uses a mix of both. Each component is assembled by hand and the timber is shaped using simple machinery. Mortice and tenon joinery, and timber cuts are machine made to ensure absolute precision and consistency. Our approach provides you with sturdy, durable and reliable furniture.

The best way to tell whether it is hand made or machine made is by looking at the joints. Machine made; mortice and tenon is made to exacting precision, with the edge rounded. Hand made; mortice and tenon is square or sharp edged as they are cut using simple tools such as power saw.

All metal fittings used in our collections are made from rust free materials such as brass, galvanised or stainless steel. They should last as long as your teak furniture. The brass hardware in our furniture is plated not coated. This ensures that the fittings do not rust or corrode.

Kiln drying is one of the production processes we undertake to reduce the moisture content in the timber we use. Reducing the moisture level to 12% ensures the timber is suited to Australian conditions. The process also prevents the timber from warping and cracking due to extreme temperatures.

We provide a delivery service within the Sydney metropolitan area. There is an additional charge for delivery, depending on your address. We can arrange a quote for a courier or other delivery service company to deliver to your address if it is outside our delivery service area. It is best to contact our showroom for delivery details and charges.

Most of the products are available when purchased. However some items may not be readily available. In these cases it should not take any longer than 10 weeks to deliver, providing that it is in our collection and not a discontinued product.

Most of our furniture comes flat packed for easier storage and delivery. However, not all flat packed products require assembly. This is because they are foldable or retractable and as such their packaging comes flat packed. Assembly requirements vary from one product to another; you can contact our store for more details.

We design a knock down mechanism so that our furniture is easy to assemble. You only need common household tools, such as spanner and screw drivers. All the instructions and parts required for assembly are inside the packaging.

We provide an assembly service at an extra charge. Please contact our nearest store for details.