Print this page- Why teak and why Java teak?
- Does your teak come from a sustainable resource?
- Why do you consider your quality to be the best?
- Why is kiln drying so important?
- Why is there so much teak garden furniture on the market and at such widely different prices and qualities?
- What about iroko?
- How is your furniture delivered?
- Do you deliver outside UK?
- How long will delivery take, and when will it arrive?
- How can I be sure that your furniture will meet my expectations?
How
do I maintain my furniture?- Do I need to apply teak oil?
- What is weathering?
- How is your furniture constructed?
- FSC Certification
1. Why teak and why Java teak?
Teak (tectona grandis) is the supreme hardwood for long life and weather resistance. You really can leave our 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.
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. See the Story of Teak for a slide show of the complete lifecycle, from sapling to seat.
3. Why do you consider your quality to be the best?
Because it is our company policy. Because we strive to keep it that way. But most of all because our customers tell us that it is.
4. Why is kiln drying so important?
Quite simply because it is the only way to ensure the correct, low moisture content in the teak timber before it is made into garden furniture. This effectively prevents warping, splitting or cracking as non-kiln dried timber dries out further after it has been made into furniture. But kiln drying is an expensive and time-consuming process. The timber is not just stacked in the kiln for a week or so and then taken out and used. Each piece is spaced from the next and each layer is separated by spacer sticks to allow full circulation of the hot air in the kiln chamber - a very labour intensive task. The timber stays in the kiln for a whole month until electronic probes inserted in test pieces indicate that the correct moisture level has been achieved. This is one of the main reasons why non-kiln dried garden furniture is cheaper. All Walkham Teak garden furniture is properly kiln dried in this way.
5. 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. Walkham Teak Ltd 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. These emails come from all over Asia (where the teak source is invariably the rainforest of Burma) as well as various parts of Java. We have never and will never use such suppliers, but vendors using roadside signs or newspaper advertisements offering teak at "factory prices" will not be able to offer the quality of well made garden furniture.
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.
7. How is your furniture delivered?
Delivery is free for the whole of England and Wales, but we regret that because of high fuel costs a small surcharge may be applied for deliveries to Scotland. 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.
Yes, we can deliver to most countries worldwide. We calculate delivery charges on an individual basis, so please contact us for a quote before placing your order.
You may have to pay customs import duty if the country of destination is outside the European Union. It will be up to you to pay it directly to the local customs office before they release your goods. Unfortunately we cannot advise you what these charges will be as they are completely outside our control.
9. How long will delivery take, and when will it arrive?
Because most items are in stock you will normally receive your furniture within 14 days of order. Occasionally an item may be out of stock in which case you will be advised if delivery will take longer.
We will telephone to arrange a day convenient to you. It is always best if someone is present to receive and sign for your furniture, also to help the driver unload heavy items. Deliveries are Mondays - Fridays during working hours. Delivery before noon on a weekday or on a Saturday morning can be arranged for a small extra charge.
For deliveries to EU countries 3-7 working days should be allowed. For other countries we will advise you.
10. 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. See our Terms and Conditions for more details.
11. 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.
12. 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.
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. Walkham Teak Ltd holds a selection of pieces already weathered for those customers who need an immediate match to existing furniture or to blend from the start with the surroundings in its chosen position.
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New:
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After weathering:
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14. 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.
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. Walkham Teak Ltd 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.