Walkham Teak Ltd Home Page

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Why teak and why Java teak?
2. Does your teak come from a sustainable resource?
3. Why do you consider your quality to be the best?
4. Why is kiln drying so important?
5. Why is there so much teak garden furniture on the market and at such widely different prices and qualities?
6. What about iroko?
7. How is your furniture delivered?
8. Do you deliver outside UK?
9. How long will delivery take, and when will it arrive?
10. How can I be sure that your furniture will meet my expectations?
11. How do I maintain my furniture?
12. Do I need to apply teak oil?
13. What is weathering?
14. How is your furniture constructed?

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 and is one of the three highest foreign exchange earners supporting the Burmese military regime.
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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 the Indonesian government strictly enforces an annual limit on the volume of teak that is felled. It is a truly sustainable resource. See the Story of Teak for a slide show of the complete lifecycle, from sapling to seat.
Please read our leaflet The Forest Trust - Real proof of the sustainability of our teak wood for further information.
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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.
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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 2-4 weeks until the correct moisture content of 12-14% has been reached. 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.
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5. Why is there so much teak garden furniture on the market and at such widely different prices and qualities?

The teak is like any other tree - it has knots, cracks and other grain defects. After the prime logs and parts of logs have been used for the best garden furniture the poorer grades are still available. These are used by other manufacturers who may also employ cost cutting manufacturing methods.
We're not the cheapest because we don't build down to a price and our teak is sourced from The Forest Trust (TFT) supported plantation forests. Teak products cheaper than ours cannot have been made from kiln dried timber and may be thinner, lighter, have less curvature and therefore less comfort.
We want you to enjoy your garden furniture for decades, not just a few years. The best teak garden furniture more than justifies its price by long life, durability and no maintenance. It will never need replacing and often becomes an heirloom.
In outlasting cheaper products Walkham's teak furniture always proves less expensive within just a few years.
There is more expensive teak garden furniture than ours, but we strive to keep very competitive by keeping our costs and overheads down and not having fat margins.
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6. 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. Unfortunately iroko is not sustainably harvested in Africa.
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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. All our furniture is delivered fully assembled except tables which have the legs removed for a major saving in transport volume and hence price. No DIY skills are required to fit the table legs and a legs-on delivery option is also available - shown on the price list.
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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8. Do you deliver outside UK?

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.
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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. Furniture can also be left if you are out by special arrangement if you have a safe leaving place.
Deliveries are Tuesdays - Fridays during working hours. Timed delivery, a.m. delivery or Saturday a.m. delivery can also be arranged for an additional charge.
For deliveries to EU countries 3-7 extra working days should be allowed. For other countries we will advise you.
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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 up to 30 days just call us and we will collect it at our own expense and refund your money IN FULL. See our Terms and Conditions for more details.
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11. How do I maintain my furniture?

Walkham Teak garden furniture is totally maintenance free, occasional cleaning is all that is required. Depending on location, proximity of trees, etc. the furniture may acquire a green patina, bird droppings or other marks all of which can easily be removed by just scrubbing with water. Walkham Teak always provides to customers a detailed care instruction with all its furniture.
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12. Do I need to apply teak oil?

No. We do not recommend applying teak oil because it does not prolong the life of the furniture, it creates an annual task for you to perform (our furniture is for you to enjoy, not to work on!) and after a few applications will turn the colour of the furniture almost black.
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13. 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. 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.
The images above show a new seat and a seat that has been weathered.
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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.
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