Teak deck care: How to keep your teak deck fit for a long time
What is usually particularly important for the preservation of the teak deck is something that may be a little neglected. Teak itself is very weather-resistant, but only if the moisture can dry out unhindered. Stagnant moisture under a canvas cover or, even worse, under supposedly aisled cordage will damage the precious wood. Dirt also stores moisture.
Furthermore, sailors should not use a high-pressure cleaner on the wooden poles for the sake of their deck. The hard jet of water penetrates deep into the fibres and flushes out the wood's own oils. This has a negative effect on the service life. Aggressive cleaning agents should also not be used. They also attack the natural oils in the wood. If there is no other option, rinse water is fine. It is better to clean the teak deck with clean water and a soft cloth or a soft brush, working across the fibres. With a hard brush, the soft wood fibres are rubbed out of the surface and grooves are created. In turn, moisture remains in these grooves and growth forms - a vicious circle.
Particularly stubborn stains can also be rubbed away using a soft abrasive pad. Which direction you work in is a matter of opinion: wiping with the grain is not so good for the soft fibres in the wood; doing it across the grain carries the risk of putting a lot of strain on the edges of the joints.
Experts also argue about whether teak should be oiled. The argument of those against oiling is that teak already has enough oil to protect it against environmental influences. However, there are also arguments in favour of subsequent oiling: a new deck retains its fresh colour and does not turn grey. It can also do no harm to older decks, as the wood's own oils have already been largely rinsed out. Sailors who decide in favour of oiling must then also rework regularly, otherwise the deck can become stained and scratchy.
Boracol is available for all teak decks with discolouration caused by algae, fungi and other micro-organisms. The wood preservative can be applied once in spring. The growth is destroyed and slowly washes out in the period following treatment. The wood then gradually becomes lighter in colour.
If the surface structure of the teak becomes too brittle, it may be advisable to sand the deck. This brings back the golden lustre and smoothes the surface. You can find out what you need to bear in mind in the first refit part of our teak deck special.
