Teak is a beautiful material for boat decking. It looks amazing, feels good under your feet, and holds up to the marine environment. There is a lot to love about going with teak, but it’s not without its maintenance requirements. If you own a boat fitted with teak decking, you know that you’ll need to perform some restoration work from time to time. To get great results on your teak wood boat restoration and enjoy many more days out on the water, consider these top teak restoration tips for your boat.
Know When the Time is Right
You don’t want to go through the time and effort of restoring teak that is already in good condition. Observing the color of the wood is an easy way to assess whether it needs repair. If your teak has moved to a shade of grey or even dark brown, you’ll want to get to work. Every teak restoration project is different, however, so don’t jump into action before thinking carefully about your plan.
Be Conservative at First
Beginning aggressively with your teak wood boat restoration may not be the best ides. Beginning restorations with harsh products is not the best way to start. You can actually do damage to the wood if you jump right to chemical cleaners that may not be needed. As a test, start with a relatively gentle product and see how it goes. A product such as Teak Brite Powder Cleaner can deliver outstanding results without damaging wood grain. Be sure to let your work dry thoroughly to observe the results before you continue. If you find that your first efforts are not successful, consider moving on to harsher cleaning methods.
The Right Scrub
Using the right scrubber on your teak is important. Try a stainless steel scrubber that delivers the strength necessary to remove the buildup that is hiding your teak’s natural beauty. A scrubber designed specifically for this job will avoid damaging the teak as may happen with a strong brush not meant for this application.
Protect Your Work
Cleaning your teak and restoring its beauty will require a good bit of elbow grease. It would be a shame to waste that work by failing to seal up the teak after you are done. That’s why planning to apply a teak oil and sealer is the critical last step of this process. If you skip the application of this kind of product, your lovely teak surface will soon return to its weathered condition.
While you might be in a hurry to finish up this job and get back on the water, don’t rush it. You need to make sure your teak is completely dry before you apply the oil and sealer. The oil coat is not going to soak in properly if the wood isn’t yet dry, so be patient. You might have to wait one extra day to get back on your boat, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Maintain Your Boat with BoatLIFE Products
We hope these top teak restoration tips for your boat assist you! Depending on where you store your boat and the weather conditions in your area, you may need to perform maintenance several times per year. With practice, you’ll master this job and learn how to get excellent results time after time.
