FAQ - Tips and Suggestion for your Teak Care

Teak requires little maintenance. However, used directly in the shower, soap scum may accumulate under your teak mat, bench, or accessories. Using a bristle brush, scrub gently underneath in the direction of the grain. Be sure to lift your mat and clean the bottom section as well. Rinse well with fresh water and let your teak dry regularly, especially in areas where there is little or no air circulation, such as enclosed shower stalls.

Since your shower mat has constant water flow on top, very little soap accumulation will show, however, underneath is a whole other game. Soap accumulation can create mold and mildew but won't affect your teak. Using a bristle brush, scrub gently under your mat in the direction of the grain to remove any soap scum. Rinse well with fresh water and let your teak dry regularly, especially in areas where there is little or no air circulation, such as enclosed shower stalls.

Very little soap accumulation will show on top of benches. Once in a while, use a bristle brush, scrub gently underneath in the direction of the grain to remove soap accumulation. Rinse well with fresh water and let your bench/accessory dry regularly, especially in areas where there is little or no air circulation, such as enclosed shower stalls.

No! ARB Teak products are made only of quality teak wood which has a high natural oil content. When left 100% natural, the teak does not require any protection from the weather, elements, or pests. It inherently has everything it needs to take care of itself. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a special "teak cleaner" or "teak oil" to take care of your teak - ever! In fact, adding any kind of oil or synthetic finishing product on top of your natural teak will create a barrier where mold and mildew will thrive.

A bristle brush and dish soap. Using a bucket of mild soap and warm water, brush in the direction of the grain, then rinse with fresh water and allow to dry in open air. If your teak requires deeper cleaning, use a teak cleaner or a stronger brush. If your teak was neglected for years, you can sand it down with 220 sandpaper. You can use an electric palm sander if needed. Our products are made of 100% teak, not laminated.

No, your teak will not weather to gray if it is used indoors. If your bench or mat is used outdoors such as in an outdoor shower, your teak will weather naturally to a beautiful silvery-grey patina. How fast it will weather depends on the location of your outdoor shower and the exposure to the elements such as sun, rain, and snow.

Yes, we can cut your mat based on your exact measurements. We will select a mat that is slightly bigger than the area you want to cover, and we will custom cut to your measurements.

First, measure from the distance from wall to wall on all sides, inside the base. Second, subtract 1/4" from the width and depth for easy removal of the mat for cleaning purposes. Third, specify if rounded corners are required. You can always call our customer service team to assist you in measuring your shower.

Graphic example:  https://ca.arbteak.com/pages/custom-shower-mat Customer service team: 1-855-772-8325

Yes, it will be stable as it sits on cross beams that run the width of your mat. The total height of a teak mat is 1-1/4" (¾" for crossbars, ¾" thickness for the surface). We strongly suggest covering all surfaces of your shower base for stability and beauty. See "Custom Mats" for further details. We do not recommend using a small mat, like a 24" x 14" in a 30" x 25" shower. However, you can install rubber gliders readily available in hardware stores for stability if needed.

Yes, your teak mat can be used outdoors, including by pools, hot tubs, outdoor showers, etc. Teak wood is exceptionally strong and durable. Its naturally high oil content forms a barrier against the elements, without adding finishing and sealing products. Make sure the mat is on a somewhat flat surface.

Installing the plastic gliders included with your bench is optional, that's why we don't install them directly. We recommend installing the gliders to prevent soap residues and the natural oils of teak staining light-colored grout and porous tiles and surfaces which are prone to staining. They also allow more air circulation and help dry the bottom of the legs. Drill a small hole before installing them, otherwise, the legs may crack.

Since we never use synthetic oils on our products, this problem can be solved quickly. The green pamphlet that came with your product clearly states that before using your product, you should wash it thoroughly to remove any sawdust from production. If you notice staining after a thorough cleaning, this may be occur when teak products are constantly exposed to moisture, water or are in areas with limited air circulation. An easy solution for this is to install gliders/stoppers under your teak product. This will raise the wood and help prevent soap residues, beauty products used and the natural oils of the teak wood from staining light-coloured grout and porous tiles and surfaces which are prone to staining. But most importantly, this will allow more air circulation and help dry the bottom of your teak product that is constantly exposed to water, moisture and in areas with limited air circulation. Gliders are included with our shower benches. If these were discarded, gliders are readily available in hardware stores.

For garden and outdoor furniture and accessories, regular cleaning using a good bristle brush, mild soap (such as dish soap), and water, scrub in the direction of the grain. Rinse well with fresh water. We recommend doing this at least once a year. We don't recommend using a pressure washing machine, as it could lift the wood if used too close to your teak.

This depends on its location and exposure to the elements such as sun, rain, and snow. The sun oxidates the teak, just like all untreated wood. Left to weather outdoors, teak will naturally weather to a beautiful silvery-grey patina.

ARB Teak products are made with only quality teak wood which has a high natural oil content. When left 100% natural, the teak does not require any protection from the weather, elements, or pests. It inherently has everything it needs to take care of itself. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a special 'teak cleaner' or 'teak oil' to take care of your teak - ever! In fact, once treated, there are no guarantees how the piece will handle itself when exposed to the elements. We've seen teak turn black due to oils and other finishing products that promote mold and mildew and accelerates the change from its natural look.

No, you cannot choose the color or shade of natural teak. Teak is a natural product, color and shades slightly differ from one tree to another. All ARB Teak products are 100% natural Grade "A" teak, which is the heart of the tree. This color should be golden brown, never dark brown. Furthermore, oiling will get you into a regular maintenance process you might regret. We never apply oils or any other finishing treatment on our teak wood.

No, these are hairline cracks, they are due to normal expansion and contraction in the wood, they will not weaken the product, and are not to be considered defects. This is often noticeable at the end grain of the teak. Teak wood is a natural organic material and is continually settling. This natural process will not affect the structural stability in any way.

Yes, you can leave your teak outside all year round, it will resist extreme hot or cold, humidity or dry condition. However, if you choose to leave your teak exposed during the winter months, care needs to be taken to ensure the weight of accumulated snow will not damage your furniture. When the snow melts, expect a residue of dirt that will need a deep cleaning. If you do not have unheated storage space such as a shed or under a deck, we suggest covering your teak.

Some pieces of teak furniture have exposed screws that may require tightening. Furniture should be checked from time to time to ensure the brass screws are snug. Care should be taken to not under or over-tighten the screws. This regular practice will avoid breakage and maintain furniture stability. Brass is a soft metal that will never rust, but it can break occasionally.

We offer a 2-year limited warranty. ARB Teak products are guaranteed to be free from defects in workmanship for 2 years. If, after inspection by an ARB representative, a product is found to be defective, it will be repaired or replaced at the discretion of ARB Teak.

If oil, varnish, or any other chemical product was applied to your ARB Teak product, your warranty is no longer valid.

This warranty does not cover damage caused by abuse, misuse, negligence, or normal wear and tear. Wood is a product of nature, therefore, normal aging and exposure to sunlight, household solvents, and products can cause variations in the color of the teak and are not to be considered a defect. Normal expansion and contraction in the wood can cause hairline cracks which will not weaken the product and are not to be considered defects.

If you purchased your item from ARB Teak’s website, please contact our customer service team at orders@arbteak.com with your ARB Teak order number. Include photos and a description of why you want to return your item. You can also call 1-855-772-8325. When your return is accepted, we will send you a return authorization (RGA number), shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to ARB Teak without authorization will not be accepted.

All items must be returned in their original packaging. Items with teak oil, varnish, or any other finishing products applied cannot be returned.

Once we receive, inspect and approve the return, a notification will be sent. The return will then be refunded in the original payment method. Please note it may take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund.

If you purchased your item through a 3rd party vendor (i.e., big-box store, reseller, online marketplace, etc.), we cannot oversee the return of your item. Please contact them directly and follow their return policy.

If your order has an item that is temporarily unavailable to ship immediately, our customer service team will contact you to discuss delay details or alternative options.

Yes, our Montreal warehouse is open for order pick-ups. If you purchase online, make sure you select the option “pick-up” under the delivery method, so you won’t get a shipping fee added to your order. Please call ahead to book an appointment by calling our customer service team to arrange a pick-up window. This will ensure we stay open following our local health guidelines and recommendations. Our warehouse is open from Monday to Friday 9 h 30 - 16 h 30.

8114 Transcanadienne
Ville Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 1M5 (514) 379-1944

We source only certified ecologically grown and harvested timber from government-managed plantations in Indonesia.