One of the fastest growing trends in outdoor furniture is reclaimed teak. This beautiful tropical hardwood is highly valued for its naturally water-resistant properties and durability.
Because teak is protected by its own natural oils, it is best not to apply varnish or any water sealants as they will bubble and peel. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays turns the wood’s golden hue to weathered silvery grey.
Reclaiming any wood product is good for the environment, adding years and even decades to its usefulness. When you are shopping for garden furniture, keep an eye out for tables and chairs that are built with reclaimed teak.
Hauserstores.com shows a rich and varied collection including the reclaimed teak table in their “coastal dining lifestyle” collection shown above.
Teak is more costly than other popular woods, but its long life and durability in any weather make it a smart choice, and ensures its popularity for years to come.
The silver grey hues that resemble driftwood complement any cottage or outdoor decor. You can create your own driftwood collection with stain or paint using less expensive and reclaimed boards.
Treat a secondhand table to a new “old” life. Clean and sand the wood to open the pores, then rub a watered down mix of light grey and off-white paint over the surface. Wipe off the excess, let dry and reapply until you have the colour you want.
Dear Debbie: I have a 40-year-old wood headboard that is in great shape. When I bought a new mattress, the salesperson said I should buy a new headboard as the old one could get termites. Is this true or a sales pitch? I would like to refinish it. Thanks for your feedback,
Elinor
Dear Elinor: You can always have your headboard checked for termites. Do you live in an area where they are a problem? If not, it sounds like a sales pitch.
You have many wonderful options for renewing your headboard. If you are happy with the natural wood, then simply give it a light sanding and reapply a seal coat or varnish. You can also change the look with paint — white is a good choice as a base. Antique by rubbing some burnt umber over the surface and into any detail such as carved sections. Enjoy your headboard for years to come — refinishing wood furniture continues to be a hot trend as we all endeavour to save the environment from needless waste.
Dear Debbie: I would like to refinish an inexpensive cork floor that has a urethane finish. What product would you suggest?
Paulette
Dear Paulette: If a cork floor is solid, then it can be sanded and resealed. However, a thin veneer is used to produce inexpensive flooring and you can’t sand veneer. To refresh your floor for the short term, clean first and then apply a high-hide primer over the urethane. This will give you a new base, and now you can paint any colour you prefer. Use low-sheen paint that will not highlight any mars or scars as high gloss would.
Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie’s tweets at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s website, debbietravis.com