Material & Care of Garpa furniture

Our products meet the requirements of sustainability and durability in terms of form and function. This is ensured by a selection of particularly high-quality materials from teak, stainless steel and aluminium to innovative textiles and synthetic fibres. A summary of all recommendations for the care of the individual materials can be found in the following chapters.

Which care product is suitable for which material?

1. To display the materials, first select a collection (e.g. Fontenay) from the drop-down list below.

2. All materials used for this collection will be shown.

3. Click on the small arrow on the right to access the individual properties and care instructions.

Material

Garpa uses fittings made of high-quality stainless steel, aluminium or brass, without the addition of fillers or recycled materials on all its furniture fittings.

Care

Clean fittings with green soap. Commercial polish helps to retain their shine.

Material

Garpa only uses high-quality teak from sustainable plantations. Teak is one of the most valuable commercial timbers in the world. Teak wood can easily withstand moisture, sunlight, frost, snow and temperature fluctuations. thanks to a core containing rubber. This makes it particularly suitable for long-term use outdoors without any additional surface protection. Our teak furniture is delivered in its natural state, according to the old English tradition, as the majority of customers wish to set up the furniture outdoors without having to do any painting. Over time, the wood acquires a silver-grey patina due to the effects of the weather. Teak is a natural product and therefore always has a different grain. The wood must be pre-dried in order to process it, sometimes giving teak an occasional reddish-brown hue. The UV rays in sunlight, however, make these discolourations disappear again in a few weeks. In year-round outdoor use, teak colourants may be washed out by rainwater and leave stains on other materials. Fine hairline cracks may appear on the surface; This is also a natural phenomenon which does not in any way affect the stability or durability of the furniture.

Care

Wipe your teak furniture once before use to remove any remaining teak dust. Teak dust can leave stains on light-coloured surfaces which are no longer visible after washing. Clean teak furniture twice a year with the brush supplied in the care set, warm water and green soap. This provides your teak furniture with the best and most gentle care. It also prevents dirt and other atmospheric influences from becoming deeply embedded in the wood’s grain. Regular cleaning also prevents the occasional occurrence of stains. You may also use a high-pressure cleaner to clean all furniture made exclusively from teak, except for the cushion chests bar furniture. Set the machine to a pressure of about 60 to 80 bar, and keep the nozzle at least 30 to 35 cm away from the wood. Only a triple nozzle guarantees the required gentle pressure jet. Never use a dirt blaster jet, as this would make the surface rough. Thorough cleaning of the furniture causes a slight lightening of the wood tone. Repeated cleaning using this method may require the teak to be sanded with 120 grit sandpaper.

Teak Brightener

Garpa Teak Brightener gives heavily weathered or dirty teak furniture back its original beautiful look. This special cleaner almost recreates the natural wood colour. Garpa Teak Brightener also reduces any differences in colour between new slats and older wood that has already turned grey. Tough stains and deposits that cannot be removed with green soap alone can also be treated with this product. First, dampen the wood with water. Apply Teak Brightener generously to the surface to be treated using a spray bottle and allow to work for about 30 minutes Then brush it vigorously, following the grain. Finally, rinse thoroughly with a garden hose. Here, too, you can use the high-pressure cleaner with the settings already recommended. The complete Teak Brightener cleaning set can be ordered from us.

Protection against Wasps

Grey wood fibres in combination with the caoutchouc contained in teak wood are often used by wasps as material for building nests. Regularly cleaning the furniture removes loose wood fibres and reduces the amount of caoutchouc on the surface. Wood surfaces maintained in this way are noticeably less infested by wasps.

Oils and Glazes

Applying oils and glazes takes more effort by nature than merely cleaning the untreated wood. However, such treatment has no effect on the durability of the furniture.

Teak Oil

Teak oil prevents the wood from developing a patina. Garpa recommends using teak oil only in roofed areas and those that are protected against rain. Treating the teak cushion chests with teak oil, glazes or similar products leads to damage to the joint. As a result, they should not be treated using teak oil. Please refer to the instructions on the product label for further information on applying oil to teak wood.

Floor Gliders

If your teak furniture is placed on a very rough surface, such as exposed aggregate concrete, you can order floor gliders to prevent chipping. Floor gliders for teak furniture are available from us on request.

Care film and brochure

In the following film we have compiled for you the most important recommendations for the treatment of teak wood.

Care Guide: tips and advice for maintenance

As diverse as our designs and styles, so extensive is the range of high-quality materials used for furniture, parasols, and accessories - from precious plantation teak to lightweight aluminium, from Loom to high-quality synthetic weave.

In our Care Guide, which you can download under the link below, you will find comprehensive information as to the maintenance of various materials.

Please note that not all Garpa furniture collections are listed in the brochure. Please refer to the selection list with care instructions for individual collections further up on this page.

Download Care Guide