For many, this silver patina is just part of teak's charm, a symbol of a well-loved and well-used item. As Rachel explains, "The primary 'risk' with teak isn’t performance — it’s expectation.

Q: We have (whoops, had) beautiful high-end, outdoor teak furniture. Several years ago it had just reached that lovely patina-stage of aging and was very smooth to touch. While we were away on ...

Teak is the most popular wood for outdoor furniture. “Its density and high oil content keep it from drying and splitting, and termites don’t like it,” Ron Safran says.