April 2023 - Between The Sheets Blog

a top view of oval teak dining table with insert and 6 chairs on white deck with grass, stone path, and orchard in background

Funny how the new things are the old things.

Rudyard Kipling

Teak Table & Chairs

This story starts the way it always starts – a marketplace find. I first found the chairs and then the teak dining table a week or two after. The chairs were well cared for but the table needed to be refinished and repaired, showing signs of wood rot, insect damage, and decay. Because teak that has not been well cared for can be attacked by pests that burrow into the wood, I started by spraying an insecticide foam into the holes and tracks in the wood that showed potential pest damage.

top view of oval teak wood table with insert and 6 chairs on white deck with grass, stone path, and orchard in background, the wood is multiple colors and stained

an angled view of oval teak wood table with insert and 6 chairs on white deck with lawn, orchard, forest in background a sanding block rests on the table and orbital sander sits under

Before & After

To repair the table I sanded top-to-bottom to remove discolored, rough, or damaged wood and patched damaged areas with wood filler. I also used glue mixed with some of the wood dust from sanding it, to work into damaged areas where needed. After all the wood filler and glue was dry and sanded smooth, I treated the whole set with some teak oil. And here is the final result showing before and after.

a before and after top view of oval teak wood table with insert and 6 chairs on white deck with grass, stone path, and orchard in background, in the before the wood is multiple colors and stained in afer the wood is consistent color

A gathering place

We have setup the refurbished table and chairs on our back porch creating a well love space that we use in many ways. In the early spring and fall this spot sitting in the sun is so pleasant, and the perfect place to sit for a coffee or meal. Harvests gathered, flower arranging, and meals shared with friends under the stars mean we have made more memories on these old table and chairs to add to their history. I am also of the belief that we make space for what we want more of in our lives, and here we’re making space for more meals under the stars and good company. Many times a deer or bird has visited nearby while we enjoy a quiet meal, and this lets us appreciate the magic of this place even more intimately.