FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which materials do you use?

We combine the highest quality materials with superior craftsmanship and design, which has resulted in worldwide recognition of our brand as representing the best in outdoor furniture. To our renowned range of Teak furniture, we have added contemporary designs using:

Stainless Steel

Aluminium

Textilene synthetic material

Woven synthetic fibre.

Cushions and parasol fabrics

Teak

What are the properties of teak?

Teak is a deciduous hardwood tree from the highlands of Southeast Asia; it does not come from tropical rainforests. Teakwood has a naturally high oil content, which makes it both stable and resistant to rotting when exposed to climatic extremes. For centuries, this special quality has made teakwood the preferred choice for marine decking and construction and makes it the premium timber for outdoor furniture.

Where does the wood you use come from?

We manufacture our wooden furniture from Teak, which we source legally from plantations in Indonesia. Nearly all Teak in Indonesia comes from government owned plantations on the island of Java. If properly managed, this source would qualify for FSC certification and a few forest districts achieved this recognition between the years 1998 and 2000. Unfortunately, around that time the plantations became subject to large scale illegal felling and theft of the logs, which eventually resulted in withdrawal of the FSC certificates previously granted. Manufacturers of cheap garden furniture use most of the stolen Teak. Currently, some forest districts are working towards reinstatement of their FSC certificate but we have no timetable for this.

What is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)?

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international, non-profit association whose members include environmental, social groups, progressive forestry and timber related companies who are working together in order to improve forest management world-wide.  The trademark of the FSC on a product indicates that the wood used to make it comes from a source that has been certified by the FSC as being well managed and meeting the environmental, social and economic standards that have been set by the FSC.  The FSC certificate is only granted to organisations following an annual audit to confirm their compliance with FSC standards. Our audit is performed by an FSC accredited audit organisation called SmartWood and our Chain of Custody code is SW-COC-000090.

Future Policy Our policy is to move as quickly as possible to FSC certification of most of our furniture.

What is the teak weathering process?

Over a few months in an outdoor environment, untreated teak will weather to a silver grey colour, which is due to the action of sunlight.

Why does new teak sometimes have 'wild' dark or orange stripes?

These markings are perfectly normal and will disappear within a few days, following exposure to the UV spectrum in natural sunlight. These marks are often apparent following the kilning process, which we use to lower the moisture content of the timber prior to manufacture. Kilning reduces the incidence of small cracks that can appear in the furniture due to the changes in temperature and humidity encountered in an outdoor environment.

Why do cracks occasionally appear in my teak furniture?

Teakwood is a natural material and fine cracks in the end grain of components, e.g. legs and arms, may appear due to changes in temperature and humidity and the consequent change in moisture content of the wood. This is normal, especially in heavier components and it will not affect the serviceability of your furniture.

How do you clean teak?

Do I need to oil my teak furniture?

Treating with teak oil or other preservatives is not necessary, it will not extend the life of your furniture and is purely cosmetic. We do not recommend oiling your furniture.

Do I need to store my furniture during the winter?

No, all our furniture can be left outdoors, uncovered, all year round. If you choose to cover your furniture during the winter then you should use a material that allows it to breathe.

Stainless Steel

What are the properties of stainless steel?

We use two grades of stainless steel; 316 Grade, commonly known as 'marine grade' and 304 Grade, more commonly used for garden furniture. Both 316 and 304 are hardwearing and suitable for use in inland locations whilst 316 is ideal for use in coastal areas, marine and heavily chlorinated environments, where oxidation could be a problem.
You should note that all outdoor furniture, including stainless steel, requires some maintenance.
If you have any questions or concerns about the grade that is best for your area, then please contact your supplier or our customer service department.

Please note that all outdoor furniture, including stainless steel, requires some maintenance to keep it looking its best.

How do I clean stainless steel?

Whilst 316 grade is highly resistant to corrosion it might still require some maintenance to preserve its finish, dependant on the environment. To maintain the finish of both 316 and 304 grades, we recommend you use “Barlow Tyrie Stainless Steel Clean and Guard”, which cleans the stainless steel and leaves a fine layer of Teflon on the surface to help prevent the build up of contaminants.

Aluminium

What are the properties of aluminium?

Aluminium is lightweight and for this reason, we have included it in our range. The aluminium we use is 'Virgin Aluminium', meaning it is not reclaimed from scrap, making it stronger and longer lasting. We powder-coat the aluminium to prevent oxidation and ensure it gives long service.

How do I clean aluminium?

We recommend you use "Barlow Tyrie Aluminium Cleaner".

Textilene

What is Textilene?

We make the slings for our aluminium, stainless steel and teak furniture with this special high quality branded material made from PVC coated, polyester, non-stretch yarn.

Why choose Textilene?

Using this fabric means our slings are strong and durable as well as mildew resistant, flame retardant and low maintenance. We use sonic welding to produce our slings, which results in a more aesthetically pleasing product than glue or stitching.

How do I clean Textilene?

To clean and maintain your Textilene or woven furniture, use "Barlow Tyrie Woven and Textilene Cleaner", which we have developed to prevent unsightly residue remaining after the cleaning process.

Woven Fibre

Is your woven furniture weatherproof?

We make our woven furniture from synthetic fibre, which is very strong, colour fast and completely resistant to sun and rain.

How do I clean woven furniture?

To clean and maintain your woven furniture, use "Barlow Tyrie Woven and Textilene Cleaner", which we have developed to prevent unsightly residue remaining after the cleaning process.

Cushions & Parasol Fabrics

Are your fabrics waterproof?

Our cushions have a water repellent finish but are not waterproof and should not be left out in heavy rain.  If cushions become saturated then place them on one edge and allow the water to drain away until they are thoroughly dry. 
Do not store cushions when they are wet

Do your parasol fabrics provide ultraviolet protection?

Our fabrics have been tested and proven to provide up to 98% protection from the harmful effects of the sun, depending on the depth of colour. White and lighter coloured fabrics provide less protection than darker fabrics. This protection is inherent to the product and usage will not reduce it.

Are your fabrics fire resistant?

The cushions we supply outside the North American market and our furniture slings are flame retardant and comply with the U.K. Furniture & Furnishings (fire safety) Regulations 1988.

What are your cushions made from?

We manufacture our cushions using Sunbrella® fabric, made from a durable, 100% solution dyed acrylic fibre that is very colour fast in sunlight. A stain repellent is applied to the fabric, although it will withstand vigorous cleaning if necessary.

How do I clean cushions and parasols?

To clean and maintain your cushions and parasols, we recommend you use `Barlow Tyrie Fabric Cleaner’ which will remove dirt, grease, oil and mould. After cleaning we recommend using `Barlow Tyrie Weather Guard’ which will protect the fabric from the aging affects of the weather.

We recommend you leave the cushion covers on during the cleaning process.

We recommend that parasol canopies should be cleaned on the frame.

We suggest you clean your cushions before you store them in a dry, well ventilated area.

Replacement covers are available for all our parasols and cushions.

Product Design

Do I need to use a base if I am locating a parasol through a dining table?

Yes, all parasols must be located in the recommended parasol base for safety reasons. We supply our standard parasol bases for when you wish to use a parasol through a dining table, a free standing base is available for use without a table. Standard parasol base plates are available for when a parasol is required for the Equinox Pedestal Tables.

Can we use any of your chairs with any of your tables?

Our dining chairs and tables are made to a standard that gives the correct distance between the seat and table top, which ensures you are comfortable when eating. You can confidently purchase any of our chairs with any of our tables depending on your design preference and the number of people you wish to seat. However, to aid your choice we include some seating suggestions in the specification section along side each table on our web site.

Service

Does your furniture require assembly?

Some pieces are supplied fully assembled whilst others will need minor assembly, in which case instructions are given inside each carton. Your retailer should be able to arrange for the assembly of your furniture, if you require it.

Does your furniture carry a warranty?

Please download the details of our warranty.

Where can I get a price list?

For current retail prices please consult your nearest stockist. You will find some discontinued items available to buy direct from us on our clearance website.

Disclaimer

Copyright

The reproduction and reuse of any information provided on the Barlow Tyrie Limited (the company) web site is strictly prohibited without prior permission from the company, the copyright owners.
If you are a business or private individual and wish to link your Home Page to any part of the Barlow Tyrie site you must contact and consult with us at this address (info@teak.com)

Intellectual property rights

All copyright, design rights (including both registered and unregistered if applicable), trade marks, patents, know-how, confidential information, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights (collectively without limitation 'the Intellectual Property') in or relating to the products vests in and remains with the company. It must be acknowledged that by virtue of the company's exclusive ownership of the intellectual property it may not be exploited without prior written permission.

Disclaimer

Barlow Tyrie Limited operates a policy of continuous improvement and reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice. All weights and dimensions stated are approximate. Illustrations are given as a guide only.

Limitation of liability

In no event will Barlow Tyrie Ltd be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from lost profits, lost data or business interruption arising out of the use or inability to use any part of this site.

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