"Black spots on teak" covers at least three unrelated problems, and they need different work. Before you buy anything at the hardware store, it is worth identifying which one you have, because the most common home remedy makes two of the three worse. Fine black speckling is usually mildew Scattered black dots and blotches, especially on shaded or north-facing pieces, are almost always surface mildew. It is feeding on dirt, pollen and residue lying on the wood rather than on the wood itself, and it does not mean the piece is rotting. You will find it first where things stay damp longest: under armrests, in the gaps between slats, along the underside edge of a tabletop, and on anything sitting beneath a tree canopy. Teak's natural oils are what make it a marine timber and they resist rot well, but they do nothing to stop something growing on top of the surface. Even grey-black across a whole piece is not growth A uniform dark tone over an entire chair or table is usually oxidation plus years of embedded dirt, not a living organism. It is what weathered teak looks like when it is never washed. There is a simple way to tell them apart. Wipe a small area with a damp white cloth. Mildew
Teak & Shine — (631) 796-9505 — cleanmyteak@gmail.com
Serving Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor, Water Mill, Southampton, Quogue Village.