The folks Cape Ann Marine Protective Coatings has used his knowledge and many years of experience to make our five products the best in the business. No longer will you need a dockbox full of cleaners, polishes, waxes, and compounds.
Cape Ann Marine Protective Coatings Advice Column
- What does weathering do to teak?
- Exposure to weathering breaks down the cellulose fibers in the teak, and causes that light gray or silver color you sometimes see. Some products allow oxidation, which allows reappearance of this gray after just a few weeks.
- What are those dark brown or black spots on my teak?
- Mildew creates these spots. Some products that contain too much oil or solvent won't completely penetrate your teak, and you will see a short-term cosmetic improvement followed by mildew. These products probably contained resin or varnish that penetrated into the grain.
- How can I remove this mildew and old finish products?
- After sanding, a chemical remover should be used to remove residual varnish. If you have white suds in your rinse water, the varnish has been removed. If your rinse water is light brown to black, additional chemical cleaning is required.
- How do I know what kind of cleaner will take off the old finish?
- Alkaline and acid cleaning is needed if your teak has been finished with oils mixed with solvents. Examples of this type of finish are urethane, polyresins, and resins. These all belong with the varnish family. Special solvents are required when silicone oils have been used. All silicone must be removed before any other finish can be applied.
- I have seen two-part cleaners that completely strip the teak. Are these good?
- Use of these two-part cleaners can give teak a new look, but sometimes has negative results.
- Altering natural teak oils
- Removal of soft grain
- Damage to adjacent gelcoat and brightwork
- Dulling of aluminum and chrome
- Burning of skin
- Then what is the best method of cleaning my teak?
- Look for a one-step cleaner that does not contain caustics or acids. You will get the best results from a balanced ph and wetting agent detergent system. Wetting agents will suspend the accumulated oils and foreign matter that has oxidized on the surface making removal easy. No harm will come to adjacent parts of the boat, or to your hands. Our One-Step Teak Cleaner is ideal for this application.
- What should I do to protect my clean teak?
- A water-based acrylic teak product, rather than a solvent-based oil product will protect your teak. Because there are no organic oils to mildew, your finish will last longer. The environmentally safe acrylic coating is easy to apply, clean, and maintain. Our Teak Fix will meet your needs.
- Is this a lot of trouble to apply?
- You can just use a paint brush, foam brush, cotton cloth, or pad to apply a thin coat of finish. You need to wait only 30 - 60 minutes between coats.
Cape Ann Marine Protective Coatings
1-860-599-8005
Copyright© 1997, Marine Protective Coatings of Cape Ann.