Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions
General Questions
Q) What is teak wooden furniture?
A) Teak furniture is made furniture of hardwood from the Tectona Grandis tree. Teak trees are found in India and South-East Asia is have recently started to be planted in other areas tropical areas such as Central America. Teak, being a robust hardwood with a plethora of hard-wearing properties makes it a perfect fit for outdoor furniture.
Q) Why does Teak's colour change?
A) Teak garden furniture when it is new and retaining its natural oil will impress with its vibrant golden honey colour and, over the first 3 to 12 months will turn to a stunning silver grey. This greying process will in no way affect the structure of your garden furniture, this is purely cosmetic and down to personal preference.
There are varying environmental factors that can contribute to teak turning grey, from ultraviolet light exposure to rain.
Q) Is Teak Waterproof?
A) No, unfortunately, teak itself is not waterproof, however, with its large amount of naturally occurring oils Teak is highly resistant to the side effects of water such as rotting or warping.
Q) Are the cushions waterproof?
A) Our cushions are water resistant and withstand small amounts of water. We do advise though that these are not to be left out in the rain.
Q) Can I use a Parasol and Lazy Susan at the same time?
A) Yes. All of our lazy Susan's have a parasol hole in them to accommodate a parasol. Simply line it up with the parasol hole in the table and put the parasol in.
Q) Does teak weather?
A) Over time teak will turn from a golden honey colour to a stunning silver grey. By taking care of your teak with regular maintenance you can avoid any issues and ensure your teak remains as good as new. For further information on this please see our 'Caring for your teak guide.'
Q) Can I leave the Parasol on the table when not in use?
A) We do recommend removing the parasol when not in use. This is to avoid any damage caused by unexpected strong winds.
Q) Why does my furniture have mould when I have just unpacked it?
A) Unfortunately, due to its water-absorbing properties, surface Mold is a side effect that teak faces when travelling through different climates at different times of the year. During the shipping process, your teak furniture may spend weeks over the ocean in humid conditions, making this issue very difficult to prevent. Whilst we do understand that this is disappointing, rest assured that it will cause no lasting side effects and you can simply wipe the table with a damp cloth to remove any surface-level mold build-up.
Q) What is a Mortise and Tenon joint?
A) A mortise and tenon joint are a strong yet simple joint that has been used by carpenters and woodworkers for years. The mortise and tenon joint discovered dates back over 7000 years ago and was used in a well outside of Leipzig, Germany. It is comprised of a mortise hole cut out of the wood and a tenon tongue that slots together. Once these are slotted together, they are often fitted with dowels or bolts to ensure security.
Q) Can your sets be mixed and matched?
A) Yes, all of our furniture is designed to work seamlessly with each other no matter the chair or table.
Q) Can Teak Garden Furniture really be left outside year-round?
A) Yes. All of our teak garden furniture is crafted using high-quality teak and with proper care and attention can be left outside all year round with no issues.
Q) How do I know if what I want is in stock?
A) When a piece of our furniture is out of stock our site will not allow you to add it to your cart, as well as display an out-of-stock message over the order.
Q) How do I contact Customer Support?
A) Feel free to send an email to info@eternahome.co.uk or give us a call at 01905 928 398
Delivery Questions
Q) Do you ship to Ireland?
A) No. Unfortunately, at this time we do not ship to Ireland.
Q) How long is our lead time?
A) We always aim to get your order to you within 2-4 weeks of your order being placed.
Q) Can I delay my delivery?
A) Of course! Simply give us a call or send us an email and let us know how long you would like this postponed.
Q) Can I select a delivery time?
A) Unfortunately, at the moment you are unable to select a specific date and time, however, our team will always contact you prior to delivery to ensure that our planned date works well for you.
Q) Will you take away any rubbish?
A) We do offer a Home unboxing and package removal service for £49.99.
Q) Will you contact me about my delivery?
A) Yes! Once your order has been routed, we will contact you to confirm the date that we plan on loading your order. Once this has been loaded you will be contacted again to organise a date and time that works for you.
Q) What times do you deliver?
A) We deliver anywhere between 7:00 - 20:00, however, on the day of your delivery you will be provided with a time slot to expect the arrival of your furniture.
Sustainability Questions
Q) What is Trees4Trees?
A) Trees4Trees is a program by the Sustainable Green Earth Foundation (Yayasan Bumi Hijau Lestari) and is a non-profit foundation. Trees4Trees produce seedlings of high-value species, which are in turn distributed to local farmers at no charge to them, along with guidance on care and planting, good forestry practices and education on why a healthy environment is important for us all. All trees donated by Trees4Trees are recorded and monitored.
Q) Is Teak Sustainable?
A) Yes. All teak used in any furniture or furniture set is fully sustainable. Production forests have been continuously improving and evolving into strictly managed and maintained plantations. This is done directly through the State Forestry Corporation (SFC), Perum Perhutani. Do be aware some cheaply made furniture may be made from unreputable sources and therefore may not be sustainable.
In turn, these plantations are managed and owned by the government which have strict policies and regulations catering to the number of trees that are felled each year, the size and age of each tree felled as well as a comprehensive, suitable and sustainable replanting program.
They ensure that each and every tree is sustainable through SVLK certifications. We have SVLK certification, which allows our furniture to be sold in confidence throughout the globe. We are firmly committed to the values of equal opportunities and corporate social responsibility through the continued professional development and the skills and well-being of our staff.
Q) What is FLEGT Certification?
A)All of the teak wood used in the manufacture of our furniture is FLEGT licensed this guarantees that timber has been harvested, processed and exported in accordance with national laws. Indonesia is the first exporting country to mandate that its timber comply with certain legal requirements to be exported. The FLEGT license, thus, is a regulatory approach to suppress illegal logging.
The idea of FLEGT was established in 2003 by the EU following the Ministerial Conference in Bali in 2001 regarding Forest Law Enforcement and Governance, where participant countries declared they would collaboratively address illegal logging and associated illegal trade and corruption as well as uphold the rule of law related to those issues. As for the implementation of FLEGT, the EU established an Action Plan to prevent illegally sourced timber from entering the EU and to promote initiatives and policies by partner countries, private companies and financial institutions to develop systems that only allow legally produced timber to enter the market.
Q) How long does Teak garden furniture last?
A) Teak hardwood is long-lasting. Proven by furniture in parks spotted around Europe where the teak benches are centuries old.
Maintenance Questions?
Q) Does Teak Garden Furniture require maintenance?
A) Teak requires very little maintenance. We do advise cleaning your teak with diluted warm soapy water and a clean rag to remove any build-up of dirt and debris. For further information on this visit our Caring for Your Teak guide.
Q) What causes teak to turn grey?
A) Over time teak will go from a vibrant golden honey colour to a beautiful silver grey, this is entirely normal and will happen as a result of your teak being exposed to different environmental factors such as animals, UV from the sun and rain. Do note that this is entirely cosmetic and will in no way harm the structure of your table.
Q) Can you leave teak untreated?
A) Yes, you can leave teak untreated and allow the wood to grey on purpose to match the aesthetic of your garden. You may apply teak sealant at any time to prevent stains, and watermarks and to help retain colour.
Q) Why is my teak turning black?
A) Teak wood has a large quantity of naturally occurring oils, this helps prevent rotting and discolouration. Mold and mildew build-up can eat away at this oil which can lead to areas becoming blackened. The best way to prevent this is by regular cleaning and upkeep of your teak furniture.
Q) How often should I clean my teak?
A) We recommend cleaning your teak furniture on an annual basis. This is to stop the build-up of debris from causing any issues. A good rule of thumb is to clean your furniture on a warm breezy spring day. This helps with drying and airing out your furniture.
Q) How do I clean my cushions?
A) We recommend using diluted warm soapy water and soft brush or sponge to hand clean your cushions. To help them retain their water-resistant properties do not machine wash.
Return Questions
Q) How do I return an unwanted product?
A) We always want you to be happy with your new furniture, we understand on some occasions this may not be the case and on these times, we are more than happy to offer our assistance.
We offer a 14-day returns and exchange policy, effective from the day your order is delivered, to give you complete peace of mind and ensure that you are content with your purchase. When returning or exchanging an item, all we ask is that the item(s) is unused and in the original condition you received it in. This includes all labels and tags being intact and original packaging being used.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer returns or exchanges after the 14-day period. If you wish to return an unwanted item, please contact us to arrange a collection. Please email info@eternahome.co.uk with details of the item(s) you wish to return and your order reference number. Please see our Returns and Cancellations page or contact us for more information.
Q) How do I let you know if I have a damaged item?
A) To report a faulty or incorrect item, please email our customer care team at: info@eternahome.co.uk with photographs outlining the damage. This is so our team is able to launch formal investigations into what has happened to lead to this damage and how to prevent this from happening in the future.
Quality control is extremely important to us and we work in direct connection with our manufacturers to ensure all of the items and crafted to perfection.
In the unlikely event that a replacement is needed we do retain spare parts that will be able to fix most issues, however, if we are unable to replace a specific part to fix this we will replace the item with no hassle.
Q) Does Eterna Home's furniture come with a warrantee?
A) We will guarantee our products for one year from the date of delivery. We guarantee that our products are fit for their indented purpose and are free from manufacturer defects, damages or faults. Please see our warranty page or contact us for further information.