Here are some commonly asked questions that may be of assistance to you for any concerns you may have about our products and services. If you can't find the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us for a personalized response.
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What is mortise and tenon joinery? Mortise and tenon joinery is a type of woodworking joinery that has been used for centuries and is widely regarded as one of the strongest and most durable methods of joining two pieces of wood. The mortise and tenon joint is created by cutting a rectangular or square cavity, called a mortise, into one piece of wood, and then cutting a corresponding tongue or peg, called a tenon, on the end of another piece of wood. The tenon is then inserted into the mortise and secured with glue or pegs.
This method of joinery is superior to other methods for several reasons. Firstly, the mortise and tenon joint provides a strong mechanical connection between the two pieces of wood, which is particularly important for furniture and cabinetry where the joints will be subjected to significant stress and strain. Secondly, the joint is highly customizable, allowing for a wide range of design possibilities. Thirdly, the joint is virtually invisible, providing a clean and seamless appearance that is aesthetically pleasing.
In addition, the mortise and tenon joint is easy to repair and can be disassembled without damaging the wood. This makes it an ideal choice for furniture and cabinetry that will be moved frequently or that may need to be taken apart for repairs or renovations.
In conclusion, mortise and tenon joinery is a superior woodworking method due to its strength, versatility, aesthetics, and ease of repair. Whether you are building furniture or cabinetry, incorporating this method of joinery into your projects will result in high-quality, durable and long-lasting pieces that will stand the test of time.
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Does Teak Furniture Need a Finish to Last a Lifetime? No, teak furniture does not need a finish to last a lifetime, but adding a finish can enhance its longevity even further. Teak is a naturally durable wood, rich in oils that protect it from moisture, pests, and decay. These natural properties make it an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor furniture without requiring a finish to maintain its longevity. With simple care and routine cleaning, teak can last a lifetime, weathering beautifully over time. Simple Care and Maintenance Teak furniture is low-maintenance, and simple routine cleaning is all that's required to help maintain its excellent condition over time:
Natural Aging Process Over time, untreated teak will naturally weather to a silver-grey patina. This change in color does not affect the wood's integrity or longevity. For those who prefer this naturally aged look, no finish is required - just simple cleaning and care. Optional Finishes If you prefer to maintain the warm, honey-brown color of new teak or opt for other finishes, applying a teak sealer can help preserve its appearance. While not essential for the wood's durability, a finish can offer additional protection against UV rays and slow down the weathering process, allowing the wood to retain its original color or chosen finish for longer and increase its longevity. | ||||||||
Do you offer financing? Yes! We offer financing through Paypal Credit and Affirm. When checking out choose "Paypal" or "Affirm" as your payment method then follow the links to use Paypal Credit or Affirm.
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Where is your furniture made? Westminster Teak is an American family owned & operated business based out of Live Oak, Florida in the USA. When you purchase from Westminster Teak you are helping to support over 50 American families that live and work in the USA. We have two fully staffed warehouses: one in Live Oak, Florida and the other in Anaheim, California. Our finishing facilities as well as all of our furniture finishing is performed in our state of the art finish room in Live Oak, Florida. Our Montecito Umbrellas are made in the USA, in Southern California. Some of our Sur Last covers are also made in the USA as well. Our furniture is made in our factory in Malang, Indonesia, where the best teak in the world is grown and where the finest artisans are based.
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Do you sell wholesale, to interior designers, to the trade or offer a commercial discount? Yes, we offer several different programs to suit your needs:
For restaurants, institutions, museums, universities and businesses we offer a generous commercial discount. We also have a trade partner program and a contract & hospitality program. We also offer dealership discounts for store fronts looking to stock and sell our furniture. Please note that we do not allow others to sell our furniture online. Please contact us if you are an interior designer, furniture dealer, architect, restaurant, hospitality supplier or landscape designer or visit our trade partner program page or our contract & hospitality program page for more information and to access the trade application. If you have any questions whatsoever, please do not hesitate to contact us through live chat, email or by calling us at 888-592-8325. | ||||||||
I am concerned about Rain Forest deforestation. As one of the leading online distributors of teak furniture in North America, Westminster Teak recognizes the influence it plays on the industry and the impact it has on the environment specifically in regard to forest conservation and management. We have made it our company’s policy to source our teak wood from well managed, credibly certified plantations. Our factory was the first to join Nusa Hijau, the Indonesian Chapter of the Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN), an initiative of WWF®(World Wildlife Fund) to eliminate illegal logging and improve the management of valuable and threatened forests. We purchase wood only from Perum Perhutani, the government-managed plantation that promotes biodiversity and the livelihoods of the people that depend on them by allowing multiple crops to be planted amidst teak trees, for the benefits of the local economy. Perum Perhutani offers both SVLK and FSC certified wood. And, because it is the only source in our supply chain for wood base material, we have 100% transparency; we know exactly where all our lumber comes from for every component of our furniture, from the forest floor to retail floor. All of our teak wood holds SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu) or INDO-TLAS (Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System) Certification. SVLK certification not only ensures that only legal timber is exported from Indonesia, but effectively manages sustainable forestry practices while reducing illegal logging and trading. Required by law for Indonesian timber to be exported, you can be assured that the furniture you purchase is a finely crafted product, from legally and sustainably harvested wood. We also offer FSC Certified Teak Furniture for projects where FSC is required. Please Contact us for more information. | ||||||||
How long does it usually take for shipping? On average it will normally take 5 to 7 business days for furniture to arrive after it has been shipped from our warehouses, depending on which part of the country you are located. If in stock, orders typically leave our warehouse within 24 to 72 hours (excluding weekends) of placing your order. In stock cushions also ship within 24 hours. However, made to order cushion covers normally take 12 to 16 weeks, depending on whether it is peak season or not. In this case, we will ship in stock temporary cushion covers so that you may enjoy your furniture while your made to order covers are produced; you may keep the temporary covers. If some items in your order are not in stock, you may request to hold your entire order until all items are ready to ship.
Please note that some areas are experiencing moderate delays in delivery due to staff shortages and shipping demand. We will work with the shipper to expedite the process. We have staff dedicated to tracking EVERY order to ensure it delivers in a timely manner. If we detect a delay we contact the shipper to get the order expedited. | ||||||||
Do you offer a Lifetime Warranty? The majority of our all teak furniture comes with a Lifetime Warranty. Since some of our designs are not all solid teak but comprised of mix materials (such as textilene fabric, stainless steel, powder-coated aluminum or brass hardware), the warranty may differ from one type of furniture to another. Please see our Warranty page for details.
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If I order now can I have my order held and shipped at a later date? Yes! We can hold your order in our warehouse to ship later. Please be aware that due to limited warehouse storage space that if the holding time is more than 7 days then you will be charged a 50% non-refundable fee if paying by credit card then the remainder of the balance will be charged when your order ships. To schedule a delayed shipping date simply let us know in the Shipping Comments of the order form.
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Do you offer Glossy Teak Furniture? Yes, we offer a gloss finish as an optional upgrade. To view examples and more information, please Click Here and scroll to the bottom.
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Do you offer White Glove Delivery Service? WHITE GLOVE DELIVERY | ||||||||
Do you carry parts or replacement hardware? Yes, we do carry parts but ONLY for Westminster Teak furniture. Westminster Teak parts ARE NOT interchangeable with other brands. We will have to verify that the parts are for Westminster Teak furniture either by previous order information or a photo of the furniture piece and the Westminster Teak logo (REQUIRED). There are no exceptions.
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Do you make custom furniture? Yes, we can do custom furniture in mass quantities, usually above 10 items depending on the design. Please Contact Us for more information.
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How does your furniture compare to other manufacturer's? Our First European Quality (FEQ) furniture has been evaluated by thousands of satisfied customers; all of which have come to the conclusion that when compared against the "well known" high end teak outdoor furniture manufacturers, the Westminster teak outdoor furniture purchasing experience, quality AND craftsmanship are equal to, if not better, than the "big names".
On May 24th, 2002, we were ecstatic to learn that our Captain Steamer 2000 was rated Best Overall in The Wall Street Journal for best overall comfort and quality. We put the same dedication into every single piece of teak outdoor furniture we manufacture, knowing and encouraging any doubters to do the comparisons themselves. We are absolutely confident that you could put any piece of teak furniture we manufacture up against any brand name (or less than brand name for that matter) and our quality will prevail. To read the article in the Wall Street Journal, click here. To read more about how our teak outdoor furniture is constructed and assembled, click here. | ||||||||
Do you sell wholesale to furniture companies? Yes! Please fill out our Trade Request Form and we will evaluate your application and let you know of your trade discount, if approved. Please note that we will not approve exclusively online furniture stores.
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What do you really mean by Risk-Free-Shopping when buying from Westminster Teak? When you purchase furniture from Westminster Teak, you are making an investment with one of the finest in the industry. We stand behind the quality of our product. Our No Hassle 30 Day, Full Money Back Guarantee* allows you to return your purchases provided the product and packaging are in the original condition it was sent to you. Simply give us a call or email and we will make arrangements to have the furniture picked up at our expense and we'll give you a full refund or store credit, no re-stocking fee, no shipping or handling fees, No Questions Asked! Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee ensures that you have no risk when making a Westminster Teak purchase. It's just that simple. We only ask that the furniture be packed in its original condition and in the original packing materials when delivered. There is absolutely no risk on your part.
* Applies only to Standard Delivery within the Continental USA. Does not include any other special Deliveries including White Glove. Does not apply to Reseller Orders. Free Return Shipping* | ||||||||
Is Assembly Required? If assembly is required it is usually very little. You can see Assembly Drawings in the information portion of each individual item. The furniture requires very little assembly time, as most of the components are pre-assembled at our factory and can be put together with common every day hand tools (a hammer and a screwdriver). On average it will take approximately 15 minutes per item to assemble the furniture.
* Folding Chairs require no assembly * Stacking Chairs require no assembly * Steamer Chairs require no assembly * Folding Gate Legged Tables require no assembly * Umbrellas require very little assembly (putting the fabric on and connecting the poles) * Loungers require very little assembly, if any. * Benches, Dining Chairs, Armchairs, Extendable Tables, Coffee Tables, Drink Trolleys all require light assembly, but nothing more than driving pre-made dowels into the pre-drilled holes to lock the mortice and tenon joint into place, which is the time tested joinery method of choice for outdoor furniture. Brass screws are provided where required, and have pre-drilled holes for ease of installation. * As a rule of thumb... if you can start a car, you can assemble our furniture. Assembly instructions are shown on each individual furniture item's product page in the information chart, labeled as "Assembly Drawings". | ||||||||
Is the teak oiled or have a finish on it? No. The teak furniture comes from the factory kiln dried and ready for assembly. Some customers prefer not to use an oil or finish on the teak, therefore all items come ready to finish if so desired. Applying teak oils will darken the complexion of the wood, giving it a dark rich luster that some people like when used both indoors and outdoors. Some prefer to leave their teak furniture plain and let the natural outdoor patina weather to a silvery gray luster. The choice is always left to the customer for finishing.
Teak Finishes Although our furniture is unfinished we do have the option for teak finishes that we apply before delivering to you. From Teak Oil to Superyacht Gloss, we have a variety of finish options for you. Because the finishing process can take 2 to 12 weeks depending on the finish, we recommend you purchase early in the season to ensure you will be able to enjoy your furniture during the summer. | ||||||||
Do you offer a printed catalog? Yes, please click here to request a catalog. Our catalog shows our collections and new release products, however our website shows all of our products.
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Do you accept Canadian, International Orders or ship internationally? We do accept international orders, however due to the high cost of shipping across national borders, we cannot offer free return shipping and the customer will be responsible for the shipping cost. We ship orders to Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic and many more. If you are interested in placing an international order, please call us at 1-888-592-8325. Please note that shipping internationally nullifies the 30 Day Money Back Guarantee with free return shipping. You will be entirely responsible for any duty, customs, or other fees that are inherited whenever goods cross borders.
Please note that international orders may require wire transfer as form of payment. | ||||||||
Why is there such a price difference when shopping for teak furniture? When shopping for Teak furniture, first make sure you are buying 100% solid teak. Many competitors disguise the fact that their furniture is either made from Shorea wood or Acacia wood, which is NOT teak by any stretch of the imagination, and/or use a combination of teak and Shorea wood which will not hold up as well as 100% solid teak furniture. Also, it is very important to make sure you are buying teak furniture that is made from "kiln dried" lumber, and not "green" lumber, which has a high moisture content and will start warping over time when left outdoors. Westminster Teak furniture is made from 100% genuine plantation grown solid kiln dried teak lumber from Indonesia, and is of the highest quality you can find anywhere in the world.
Another reason there is such a difference is the quality of work put into the furniture. For instance, you will not find any other brand of teak furniture that has such a smooth, finely sanded finish as Westminster Teak. Cheaper, lower grade furniture is rough to the touch, and mid grade furniture is still nowhere near as smooth as Westminster Teak Furniture. For more details please visit our Why Westminster Teak? information page. Customer Service is also another important issue that is often overlooked when ordering teak furniture. At Westminster Teak you will have one representative that can handle your order from beginning to end. We maintain direct contact with you and our shippers to ensure that there are no complications. If a complication arises we go out of our way to ensure that it is handled quickly and to your satisfaction. Other companies will leave you to figure your own problems out. And if you are not satisfied then they make you pay for the return of the furniture. In comparison, we pay for the return of the furniture if you are not satisfied, so you get your entire refund. Westminster Teak also provides for a Lifetime Warranty on teak furniture as we expect our furniture to last a lifetime. Most other retailers warranty their furniture for 1 to 5 years. This brings up another benefit of being a Westminster Teak family member: Consistent Collections and Replacement parts. You will always be able to add to your existing collection and obtain replacement parts, if necessary. Many customers come to use requesting parts from other manufacturers because they are unable to acquire parts either because the model was discontinued or the manufacturer is now out of business. Westminster Teak gladly supplies replacement parts for Westminster Teak furniture ONLY. | ||||||||
What's so special about Westminster Teak's furniture. How is it different? On the internet, the selection of outdoor teak furniture is as wide-ranging as its prices that many customers often wonder why such a large range in price for products that looks so similar. The difference is in quality. Though helpful, pictures cannot give you a fair representation of quality and service. We're glad that you're making this effort to learn more before making your purchasing decision and hope that the information and knowledge that we share will help make the difference. As one of the leading online distributors of teak furniture in North America, Westminster Teak recognizes the influence it plays on the industry and the impact it has on the environment, specifically in regard to forest conservation and management. We have made it our company’s policy to source our teak wood from sustainably harvested and credibly certified plantations. Our factory, the first to join Nusa Hijau, the Indonesian Chapter of the Global Forest Trade Network (GFTN), an initiative of WWF® (World Wildlife Fund) in the archipelago, purchases wood only from plantations managed by Perum Perhutani (The Ministry Of Forestry), whose primary mission is to eliminate illegal logging and improve the management of threatened forests. It also works to promote biodiversity and the livelihoods of the people that depend on them. A very large percentage of furniture coming out of Indonesia comes from cottage industry. With exceptionally low labor cost, ’handmade’ furniture there could be produced at a price we in the US could hardly get for the cost of lumber. ’Cottage-industry’ in Indonesia -- usually operated through a loose network of home-based carpenters, craftsmen and artisans where entire families work on a particular type of furniture -- also means there are no actual quality control procedures or processes to follow. There are no set guidelines in the selection of even basic raw materials such as wood, which very likely do not come from certified plantations. This makes the sourcing of the wood by both local and international standards, illegal. There are no set manufacturing production standards and procedures to follow and no modern equipment such as commercial kilns and modern plant tools and equipment, etc. These places lack the most basic modern tools we take for granted. So, the next time you shop for teak furniture, or any other hardwood furniture, floor or lumber for that matter, ask for the source. We know exactly where ours come from. ’Handmade’ may suggest quality and tradition here in the US but without the proper precision tools and selected raw materials, quality is often greatly compromised, especially when the furniture concerned is to be used outdoors and expected to last for a long, long time. ’Handmade’ is not synonymous with quality. Check for the following pertinent factors in construction that highlights the difference in quality. Quality of wood used Kiln drying process Joinery
Without the use of modern machinery to produce precision cuts, the structural integrity of the furniture (especially for outdoor furniture) will always be in question.
Hardware Finish Packaging Guarantee
Free Return Shipping is an expensive undertaking in the furniture business that none of our competitors have been willing to do. This unprecedented assurance comes only with the confidence on the quality built over years of determination to produce the best quality products. There are no shortcuts in producing a quality product. Outdoor teak furniture should age gracefully and last through many changes of the seasons. Any shortcuts taken will quickly show up within the first year -- as warping, splitting, cracking, etc. Do not hesitate to look thoroughly at a piece of furniture the next time you go shopping for chairs or a table. Look closely at the joints, look at its underside, feel the finish. | ||||||||
Are you accredited with the Better Business Bureau? Yes! Please Click Here to review our Better Business Bureau Membership.
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Do you offer a military or veteran discount? Westminster Teak salutes and honors veterans by offering a 5% additional discount to all military personnel, veterans and their spouses. Please confirm and enter the following information into the comments section during checkout:
Branch of Service Rank Honorable Discharge Use promo code VETERAN5 in the shopping cart to apply the discount. The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. | ||||||||
Do you offer CAD or AutoCAD drawings of your furniture? Yes! When on the product page look under the main photo for a red button link that says "CADdetails" or visit our page on CADdetails.com. If you still cannot find the CAD or AutoCad drawing you need then please Contact Us and let us know what you need. | ||||||||
How long do the finishes last? The time a finish lasts depends on exposed environmental conditions and whether or not the furniture is covered. Estimates for each finish are stated on our Teak Finishes page, simply find your chosen finish on the page and you'll see estimated times. | ||||||||
What payment methods do you accept? We accept all major credit cards, online checks, paper checks, purchase orders and bank wire transfers (for international orders).
For your convenience we also accept payment through Amazon Pay and Paypal. | ||||||||
Are you hiring or do you have any job openings? We are always seeking new talent. If you are interested please find us on Indeed.com or send your resume to careers@westminsterteak.com
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Can I order by phone? Yes. You can call us to order by calling 1-888-592-8325 during normal business hours and one of our knowledgeable customer representatives would be glad to assist you. If you are calling after hours then you may reach our answering service that can take your order or take a message. If you decide to leave a message we will contact you as soon as we can.
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White Glove Services include unpackaging, assembly and placement of furniture as well as removal and disposal of all packaging material. It does not include any custom work that may need to be done to assure a fit to the desired location.
In stock cushions and umbrella fabrics will be included with White Glove Services. Made to order cushions and umbrella fabrics are shipped separately via UPS and are not applicable to White Glove Services.
Shipping within 5-7 business days applies only for Standard Delivery within the Continental USA. Does not include Made To Order Cushions or furniture purchased with a finish. It also does not include any other special Deliveries including White Glove. Shipments are on business days only. No Shipments on USA holidays or weekends.
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