Treating Outdoor Wood Furniture

Let your furniture age naturally.

Treating outdoor wood furniture.

While it can develop a yellowish tinge over time that s considered. As wood ages it takes on a silver patina look that can be quite attractive. Lacquer a mixture of dissolved tree resin or synthetic resin in alcohol is the sealant of choice for wood furniture. However it could make the teak wood dependent on continuous reapplications of oil to prevent the wood from drying out.

Brush or spray application. The stain will help to protect the furniture from the sun and from the weather. These water repellent preservatives include a mildewcide and some products contain ultraviolet light absorbers that protect from sun exposure. Oiling is especially good for outdoor wood furniture since all the nooks crannies and spaces between slats legs and arms are almost impossible to strip properly when paint or varnish peels.

Treating your furniture with teak oil will not help extend the life of the furniture. The furniture should also be oiled three to four times every year. Let s take a look at the best ways how to treat untreated wood for outdoor use. The most common outdoor wood coating is an exterior grade penetrating stain.

Leave the wood alone and it simply resumes weathering as the oil wears out. Water sealers are simply a combination of chemicals and oils that have various additions for better uv and mildew protection. You can preserve this appearance using a clear hardwood oil for eucalyptus or teak oil for teak furniture. Clear coats spar urethane.

All of the furniture should be sanded back and the surfaces prepared properly for applying a new layer of stain. There are many great wood sealers that are super easy to apply. If you have a power washer use it on light to knock off the embedded dirt and oil residue. If you have wood outdoor furniture that has weathered to a grayish color with cracks and deep grooves from over weathering it s obviously in need of more than a good old cleaning.

For deeper cleaning at the start and finish of each season or in the instance of tougher stains or mold you can scrub with a soft brush and a mix of water and dishwasher detergent or oxygen bleach. Try sanding and refinishing. Light cleaning of wood outdoor furniture is best done with a cloth moistened with water or a mild soapy solution. Most wood is by nature biodegradable so anything not built of treated lumber or rot resistant species such as teak redwood or cedar will rot and break down with surprising speed.

Generally you should treat the wood once every year or two. At least 2 coats should be applied allowing 48 hours for the oil to dry.