Good quality wooden garden furniture is naturally hardwearing in its own right, and if cared for correctly will provide users with years of use. One of the steps you can take to enhance its natural appearance and quality is applying a wood oil. This helps to protect the wood from the elements, enhancing its longevity, whilst emphasising the appearance of the wood grain. In order to help you ensure that you’re protecting your favourite outdoor pieces in the best way, we’ve put together the following simple guide on the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture.
There are 3 main types of garden furniture oil that can be used to treat outdoor wooden furniture. These include:
Teak Oil
Teak oil is generally considered the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture. It provides year-round weather protection whilst emphasising the wood’s natural colour. It does this by replacing the natural oils that are lost through weathering, and preventing the wood from splitting and warping. Teak oil can be used in both interior and exterior settings, however it’s most effective when used on exterior hardwoods. One of the main reasons that teak is the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture is because it penetrates deeply into the wood pores, creating a long lasting weather protection whilst bringing out the natural grains.
Tung Oil
Tung oil is the best oil to treat wooden furniture that’s made from natural oak or wood with similar properties. It provides natural resistance against water, food and alcohol based chemicals, making it perfect for protecting garden dining table sets. Just like teak oil, tung oil adds a lovely natural finish to the wood that brings out its natural grain appearance, whilst adding weather protection. The only disadvantage of tung oil is that it’s generally not as fast drying as teak.
Danish Oil
Danish oil is not the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture as it is less durable meaning it requires regular maintenance and reapplication. However, it can be used in conjunction with other finishes. It’s also easy to apply, quick drying and provides waterproof protection. It’s ideally used as a primer or sealer for bare wood before applying further finishes.
Which Oils Should I Avoid Using?
It’s all very well knowing the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture, however it’s just as important to know which products to avoid. Using the incorrect garden furniture oil could damage the appearance and integrity. With this in mind, we’d advise against using linseed oil. It does not provide the necessary weather protection required, and can be susceptible to water damage.
How Can I Further Protect My Garden Furniture?
Knowing the best oil to treat wooden garden furniture is a key step in protecting and prolonging the life of your outdoor furniture. However, another crucial step you can take is using a protective cover. This shields the furniture from the weather, and is particularly important for the colder months. However, please note that you should not cover acacia wood products as this type of material needs to be able to breathe in order to prevent mould from materialising. The wooden garden furniture sets form IOL that can benefit from coverage have their own individual protective covers that are available to be purchased separately.
