To Oil or not to Oil Teak Wood

Teak wood has long been treasured for the beauty of its grain, golden color and timeless durability. Teak has been a favored material for use abroad ships and yachts and for use in outdoor furniture.

When teak patio furniture is exposed to the sun and weather, the natural oils migrate to the surface of the wood. The sun then oxidizes this oil and turns the surface a silver-gray color. Over extended periods of time this process depletes the wood of its natural oils causing surface roughness and checking (cracks along the grain of the wood) and the oxidized surface oil provides fertile ground for the growth and mildew and fungus. This process, along with the erosion caused by the wind and rain, will eventually make the surface dirty, unsightly and very rough to the touch.

Most authorities on teak denounce the use of teak oils. Because teak oil is usually solvent based, the use of such oils can actually destroy the natural oils in the teak wood. Also, once you begin using it, you will need to continue applications which can be as often as once per month. I also dislike the reddish colour you get after treating furniture with teak oil.

A much better option is to use a teak sealer. Teak sealer is extensively used in the yachting and marine circles. (If it’s good enough for marine type environment where the Teak wood is exposed to seawater, then imagine how good it really is!) It leaves the furniture a golden brown colour which is much more attractive and keeps the ‘expensive’ look of the teak. It is the only product I recommend to use on teak furniture.

There are a variety of “teak oils” on the market for the protection of teak which usually consists of linseed or tung oil mixed with mineral spirits. When first applied to the wood these oils impart a nice finish, but left outdoors teak oils wear away in weeks and require re-coating. With each re-coat, the oiled finish becomes darker and the surface becomes sticky and collects dirt. The organic waste from these oils provides a wonderful garden patch for the growth of mold and mildew. In a very short period of time the wood requires a complete re-cleaning.

If teak has been allowed to weather, the gray color and any mildew must be removed before finishing the wood. Prior to any application of teak sealer, you will need to clean the teak wood with washing and mild detergent prior to seasonal recoating with a teak sealer. This will preserve the teak in its natural state for many years.

I personally much prefer the silver colour teak eventually turns to. Remember it is not the same dull grey that you tend to see with cheaper furniture. It is much more vibrant silver then grey. With very light sanding to take the rough edge every few years, the furniture really looks beautiful.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 11:43 am and is filed under Patio Furniture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.