Things to consider when buying wood oil for outdoor furniture
In addition to the quality of patio oil, productivity and the price per liter play a significant role. After all, you don’t want to be at the expense of oiling wood.
The reference value for consumption stated by the manufacturers varies considerably between products and ranges between 5 and a sumptuous 24 square meters per liter.
Therefore, choose a product with the content that allows you to work on the largest possible surface.
Our advice: Use a decking oil that, according to the manufacturer, can be used to refine a wooden surface of at least 9 square meters per liter.
Does the best patio oil dry quickly?
It should dry as quickly as possible after applying your wood oil for the outside (such as linseed oil varnish, bangkirai oil, or teak oil). This initiative ensures that the coated surface can be reworked as quickly as possible.
The manufacturers usually indicate the drying time it takes to dry their decking oil completely. The terrace oil (for example, linseed oil lacquer, Bangkirai oil, or teak oil) is dried so that no falling dust can stick to it.
If you plan to paint over the wood multiple times, you should choose a patio oil that dries in less than 3 hours.
Otherwise, you will be working on your project for several days. If you want to refresh old paintwork, you can save money here. Use an inexpensive patio oil that should not be dust-dry for 5 hours.
Many patio oil tests indicate the following:
The productivity and drying time of patio oil depend on the absorbency of the wood. While the outdoor wood oil dries faster on low-density wood, more decking oil may be required than less absorbent wood surfaces.
The drying time for Bankirai maintenance may differ from that for teak maintenance.
The processing of the wood product and whether it has already been pre-treated also influences the consumption and drying time of the terrace oil.
Are patio oils ecologically compatible?
All patio oils do not release physiologically questionable compounds into the environment.
When dry, the patio oil is sweat and saliva-resistant and therefore suitable for furniture and often even children’s toys.
In addition, the manufacturers usually do without biocidal active ingredients and preservatives.
Whether you oil your garden furniture, terrace, decking, or teak, the dried coating is harmless to humans and animals.
When painting your terrace, you should use ecologically responsible wood oil for the exterior if you attach particular importance to sustainability.
Not only is this free of biocides and preservatives, but it also contains no solvents. During production, terrace oils in this category are deficient in pollutants and environmentally friendly.
Even ecological wood oils for outdoor use are toxic when wet.
Therefore, keep children and pets away from processed teak decking, garden furniture, or wooden decking until the paint is completely dry.
It would be best if you avoid Immediate inhalation of the vapors and direct skin contact.
Benefits of ecologically patio oil
free from biocides
free from preservatives
free from solvents
lower emissions of harmful substances during drying
the disadvantage of ecologically patio oil
often a bit more expensive
slightly lower penetration depth than solvent-based patio oils
High-quality patio oil not only improves the appearance
Decking oil (such as Douglas fir oil or teak oil) can restore the color of faded wood. This is how you treat or paint larch wood and give it back its yellow-brown color.
Many tests with outdoor wood oils indicate that treatment should be started as early as possible. For example, teak decking, larch terraces, or wooden garden furniture should be preventively coated with terrace oil after purchase or assembly.
Many consumers also buy patio oil to protect against precipitation and UV radiation.
We only included wood oils that provide basic protection against weather influences and UV radiation. Without these properties, they would not be patio oils.
In this way, the surface of the wood is impregnated and protected against water and solar radiation. In addition, the finish (for example, with teak oil) gives the wood dirt-repellent properties.
also read: Method of treating wood
But: protect your wooden garden furniture against precipitation and frost, especially in autumn and winter.
If you do not have enough space to bring the furniture into your home, you should protect it with a furniture cover.
How to properly apply decking oil
Ensure that the surface (e.g., when caring for bankirai or teak wood) is clean and grease-free. If necessary, clean the wood with a mild detergent and a microfibre cloth.
If it is heavily soiled, a high-pressure cleaner may have to be used.
After cleaning, make sure the wood is completely dry before using it. In addition, the wood oil should be applied outside at temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.
For oiling your teak or other wooden terraces, it is best to use a brush with a wide brush.
Tip: try your patio oil first on an inconspicuous spot.
This applies in particular to non-colorless wood care oil. This way, you can check whether the hood fits your floorboards or patio furniture.
We also recommend a brush of this type for painting or oiling decking.
If you want to treat or paint garden furniture (for example, larch wood), it is best to do this by hand with a cloth.
To do this, pick up some patio oil with the cloth and spread it over the entire furniture surface. For an even result, make sure not to neglect corners and spaces.
If necessary, use a brush with a narrow brush to help.
Many patio oil tests recommend two coats of untreated wood; one layer is often sufficient for renovation work.
Drying time:
The drying time for exterior wood oil (such as Douglas fir oil or teak wood oil) is approximately 24 hours for complete drying (at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius).
The final hardness of the terrace oil is reached after about four weeks.
The wood must be treated as carefully as possible and protected against external influences. Low temperatures and high humidity slow down drying.
also read: Properly maintain wooden garden furniture
Which patio oil do you use for which wood?
While we came across terms like Bangkirai oil, teak oil, or Douglas fir oil in our research, we found that most patio oils can be used on many different types of wood.
So you can safely use your colorless Osmo Bangkirai oil on a larch terrace. Even wooden balconies made of teak or Douglas fir can be treated with this terrace oil.
While most outdoor wood oils are suitable for all common woods, some manufacturers limit their products to hardwoods or exotic woods.
Examples of the different types of wood:
Softwood: Douglas fir, spruce, pine, and larch.
Hardwood: Maple, beech, oak, ash, walnut.
Exotic wood: Bangkirai, Kambala, mahogany, meranti, or teak.
Decking Oil Manufacturers and Brands
There is a wide range of different manufacturers and brands of wood oils for outdoor use.
Osmo oil or Osmo terrace oil and, for example, Osmo wood protection are very popular. Clou wood oils are also popular.
Very cheap patio oil can often be found on the internet. There you may find bargains that you would not find in specialist shops.
How long should patio oil dry?
The drying time of the terrace oil is indicated very differently by the different manufacturers. In this way, wood oil for outdoor use reaches a dust-dry state in 60 minutes to six hours.
We also recommend: let the terrace oil dry for 24 hours before processing it again. This ensures that the oil layer (such as Osmo oil) is completely dry.
also read: How to treat outdoor wooden furniture
How can I remove patio oil again?
If you have applied too much patio oil on the patio or garden, it can only be removed with a sander after it has dried. We recommend using a delta or eccentric sander for this.
