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Wooden garden furniture exudes a natural flair. However, to ensure that they retain this and do not turn grey, the furniture needs regular care that protects the wooden furniture from the effects of the weather.
In a nutshell
- Garden furniture needs protection from the weather
- Oiling is considered the most natural and easiest method
- when glazing, the amount of work depends on the product
Oil
A prerequisite for oiling garden furniture is that the wood is untreated. Therefore, only furniture that has already been oiled or furniture made of bare wood is suitable for this care. Sand down varnished or glazed wooden furniture before treating it with oil.
apply oil
When oiling garden furniture, the first oiling is crucial. That's why you should sand down your wooden furniture before you oil it for the first time, so that the surface is nice and smooth. After that you can oil the wood. To apply the wood oil you can
- an old, lint-free cotton or linen cloth (e.g. bed linen or T-shirts) or
- a brush
use. With wood oil, you just have to make sure that it is suitable for outdoors. If everything is ready, you can treat the furniture with the oil:
- Apply oil liberally (wet appearance of the garden furniture after oiling)
- Leave for 15 to 25 minutes
- Thoroughly wipe off excess wood oil with a clean, lint-free cloth
- let dry overnight
- Treat wooden furniture again with less oil
Tip: In the following years the work is reduced. You then only need to wipe the garden furniture with a slightly oily cloth.
Pros and cons of wood oil
- Preservation and reinforcement of the grain
- Wood remains breathable (moisture can escape)
- penetrates deep (prevents cracking)
- does not flake off
- protects against dehydration and premature graying
- Wooden furniture feels natural
- Disadvantage: refresh annually
glaze
When glazing between
- thin layer glazes,
- middle layer glazes and
- thick layer glazes
distinguished. The thickness of the glaze applied depends primarily on how much your garden furniture is exposed to the weather. As a result, there are other differences between thin and medium-layer glaze.
thin layer glaze
- Primer not absolutely necessary
- thin liquid (drip when processing)
- penetrate deep into the wood
- natural grain is preserved
- Wood feels natural
- Diffusion ability is retained
- lasts up to four years depending on the weather
- can be painted over after simple cleaning (brushing or soapy water).
middle layer glaze
- primer necessary
- fewer drops when processing
- less natural feel
- lower diffusivity
- lasts up to seven years
- should not flake (pay attention to the quality of the product)
- can be simply overwritten
Apply glaze
Remove all dirt particles from the garden furniture before applying the glaze. If part of the glaze has flaked off, it must be sanded off completely. The wood must then be freed from sanding dust and dried well. A primer is always necessary for coniferous wood.
- Apply evenly in the direction of the grain
- Catch drops immediately with the brush and spread out
- if necessary, leave to dry overnight and glaze a second time (depending on the product)
Notice: Glaze stains are extremely difficult to remove. Therefore, you should cover the ground well.
Advantages and disadvantages of a glaze
The advantage of glazing is that your garden furniture is protected longer than with oiling. However, if cracks form in the glaze, the protective layer must be renewed, as the wood is no longer protected in these areas. With some products, the wood must be sanded again before the second application, which means more work.
paint
When it comes to painting garden furniture, only an exterior paint is suitable. Clean the wood beforehand. In order for the paint to hold well, a primer is necessary. This must be applied in several layers, whereby the previous one must have dried well. When actually painting, three coats are necessary:
- primer
- intermediate coat
- top coat
The paint must be completely dry between coats. It may also be necessary to apply a protective layer or a seal, but this is not mandatory.
Advantages and disadvantages of painting
Of the treatments described, painting is considered the longest protection. However, if the paint peels off, the wood is no longer protected. In this case, the old layer of paint must be removed and then repainted. Likewise, the wood grain is no longer visible after painting. In addition, the feel of the wooden furniture is lost.
frequently asked Questions
Can I oil lacquered furniture?Yes, you can oil lacquered furniture. Since the varnish completely covers the wood surface, the oil cannot penetrate and therefore has no protective effect.
Does the oil have to be selected according to the type of wood?Whether oils are better for specific types of wood is controversial. The universal oil for all types of wood is hard oil. If the oil is to have a slight tint, you should use special oils if necessary.
Can I apply a thin layer glaze to a middle layer glaze?Since the thin-layer glaze is prevented from penetrating the wood by the middle layer, the protection is lost. However, it is possible to apply a medium coat glaze to a thin coat glaze if you want to change glazes.