The word "spring" makes many people look forward to it! Now garden furniture & co. are being prepared for the outdoor season. But the weather dictates when it is best to oil outdoor wood.
Ah, it's slowly turning green, the birds are chirping, and the sun is bringing warm temperatures. That's how we imagine spring! But oiling outdoor wood isn't tied to a specific date – the actual weather conditions are crucial.
What weather is best for oiling outdoor wood?
Generally, people assume April to October. But you shouldn't stick too rigidly to this rule of thumb. Rather, double-digit temperatures and dry days are the perfect weather to get garden furniture & co. ready for the outdoor season. Ideally, it should have been dry and warm for several days beforehand. The ideal temperatures are between +15 and +25 degrees Celsius. Even at night, it should be dry and preferably warmer than +8 degrees Celsius. Because the colder it is, the worse the oil hardens.
Light and atmospheric oxygen also contribute to the good and rapid curing of the oil. So, if you think you can outsmart the weather gods and move the painting work to a dark cellar or garage, you shouldn't forget daylight & shock ventilation.
When temperatures pick up and there's no rain cloud in the sky, you can get started. The wood should be thoroughly dry. This applies especially to garden furniture that has overwintered outdoors, as well as to new, untreated wood. Its residual moisture may still be too high.
In general, the coating should never be applied to wet wood. Likewise, working in direct sunlight or even on sun-heated surfaces is not optimal. The oil would dry too quickly and wouldn't penetrate the wood pores.
Clean outdoor wood before oiling
If the wood has already been oiled, re-oiling is possible without sanding. First, the wood only needs to be thoroughly cleaned. Loose dirt can be brushed off with a soft brush, and for heavier soiling, green soap or our OLI-NATURA outdoor cleaner helps. Simply dilute some cleaner with water, brush it in, let it work briefly, and rinse thoroughly with clear water. Always work in the direction of the grain and let the wood dry well. Wood fibers that have risen due to the water can be trimmed with sandpaper.
Important: Old coatings such as varnish or thick-layer glaze must be completely sanded off before oiling.
Oiling garden furniture & co.
As soon as the wooden surface is clean and absolutely dry, apply a thin coat of »OLI-NATURA Yacht & Teak Oil« with a flat brush or a cloth to all sides. Then let it soak in briefly and polish off excess oil with a cotton cloth or an oil absorbent cloth and remove the excess. After drying overnight, a second coat can be applied.
How often to re-treat?
The maintenance effort depends significantly on the type of wood & its location. Depending on how much the wood is exposed to wind, sun, or rain, the wood should be re-oiled once or twice a year.
Especially hardwoods like teak have a high oil content and hardly need protection. Always apply only a thin layer of oil so that it can penetrate well and the wood is not oversaturated!
TIP: Signs of a diminishing oil content are when the surface feels rough, the color depth fades, and the wood slowly grays. Then it should be re-oiled.
About the product:
The »OLI-NATURA Yacht & Teak Oil« on a natural oil basis protects hardwood & exotic wood as well as pressure-treated wood against sun, rain, and graying. Equipped with UV protection, it gives garden furniture, terraces, pool surrounds, and yacht decks a weather-resistant surface.
Its naturally drying oils penetrate deep into the pores and protect the wood from within. The oiled and impregnated surface does not crack, peel, or flake, and can be refreshed again and again by re-oiling.
In the colorless "Natural" version, the grain and color of the wood are particularly beautifully highlighted. The lightly pigmented "Teak" variant brings transparent color to the wood. The UV-stable color pigments preserve the structural appearance of the wood and help to counteract the natural color change of the wood for as long as possible.
Both oils are without biocides (fungicide) and can therefore also be used for wood indoors.
Which wood oil is right for me?
If you want to buy wood oil, the selection may initially seem huge and overwhelming. We will help you make a decision and show you which OLI-NATURA oils & waxes are best suited for you or, more precisely, for your project. Our experts will quickly and easily recommend a suitable wood oil, answer your product questions, and provide application tips. We are happy to assist you with any questions, by phone at 037208/84-488 or by email at faq@oli-lacke.de. (sst_27042023)
