Treating Garden Furniture

kah22

Back in early 2017 I bought a cheap garden furniture set from bmstores described as a Jakarta Wooden Patio Set 5pc. I’ve read on this and other Forums to use either oil or stain to protect the furniture.

All I want to do is preserve the set make it as water proof as possible with as little effort as possible, and I’m guessing that’s down to using some sort of paint or varnish? So what paint or varnish is suitable. I’m thinking in particular of sitting on it on a warm day and it leaving marks on clothes. Varnish would seem to be the more natural looking finish but would it be more inclined to leave a stain on clothes during hot weather like we’ve had this year?

Any advice?

Slinky

Covering it when not in use is the best option in my opinion. Varnish can require a lot of upkeep. BIL cursed the teak oil which he used and causes marks.


We've just left our bench as raw wood (I think it was pressure treated before purchase) and put it in the garage in the winter. It's 9 years old, looks a bit rustic, but serves its purpose.

PasturesNew

I'd go with the "splash of that brown stuff" that is sold cheaply everywhere - not difficult to do at all.... varnish can be a devil to get right, as well as prepping first as once you varnish it it's "set" ... and once it peels/chips it's a faff to then sand/revarnish it.

Just get a bucket of the common brown stuff.... other colours also available.

wolfehouse

I put teak oil on mine every year. Available widely at diy stores.

PDC

If you want to keep it brown then I'd go with whatever outdoor wood treatment you can find at a good price. I think varnish is maybe overkill and does tend to at least feel sticky in hot weather.


Not the cheapest, and no good if you want to keep the colour, but I've been impressed with the Cuprinol Shades range. We did a couple of fence panels with it about seven years ago and they still look like new and so I then did our outdoor bench with it about three years ago and that too still seems well protected, beads water in the rain ect. I think with the cheap stuff you basically do need to treat every year but with some of the better products that may not be necessary.

Callie22

I use Danish Oil on our garden furniture (the Georgian Oak shade). It's a bit stinky to apply but I've never had a problem with it leaving marks on clothes once it's dry. I re-do it every year or so and it looks fine.

getmore4less

If you have indoor space to work on it over winter there are options, to get this done a lot cheaper

if using oil

Oil works but needs time to become cured to reduce risk of transfer.
multiple coats over winter to give really good protection


Regular fence stuff I would go with something like Ducksback better protection and maybe only need doing every other year.


The Shades as mentioned is good but more expensive.
I got a batch( 20ltr) cheap so have done my fences with it looks really good.

Soon will be the time of year to stock up on outdoor coatings as places want the space for Xmas stuff.

keep an eye on HUKD

Wilko always has loads at 1/2 price or less usually starts Sept.

Never pay more than £1/ltr for fence stuff.

If lucky Shades will get down to under £2/ltr, normally around £5-£8

getmore4less

Discounts are starting.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/b-and-m-stores-half-price-linseed-oil-and-teak-oil-both-reduced-from-2-to-1-3023637