Renovating garden furniture.

Annie1960

I have a wooden garden table that has gone silver. I've cleaned it with detergent and vinegar, and it's in good condition. What do I do next? Oil? Varnish? Wood stain? I think it's hardwood, but not teak.

What's the best way to finish it to protect it for the next few years?

Brywalker

Yacht varnish is excellent for outdoor wood. You'll get a better finish if you give the table a good sanding down first. Once you've finished varnishing it will be a good idea to cover the table for the winter months to protect it, either with a purpose made garden furniture cover or just a cheap tarpaulin tied to the legs.   Better still, if the table dismantles, simply store it in a shed for the winter if you have one.

Annie1960

Brywalker said:

Yacht varnish is excellent for outdoor wood. You'll get a better finish if you give the table a good sanding down first. Once you've finished varnishing it will be a good idea to cover the table for the winter months to protect it, either with a purpose made garden furniture cover or just a cheap tarpaulin tied to the legs.   Better still, if the table dismantles, simply store it in a shed for the winter if you have one.

Thanks. I'm not sure if yacht varnish is very glossy, as I'd like a more natural look if possible. Or, could I use teak oil, even if the wood is not teak? Could I use oil and then something like yacht varnish on top? Decisions, decisions ...

twopenny

Oil wouldn't take or sink into the wood if it's varnished.
I've used yacht varnish successfully in the past but the two i tried recently were glossy but rubbish. I've yet to find the energy to try an expensive one to see if that works better.
I've also tried a water based coloured varnish and although it looked good I found that water had seeped underneath and caused mould.

Some oils to research are linseed, Danish oil and teak oil. Only one will dry quickly and leaves a natural finish. Trouble is you can't see if it's still there or gone.

donemedosh

when I worked at a large private garden we would allways clean & lightly sand all wooden furniture then 2 or 3 coats of teak oil. It stopped the wood rotting but we did do it every year. Yacht varnish was used once but it blisters when out in the sun all day(may have been cheap or not applied right but owners did not use it again)

greenbee

I like the silvered look of my (admittedly ancient) teak furniture. So it just gets scrubbed occasionally. I do have some patiniser, but have yet to bother to use it. 

ETA - when I say ancient, I mean it. My garden furniture belonged to my grandparents and is about 60 years old and still going strong. 

Annie1960

greenbee said:

I like the silvered look of my (admittedly ancient) teak furniture. So it just gets scrubbed occasionally. I do have some patiniser, but have yet to bother to use it. 

ETA - when I say ancient, I mean it. My garden furniture belonged to my grandparents and is about 60 years old and still going strong. 

Wow! That's certainly impressive money saving!