DIY Teak Outdoor Furniture Refresh
With more comfortable weather arriving, outdoor spaces may need a refresh to fully enjoy the benefit of our mild winter months and the question always arises: How can I make my teak outdoor furniture look inviting again without spending a small fortune?
The answer depends on a few variables, but in general teak outdoor furniture was designed for outdoor living. The selection of teak is intentional. Teak contains natural oils that resist rot from moisture and insect damage. The exterior layers of the wood become silver with UV exposure and age. This is a natural process so don’t despair! It is really not very difficult to bring the natural beauty back to the surface. No specialty tools are needed, with patience and these specific steps you will soon have your furniture looking warm and inviting once more. All of these products are available on Amazon, so let’s get started!
Step 1: Cleaning. Cleaning is very important to prevent grinding dirt into the grain when we reach the sanding stage. I typically use Krud Kutter and water mixed 1:1 and scrub with a grey Scotchbrite pad. Keep cleaning until your water is no longer dirty. Let the furniture dry completely (at least 24 hours) prior to progressing to the sanding step.
Step 2: Sanding. None of us like sanding, but this step will once again reveal the warm tones and grain. Use progressively finer grits of sandpaper to achieve optimal results. Begin with 100 grit, then 120, next 150 and finally finish by hand sanding in the direction of the grain with 180 grit sandpaper.
Step 3: Top Coating. Since this furniture lives outdoors, I use a marine grade topcoat finish with UV inhibitors. My preference is Halcyon, a waterborne product made by Total Boat specifically for woodwork on boats. It is environmentally friendly with low VOC and exceptional durability. Apply liberally using a badger hair brush designed for varnish applications. Apply following the direction of the wood grain and don’t overwork it trying to eliminate brush strokes. Halcyon contains a self levelling compound and will smooth out the brush strokes while curing. Wait at least 90 minutes before applying the next coat to avoid damaging the finish. For a satin finish, I use gloss for the base coats which helps preserve the clarity of the wood grain and satin for the final 2 finish coats. If the Halcyon has dried for 12 hours or more, scuff sanding using 320 grit sandpaper will be required, otherwise you can apply a new coat every 90 minutes without sanding. 4 coats is the minimum application for outdoor furniture.
A note about using oil finishes on teak furniture. While they provide a beautiful result, oil finishes provide no protection against UV related silvering of the wood and require frequent maintenance applications. I love the way they look and feel, but oftentimes the maintenance becomes tedious.