A teak table can stay outdoors for years. Teak contains natural oils and can handle rain, sun and frost. Even so, after a few seasons a table looks very different from the day it arrived: the wood turns silvery grey, the top gets marks, and sometimes green mould appears on the shady side. Do you want to keep it grey, bring back the golden-brown colour, or prevent it from greying in the first place? In this guide you'll read how to treat a teak table for outdoor use: teak oil or teak protector, step by step, restoring grey teak and how often to do it.
In brief: teak doesn't need treating. Decide first whether you're happy for your table to go grey or want it to stay brown. If you want to keep the colour, clean the table, sand it lightly and apply a thin coat of teak oil or teak protector; see the step-by-step plan. As a rule of thumb, repeat this once or twice a year. If you still need to choose a table, have a look at teak tables and teak look without oil.
First choose: let it go grey or keep the colour?
Before you pick up a brush, you need to decide one thing: what do you want your table to look like? Untreated teak turns silvery grey outdoors after a while. That's a surface layer rather than rot: the wood underneath stays healthy. You can read why this happens in what is teakwood. There are three routes:
| Route | What you do | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Let it go grey | Clean twice a year | Silvery grey, little effort |
| Keep the colour | Clean, oil or protector | Warm brown, fixed routine |
| Restore grey wood | Clean, sand, treat | Brown again, then keep it up |
All three are good options. The difference lies in appearance and time. If you start with oil, you need to keep it up: stop, and the wood will grey anyway, often patchily at first. If you're unsure, let the table go grey for a season. You can always bring the colour back later.
Teak oil or teak protector?
If you want to keep the colour, there are roughly two types of product. In shops they're also called teak sealer or teak protector; always read what's written on the packaging.
| Product | What it does | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Teak oil | Soaks in, makes the colour warmer and darker | Needs repeating more often |
| Teak protector | Preserves the wood colour, less darkening | Follow the packaging |
| Nothing | Wood greys | Do keep cleaning |
Teak oil penetrates the wood fibres and gives the top a deep, warm sheen. The downside is that you need to repeat it more often, and that too thick a coat stays sticky and holds on to dirt. A teak protector is usually intended to preserve the natural colour of new or restored teak without making the wood much darker. How long a coat lasts varies by product and by spot in the garden.
Choose one system and stick with it. Mixing oil and protector, or applying one over the other, often leaves a patchy finish. If you want to switch, first clean the table thoroughly and sand it lightly.
For oil, stain and varnish on other types of wood, such as acacia, see how to treat wooden garden furniture. Here we're sticking to teak.
What do you need?
Get these ready before you start
- Teak oil or teak protector, one of the two
- Teak cleaner or a mild soap solution with lukewarm water
- A soft brush and a sponge
- Fine sandpaper or a sanding sponge
- A wide brush or a lint-free cloth
- Clean, dry cloths to wipe off excess product
- Cardboard or an old sheet under the table, and gloves
Leave the pressure washer, steel wool and heavy-duty sander in the shed. They roughen teak and open up the grain.
How to treat a teak table in 7 steps
This step-by-step plan is for a table you want to keep brown or have just restored. Pick a dry day for it: after cleaning, the wood must dry out completely first.
Work in dry weather and not in the harsh midday sun. In strong sun, oil dries too quickly on the surface and leaves streaks. The wood itself must also be dry: after a downpour, wait a few dry days first.
Place the table on cardboard, an old sheet or the grass. Oil and cleaner that drip onto tiles, natural stone or a wooden deck often leave stains that are hard to remove.
Brush off loose dirt and wash the top, edges and legs with teak cleaner or a mild soap solution. Work with the grain and rinse with clean water. Deal with marks, green mould and black specks as described in cleaning a wooden garden table.
Oil or protector applied to damp wood won't absorb properly and may leave blotches. Leave the table to dry for at least a day, longer if it's cool or damp.
Cleaning can raise the wood fibres slightly. Lightly sand the top with fine sandpaper, always in the direction of the grain. Then remove the dust with a dry brush or cloth.
Spread the oil or protector thinly with a brush or cloth, following the grain. Don't forget the edges, the end grain of the top and the underside of the legs: that's where moisture soaks in first. Start with the underside and finish with the top.
Wait for the soaking time stated on the packaging, then wipe away anything that hasn't soaked in with a clean, dry cloth. Let the table dry as the packaging instructs before putting anything on it. Only apply a second coat if the packaging recommends it.
Don't simply throw away oily rags
Cloths soaked in oil can get hot enough while drying to catch fire on their own. Leave them spread out outdoors to dry, or store them in a sealed container of water, and follow the warning on the packaging. You can read more about this in how to treat wooden garden furniture.
Restoring a grey teak table
Do you have a teak table that's been outside for years and is completely grey? You can usually bring back the warm colour, because the grey only sits in the top layer. Here's how to tackle it:
- Clean: use a teak cleaner or a soap solution and brush off the grey along the grain. A teak cleaner works faster on deeply greyed wood; follow the soaking time on the packaging and rinse thoroughly.
- Dry: then let the table dry completely. Only then will you see what colour the wood really is.
- Sand: if the top is still blotchy or rough, sand lightly with fine sandpaper until the colour is even. Don't sand any deeper than necessary.
- Treat: apply teak oil or a teak protector, as described in steps 6 and 7.
Be aware of the difference between grey and damaged. Grey, solid wood is healthy. If the wood feels soft or crumbly, or there's black mould deep in the grain, restoring it will be harder. For how long a wooden table lasts and when replacing it makes more sense, read how long does a wooden garden table last.
Test first in an inconspicuous spot
Try the cleaner and oil first on the inside of a leg or the underside of the top. That way you'll see how dark the wood gets before you treat the whole top.
How often should you treat a teak table?
There's no fixed number: it depends on the product, the spot in the garden and how often you eat at the table. These guidelines will help you get started:
| Your route | Guideline | When |
|---|---|---|
| Let it go grey | Clean twice a year | Spring and autumn |
| Teak oil | Once or twice a year | Spring, possibly late summer |
| Teak protector | As per the packaging | Usually in spring |
If the table is in full sun and rain all day, you'll need a fresh coat sooner than one under a canopy. The wood will tell you yourself: if water no longer beads on the top and the wood feels dry or looks lighter, it's time. You'll find a detailed water test in when and how often to treat.
Tips for the top, legs and daily use
A table takes more punishment than a chair or bench. You eat on it, put hot dishes and wet glasses on it, and the legs stand on a often damp surface.
Use coasters and placemats
Hot dishes, wet glasses and grease leave marks more easily on teak, especially on freshly oiled wood. Placemats and coasters prevent rings. Wipe up spills straight away with a damp cloth.
Keep the legs dry
Water soaks in most easily through the end grain at the bottom of the legs. Don't stand the table in a puddle or directly on wet soil, and treat the underside of the legs when you oil the table.
Let the top dry after rain
After a shower, don't immediately put a tablecloth or cover over a wet top. Let it dry first so moisture doesn't stay trapped underneath.
Small hairline cracks in the end grain are normal in wood that stands outdoors and are usually not a problem. If there are loose bolts or screws in the base, tighten them during your spring maintenance.
Your teak table in winter
Teak can get through the winter outdoors. A breathable cover keeps leaves, bird droppings and green mould off, so you'll have less work in spring. Don't choose an ordinary plastic sheet: moisture gets trapped underneath and gives mould a chance. Measure your table and choose a cover that's slightly larger than the top.
AeroCover table cover 180 x 110
View cover →
AeroCover table cover 220 x 110
View cover →
AeroCover round 150 cm
View cover →According to the product information, these AeroCover covers are made of breathable ripstop polyester, with a drawstring with 2 stoppers and a storage bag. You'll find more sizes in protective covers. For how to cover up properly, read covering garden furniture, and for what else to do with your garden furniture, see what to do with garden furniture in winter.
No teak table yet? Teak look without oil
Still need to choose a table? You can compare tables made from real teak in our teak garden tables, for example from Hartman, 4 Seasons Outdoor and Apple Bee; the maintenance in this article applies to the teak on those tables. Would you like the warm look of teak without oiling it every year? Then there are tables with a teak look on aluminium, or with a top made from Vironwood, a plastic with a wood-like appearance. No teak oil is needed for these. All the specs below come from the product information; you'll see current prices and shops on the cards.
Edison oval 180 x 115 cm: Vironwood top
According to the product information, the Edison has a light brown Vironwood table top, which has the look of real teak but is made from plastic, on an aluminium frame with carbon black powder coating. The table height is 75 cm. The maintenance advice reads: "You don't need to use any protective oil or varnish"; cleaning is enough.
Edison oval garden table 180x115 cm
Edison oval 220 x 115 cm: taupe frame
The same Edison, but larger and with a taupe aluminium frame. The table measures 220 x 115 cm and seats 6 people, with 69 cm of legroom beneath the top. The maintenance advice reads: "The Vironwood material requires no oil or varnish". A mild soap solution and a soft cloth are all you need.
Edison oval garden table 220x115 cm taupe
Tennessee lounge-dining table: Vironwood and wicker
Would you rather sit on a lounge bench at the table? The Tennessee lounge-dining table measures 180 x 100 cm and is 66.5 cm high. The top is light teak Vironwood, and the aluminium frame is wrapped in vintage willow wicker. According to the product information, Vironwood doesn't discolour or warp, and you clean it with a mild soap solution.
Tennessee lounge-dining table 180x100 cm
Also worth a look:
Edison 280 x 140 cm, Vironwood
View table →
Bologna lounge table, Vironwood
View table →
Lowland: teak look and Centostone
View table →How to choose quickly
- Already have a teak table: treat it with oil or protector, or let it go grey
- Want the wood look without oil: choose a Vironwood top or a teak look on aluminium
- Check the specifications for the material of the frame and top, not just the name
- Never put teak oil on a teak look or Vironwood
Not sure which table suits you yet? The selection guide will help you narrow it down in a few questions. Or browse our aluminium garden tables, oval garden tables and all garden tables. You can find out more about the material in what is Vironwood, and whether real wood or metal suits you better in aluminium or teak garden furniture.
Common mistakes
Oil on a dirty or wet table
Oil seals in dirt and moisture. You'll get marks, and the product won't soak in properly. Always clean the table first and let it dry completely.
Too thick a coat
More oil isn't better. What doesn't soak in stays sticky on the top and holds on to dust and dirt. Work in thin coats and wipe off the excess product.
Using a pressure washer on it
A harsh jet roughens teak and opens up the grain. Use a soft brush and lukewarm water, following the grain.
Teak oil on teak look or Vironwood
On aluminium, a print or plastic, oil won't soak in. It leaves a greasy layer behind. First check whether your table is really teak; what is teakwood explains how to tell.
Covering with plastic
Under a non-breathable cover, condensation gets trapped and gives mould a chance. Choose a breathable cover or store the table in a dry, ventilated space.
Year-round checklist
- Spring: clean the table with a mild soap solution or teak cleaner
- Spring: tighten loose bolts and screws in the base
- Spring: keeping the colour? Sand lightly and apply oil or protector
- Summer: use coasters and wipe up spills straight away
- Summer: water no longer beads? Time for a fresh coat
- Autumn: clean the table and remove green mould
- Winter: put a breathable cover over it or store it indoors somewhere dry and ventilated
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to treat a teak table that stands outside?
No, you don't have to. Teak naturally contains oil and can stand outside untreated; over time it will turn silvery grey. You treat it with teak oil or a teak protector mainly if you want to keep the warm colour of the wood. Cleaning is still necessary either way, especially in spring and autumn.
Which is better for a teak table: teak oil or teak protector?
It depends on the colour you want. Teak oil soaks into the wood and often makes it a little darker and warmer, but you need to repeat it regularly. A teak protector is usually intended to keep the colour of the wood without darkening it. Choose one system, follow the instructions on the packaging and test on an inconspicuous spot first.
How often should you oil a teak table?
As a guideline, once or twice a year, for example in spring and possibly again at the end of summer. A table in full sun and rain needs coating more often than one under a canopy. If water no longer beads on the surface and the wood looks lighter or dry, it's time for a fresh coat.
How do you make a grey teak table brown again?
Clean the table thoroughly with a teak cleaner or a mild soap solution and a soft brush, working with the grain. Let it dry completely, lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper and remove the dust. Then apply teak oil or a teak protector. If you don't maintain it, the wood will gradually turn grey again.
Can you use a pressure washer on a teak table?
Better not. A harsh jet roughens the surface and opens up the grain, so dirt and moisture soak in more easily. Use lukewarm water, a mild cleaner or teak cleaner and a soft brush, then rinse with the garden hose on a gentle setting.
Can I use teak oil on a table with teak-look or Vironwood?
No. Teak oil is for real wood. Teak-look finishes on aluminium and Vironwood, a plastic with a wood-like appearance, do not absorb oil; it would leave a sticky film behind. According to the product information for the Edison tables, for example, a mild soap solution is enough and oil or lacquer is not needed.
