How to Oil Outdoor Wood Furniture: A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Timber

Want to know how to protect your outdoor furniture and keep them looking fabulous all year round? The simple answer is to:

Clean it regularly
Cover it when not in use
Coat it with a premium outdoor furniture oil like Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil.

The oil will give your furniture a new look, make it water-resistant, and toughen them up against New Zealand's harsh UV rays.

And the best part? Coating outdoor furniture is an easy task that home improvement DIY'ers can effortlessly tackle. In this quick yet comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to oil outdoor wood furniture with step-by-step instructions featuring pictures and videos to make it even easier.

We'll also quickly talk about the benefits of outdoor furniture oil and why Cabot's would be your best option so that you can get started on your project with confidence.

Here’s what’s included

Why You Need to Oil Outdoor Wood Furniture - 3 Benefits
Why Cabot's is the Best Oil for Outdoor Wood Furniture
How To Oil Outdoor Furniture
What You Need to Oil Outdoor Furniture
Step-By-Step Instructions On How to Oil Outdoor Furniture

Let's get started!

Why You Need to Oil Outdoor Wood Furniture - 3 Benefits

You're probably wondering what the fuss is about and if you actually need to oil outdoor wood furniture. Yes, you can leave it as it is, but your outdoor furniture won't last as long and look as good, especially being exposed to New Zealand's harsh weather conditions and intense UV rays. Here are three benefits that will convince you to coat your furniture with oil.

Swipe to see the before and after photos of this outdoor furniture makeover project using Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil.

2. Your furniture will be protected against weather damage: Cabot's outdoor furniture oil penetrates deep into the timber, nourishes it and creates a durable barrier that makes the furniture resistant to moisture and mould. It's also got strong UV inhibitors that help keep your furniture from fading and warping from sun exposure.

3. Easy to clean - If you regularly oil your outdoor furniture, cleaning them will be a breeze because dirt and debris won't stick to the oiled surface easily.

Now that you know it's important to oil outdoor wood furniture, let's talk about the best type of oil you need to get the job done.

Why Cabot's is the Best Oil for Outdoor Wood Furniture

Here's what makes Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil one of the best oils for outdoor furniture:

It's made for NZ conditions: New Zealand's weather conditions are different to the rest of the world. That's why our furniture oil is specifically made to have high UV and moisture resistance and lasts longer than traditional outdoor furniture oils.
It provides superior protection from the inside out: Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil penetrates deep into the wood, nourishing it from within while creating a durable acrylic barrier on the surface for maximum protection.
It's easy to apply and dry - Our oil is ready to go right out of the tin and doesn't require any thinning. The fast two-hour recoat time means you can protect your outdoor furniture quickly and get back to using it in no time!

Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil is water-based outdoor furniture oil which has a low odour, it makes the application and clean-up easier and more pleasant.

You can also buy our new Natural Garden Furniture Oil Trigger pack which is an easy-to-use, spray-on 500mL bottle you can use for touch-ups and small pieces of furniture.

Click here to shop the Furniture Oil Trigger pack at your local Bunnings.

Now that we've covered the basics let's get straight into the steps of how to oil outdoor furniture

How To Oil Outdoor Furniture: A Step-By-Step Tutorial

What to use: Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil - a water-based, low-odour furniture oil that doesn't need thinner.

Where can you use Cabot's furniture oil? You can apply our oil to outdoor furniture made out of most types of timber, such as:

Teak
Cedar
Pine
Oak
Redwood

Ipe
Mahogany
Acacia
Maple

What You Need to Oil Outdoor Furniture

Depending on your project, you might also need to have the following for the prep stage:

Step-By-Step Instructions On How to Oil Outdoor Furniture Using Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil

Watch this video for a quick tutorial, or scroll down to see detailed step-by-step instructions on how to oil all outdoor furniture.

Step 3: Allow to dry

Once the first coat has been applied, allow it to dry for two hours. Once this has happened, apply a second coat using the same method.

Step 4: Apply more coats

If your outdoor furniture is brand new, you'll need to give it three coats.

Step 5: You're done

Congratulations, you've taken the necessary steps to keep your outdoor furniture looking great for years to come.

We hope this guide was helpful in helping you understand how to protect your outdoor furniture with Cabot's premium outdoor furniture oil. In short, we've learned that:

Regular cleaning and conditioning with outdoor furniture oil, like Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil can protect and refresh outdoor furniture.
Benefits of outdoor furniture oil include refreshing the furniture's natural colour and grain patterns, weather damage protection, and easy cleaning.
Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil is specifically made for New Zealand's weather conditions and provides superior protection from the inside out.
To oil outdoor furniture, you need; Cabot's Garden Furniture Oil, Cabot's Deck Clean, Cabot's Deck Prep, Cabot's Woodtone Putty, brush, roller or spray, and a flat blade stirrer.
Proper preparation is key to achieving a flawless finish, and the process of oiling involves preparing the furniture, applying the oil, allowing it to dry, and repeating until all coats are applied

Check out our guides and videos on outdoor timber maintenance for a range of tips and tricks to keep your outdoor furniture looking great for years to come. Or visit one of our stockists if you're ready to shop for Cabot's timber products.

Good luck and happy oiling!