Even the strongest and most durable wood ages up over time which can result in the wood fading. Teak wood is known for its durability and it has a rich golden brown color. Lighter teak wood can darken over time but, if you want to darken your teak furniture, you definitely can.
Using wood stain or wood oil can be effective in darkening teak wood that has faded as the years go by. Using a suitable wood stain or oil is essential to make sure that you don’t damage your teak furniture.
If you want to know how to darken teak wood, you are in the right place. In this article, we will be giving you a step-by-step guide on how to darken teak wood furniture.
Can You Darken Teak Wood?
Teak wood is known for its durability, strength, and ability to withstand various outdoor elements. However, teak wood can still change its coloring over time.
Teak wood has a rich golden brown color although it can also vary from light to a darker brown. Prolonged exposure to outdoor elements without maintaining and caring for teak wood will give it a silvery-grey patina, especially if left untreated.
Teak wood can be darkened if you want to have a darker coloring on the wood. Teak wood can also darken over time due to exposure to the sun, especially if it is on the lighter side of the teak’s color spectrum. But, do note that teak can also fade over time.
There are methods you can try if you want to darken teak wood. Wood stains, wood oils, or other aging products can effectively darken teak wood.
What To Use To Darken Teak Wood
There are several things you can use to darken teak wood. Wood stain products that are suitable for teak can effectively darken the wood. If you are going to ask, will teak oil darken wood? Yes, it will. When you apply teak oil to teak wood, it can make the wood darker as the oil hydrates the exterior wood.
Teak oil, despite being named like that, is not actually made of teak. It is made from a combination of linseed oil, pure tung oil, and other ingredients.
Aside from teak oil, you can also use Danish oil or linseed oil to darken teak wood. These wood oils have several properties that can benefit your teak wood. Oil-based stain
Teak oil can replace the natural oils that were lost in your teak furniture due to aging or prolonged exposure to outdoor elements. Danish oil is water-resistant and food-safe which is a good option if you have indoor teak furniture. Linseed oil is water-repellant and can improve the teak’s wood performance.
Why Should You Stain Teak Wood?
Wood generally fades over time, especially when exposed to the sun, and teak wood is no exception. Staining teak wood can darken it and give it back its golden brown color.
If you want to darken your teak wood even more, staining it will achieve your desired effect. Aside from darkening the teak wood and making it look like its original coloring, staining the wood also has other benefits.
Staining wood can protect it from sun damage and staining can also seal the wood to prevent it from absorbing excess moisture. When the wood is sealed, it will prevent rotting, especially when the teak wood is used in outdoor spaces.
How To Darken Teak Wood
There are several steps that you have to follow if you want to darken teak wood. It does not need any special equipment but you do need several things before you can start to darken teak wood. If this is your first time doing this, you can always do some spot staining to make sure it does not ruin your furniture.
Here are the things you will need to darken teak furniture:
- Fine-grit sandpaper (120-grit/180-grit and 220-grit)
- Clean lint-free cloth
- Sanding sealer
- Wood stain (link for detailed review on top picks)
- Paintbrushes
- Painter’s tape/Drop Cloth
- Clean Rags
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to darken teak wood:
- Clean The Teak Wood
Before you start staining the teak wood, you have to make sure to prep it first. Start by wiping the wood’s surface with a rage then clean it with another rag that is damp with soapy water. This will remove any dust or dirt that has accumulated on your teak furniture.
Once any dirt or dust is removed, wiped the wood again with a clean rag to remove the soap and dry it off. Make sure to let the wood dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
If your teak furniture is painted and you want to restore it to its original wood stain, you have to remove the paint first by using a paint stripper compound before cleaning the wood.
- Sand The Teak Wood
Once the teak wood is completely clean and dry, you can now begin sanding the wood. Sanding the teak wood will make it smoother and will make applying the wood stain or oil easier. This can also remove any imperfections on the wood’s surface and make the wood even.
When sanding teak wood, you want to use 120-grit sandpaper if the surface is rough or patchy. But, a 180-grit sandpaper is fine if the wood is not that rough.
Once you have finished sanding the teak wood with 120 or 180-grit sandpaper, switch to 220-grit sandpaper to finish sanding the wood. Remove the dust once you are done with the sanding.
You can use a brush or wipe the surface with a clean damp cloth. Let the wood completely dry if you do wipe it with a damp cloth.
- Apply Sanding Sealer
Using a sanding sealer acts as a barrier and will prevent the teak wood from over-absorbing the wood stain. Once the wood’s surface has no more dust from sanding, use a brush and apply a light coating of sand sealer to the wooden surface. Wipe any excess sanding sealer off with a clean lint-free cloth and let the wood dry completely.
Once dry, lightly sand the wood with 220-grit sandpaper to smoothen the surface again. Wipe off any dust with a clean cloth and proceed to the next step.
- Apply The Wood Stain, Teak Oil, Linseed Oil, Or Danish Oil
Using a paintbrush or a rag, apply the wood stain on the teak wood’s surface. Make sure to apply the coating evenly and let it dry for 5 to 10 minutes. For a darker stain, you can leave the wood to dry for 10 minutes.
Once dry, wipe off any excess wood stain with a lint-free cloth. Let the wood completely dry for up to 24 hours before adding another coat of wood stain.
If you are only staining a portion of the teak wood, you can use painter’s tape to mark off any areas that you do not want to be stained. You can also place the teak wood on a drop cloth to prevent the stain from dirtying your floor.
After you have finished applying the wood stain to the surface, let it dry. Once dry, you can apply polyurethane varnish to seal the wood stain.
If you are using teak oil, linseed oil, or Danish oil, the same procedure as the application of wood stain follows. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before applying any wood stain or wood oil to your teak furniture. Applying teak oil, or other wood oil can help darken teak wood.
If you want to understand the difference between all of these oil options, be sure to read “Teak Oil vs Linseed Oil” and “Teak Oil vs Danish Oil.”
Wrap Up
Restoring teak furniture back to its original color, or as close to it, can be done by applying a layer or two of wood stain or wood oil. If you notice your teak wood fading, maybe it’s time to spend a day staining your furniture. Staining your teak wood can enhance its wood grain and overall look.
This article has all the steps you need in order to have beautiful and rich teak wood coloring. See our top picks for teak stains when you’re ready to get started darkening your teak. If you have any questions, let us know via the contact form on our website!
