Wood oil –
Benefits, differences, application tips
Contents
A wooden house can warp, shrink, discolor, swell, or even become moldy or rot. To ensure your garden shed lasts as long as possible, proper care is essential. We explain what you need for staining a garden shed, when the best time is, which stain is most suitable for your shed, and show you step by step how to stain your garden shed effectively.
Wood oils, such as our BAUFIX Wood Care Oil, are special care products that nourish and protect wood surfaces indoors and outdoors. They can be made from natural or synthetic ingredients. Natural wood oils or care oils based on plant-based ingredients are well suited for indoor use, as they are harmless to health and exposed to less harsh conditions. Outdoors, the wood surface must be protected against numerous weather influences, including moisture and UV radiation. This places significantly higher demands on wood protection. Therefore, before purchasing, decide for which area of application you need the wood protection.
Which wood oil is suitable for which type of wood?
Wood is a popular material and is used both indoors and outdoors. Wooden furniture on the patio, decking boards, wooden floors or parquet in living spaces – the look of this natural building material is impressive. To keep wooden surfaces looking their best for a long time, regular care is important. Wood oils nourish the wood, make it more resistant to moisture, heat, cold and mechanical stress, and can even make the colour and beauty of the grain shine like new. To help you protect your garden furniture and more from external influences, nourish wooden surfaces and give the grain new lustre with the right wood care, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about wood oils below.
Natural wood oils
The natural products consist of natural ingredients such as tree resin. At the same time, they contain no solvents or other potentially harmful substances. Since wood surfaces in interiors such as parquet or wooden furniture are not exposed to extreme stress, the focus here is on caring for the wood, providing moisture and refreshing the colour. This in turn highlights the grain and makes the wood visually appealing.
linseed oil
Linseed oils are based on a plant-derived oil and are therefore harmless. Linseed oil has been an all-rounder for caring for all types of wood for ages. It can even be used in the kitchen without any problems. A wellness treatment for the surface with linseed oil brings the grain back to life and protects it from moisture.
Natural wood preservatives also contain ingredients such as orange or citrus peel oils or beeswax, which help to make the protective layer even more robust.
A special variant is boiled linseed oil. In contrast to raw linseed oil, it is enriched with drying agents and other additives, making it more viscous and forming a protective layer on the surface. It also penetrates less deeply into the wood, but provides greater protection against moisture.
Hard oils
Wood protectionHardwax oils
Hardwax oils are a combination of oils such as sunflower, safflower or soybean oil and additionally contain wax, usually carnauba wax, which is obtained from the carnauba palm in Brazil. The difference compared to hard oils is that the latter do not contain any waxes. While hard oils penetrate deeper into the wood, hardwax oils form a protective layer on the surface, impregnating the wood and making wooden furniture more hard-wearing and less susceptible to cracks or other damage. The waxes in the wood care product also give the wood surface a stronger visual sheen. Ideally suited for wooden floors and furniture in interior spaces is BAUFIX Hardwax Oil. It creates a water-repellent surface on wooden floors and furniture while still allowing the wood to breathe.
Wood oil and its versatile uses
Which wood oil can I use indoors?
Indoors, wood oils have a caring function. Here, furniture and wooden floors are not at risk from weathering, but they can be worn down by daily use. In this case, wood care should consist purely of natural ingredients, free from solvents and other additives. Linseed oils or hard wax oils are ideal companions when you want to oil wood. They can even be used without hesitation in the kitchen on worktops or for caring for wooden toys. However, always pay attention to the product information or use, for example, BAUFIX Hard Wax Oil, which is suitable even for solid wood furniture or mahogany. For teak specifically, you’ll find BAUFIX Garden Wood Care Oil.
Which wood oil can I use outdoors?
Outdoors, wood oil has to withstand a lot more. Heat, cold and UV radiation take a heavy toll on wood, so garden furniture, wooden terrace floors or façades must be treated with a wood oil. Only then are they protected against weathering, drying out and greying. To achieve this effect, some wood oils contain pigments that protect against UV light. Colorless variants are produced with chemical components. In most cases, a mixture of both provides the best protection. However, these products also mean that the natural look of the wood and the visibility of the grain are lost. In the end, though, the protective effect is convincing.
How long does wood oil need to dry?
Unlike stains, intensive wood care products require a significantly longer drying time. Always bear in mind that the oils penetrate deep into the material and thus protect it from the inside out. For this reason, it usually takes several hours up to 7 days until the wood oil is completely dry or dry to the touch. The exact drying time naturally varies from one type of wood to another. The information given on the container is decisive.
Walls and ceilings
Since the wear and tear outdoors is significantly higher than indoors, garden furniture or decking should be refreshed with a new oil coat once or twice a year. Oiled parquet can easily handle a new coat every five years. Ultimately, the frequency depends on external conditions and how intensively the surface is used.
What solvents are contained in wood oil?
Wood preservatives often contain solvents. These may be based on natural substances such as isoparaffins and petroleum distillates, or they may be combined with chemical compounds that can be harmful to health. It is therefore advisable to always take a close look at the ingredients. Wood oils with chemical components should not be used indoors.
When treating children’s toys in particular, it is important to pay attention to standards DIN 53160 and DIN EN 71-3. These ensure that the wood oil is saliva- and sweat-resistant and makes the toy safe for children.
How do I clean a brush after using wood oil?
There are special brush cleaners as well as thinners such as turpentine for cleaning brushes. Alternatively, the products can also be applied with a soft cloth or cotton rag. Any excess oil is likewise removed with a clean cloth, microfibre cloth or cotton rag.
Can every piece of furniture be treated with oil?
In general, yes – as long as the surfaces are not varnished. The rule is that wood can only be oiled if it is untreated or has already been oiled. If you have previously treated the material of your garden furniture or other components with wax or varnish, you must first remove this with intermediate sanding.
The oils protect your garden furniture and the like and, once oiled, bring back the natural look. With us you’ll find the right wood oil for your needs and the right accessories. We’re happy to advise you on all your questions.
Our wood oil: BAUFIX Wood Care Oil
- enhances the natural wood color
- for wooden terraces & walkways
- for teak & hardwoods
- with waterproofing effect
- deep-acting, invigorating wood care
- for outside & inside