How to Revive Outdoor Wood Furniture

Step by step guide to making your wooden garden furniture look new again. 

Treatex Wood Rejuvenator will work on most weathered untreated wood (both softwoods and hardwoods) no matter what the wood has been used for – furniture, decking, garden ornaments, fences etc. 

The weathered patio furniture in this example is a teak garden chair. It has been outside for a while and the wood has turned very grey. 

You will need:

• A place out of direct sunlight to work 
• Treatex Wood Rejuvenator
• A small brush (2” or 6” paint brush or similar depending on the size of your project)
• A spray mister filled with water (or similar)
• A stiff brush or broom
• A bucket of water or connected garden hose
• Protective gloves (washing up gloves or similar)
• Eye protection 

Method 

Preparation/Planning

• Treatex Wood Rejuvenator works best when the timber is dry, so either plan to restore your wood after a sunny spell (if decking etc.) or bring the furniture inside to dry for a while if it has been out in the rain.
• Too much sun can dry out the product before it can work properly. Find a place to work that is out of direct sunlight and is where it’s okay to splash water. If the timber cannot be moved it is best to work on a cloudy dry day. If that is not an option, lightly dampen the surface with a water sprayer and leave for approximately 10 to 15 minutes before you start.
• Purchase enough product to do the whole job in one go. 1L of the Wood Rejuvenator will revive approximately 10m² of smooth timber. Profiled timber like grooved decking will reduce the coverage.
  Note: Once opened Treatex Wood Rejuvenator will last for 12 months. 
• Treatex Wood Rejuvenator could cause skin or eye irritation if it is in contact with either. It’s made with Oxalic acid which is found in rhubarb leaves, brassicas and parsley. The oxalic acid is in a more concentrated form in this product. It has a pH greater than 2. Lemon juice, as a comparison, has a pH level of between 2 and 3. Protect hands and eyes while using the product and while rinsing it off. If the product gets in your eyes or onto your skin, rinse immediately with water. Read the safety datasheet in full for details. 

Application 

1. Gather your tools and put on your gloves and eye protection. Also it is wise to keep pets and children away while you are working and the surfaces are drying.
2. Apply a liberal coat of Treatex Wood Rejuvenator to the wood using the 2” or 6” brush.
3. Leave for a few minutes to work.
4. Lightly mist the surface with water before brushing vigorously with a stiff brush or broom.
5. Rinse thoroughly with water to remove all the product. 
   
   Tip: If using a pressure washer to rinse the timber, don’t hold the jet too close to the wood as it can damage the grain on the surface of the timber. Also it is wise to keep pets and children away while the surfaces are drying.
   
   
6. Allow to dry for 1-3 days.
7. Apply a protective finish, for example, an Exterior Oil or Anti-slip Decking Oil (or, as in this case, Treatex Teak Protection). Follow the instructions for that finish.

Thank you to Andrew James, Cabinet Maker extraordinaire, for the kind permission to use the photos of his restoration work in this blog post.