Home Teak care Teak Oil vs Tung Oil vs Sealer
Teak Oil vs Tung Oil vs Sealer
Neither teak oil, tung oil nor a sealer makes teak last longer; they only hold the golden color. Teak oil is not made from teak, it is usually tung or linseed oil with solvents, and needs a fresh coat about monthly, per Anderson Teak. A sealer lasts up to a year, which is why Anderson recommends it. Skip both and teak weathers to silver gray.
Should you oil teak at all
Only for the color. Anderson Teak says oil keeps the golden tone but does not prolong the life of the wood, and Country Casual says teak needs no finish at all. Bare teak turns silver gray in about 9 to 12 months by Kingsley Bate’s count, 1 to 2 years by Country Casual’s.
Teak oil explained
Oil or sealer, the steps are the same on every Anderson Teak piece, from dining tables to teak chairs.
- Made of
- Not teak. Star brite Golden Teak Oil is a blend of polymers and tung oil; its safety sheet lists 60 to 80 percent hydrocarbon solvent. Country Casual calls teak oils linseed oil and solvents.
- How long a coat lasts
- About a month, per the Anderson Teak FAQ; every 3 months or as the label says, per its care page.
- The catch
- Put on unevenly, oil leaves a film where mildew grows. Anderson and Kingsley Bate both warn about it.
Teak sealer: one coat a year
- What it does
- Seals the oils already in the wood and slows graying. Star brite Classic Teak Sealer is a one coat, no drip gel with a warm teak tint.
- How long a coat lasts
- Up to a year or more, per Anderson Teak, then one fresh coat a year.
- Best on
- Clean, dry wood, freshly cleaned or new, per Star brite.
Teak oil vs tung oil and Danish oil
| Product | What it is | Cure and recoat |
|---|---|---|
| Teak oil | A trade name, not oil from teak: a drying oil such as tung or linseed with solvents and resins | Wipes on in minutes; about monthly outdoors, per Anderson |
| Tung oil | A drying oil on its own | Drying oils can take weeks to cure, per the USDA Wood Handbook |
| Danish oil | Also a blend: Rust-Oleum describes Watco Danish Oil as penetrating oil and varnish | Per the label |
| Teak sealer | A finish that seals the wood oils in; the Star brite sealer is solvent based | Up to a year, per Anderson |
Kingsley Bate recommends a water based sealer for its furniture and advises against oil based finishes. The Star brite sealer we sell is solvent based.
How often to oil or seal teak
| Look you want | First time | Then |
|---|---|---|
| Silver gray, bare | Nothing to apply | Mild detergent and water 2 to 3 times a year, per Anderson |
| Golden, sealed | One even coat on clean, dry teak | Once a year, per Anderson |
| Golden, oiled | Thin coat, leave 5 minutes, wipe off the excess, above 50 °F, per Star brite | About monthly to every 3 months, per Anderson |
Sources Anderson Teak FAQ, Anderson Teak care and maintenance, Kingsley Bate FAQ, Country Casual, how to care for outdoor teak, Country Casual FAQ, Star brite Premium Golden Teak Oil, Star brite teak oil safety data sheet, Star brite Classic Teak Sealer, Star brite sealer safety data sheet, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook, Rust-Oleum, Watco Danish Oil. Checked October 5, 2026.
Short answers
Teak oil and sealer questions
The long ones go to help@teakpatiostore.com.
Is teak oil made from teak
No. Anderson Teak says teak oil is not made from teak oil. The Star brite Golden Teak Oil we sell is a blend of polymers and tung oil in a solvent.
Teak oil vs tung oil, which is better
Neither adds years to teak; both only hold the golden color. Teak oil is a blend, a drying oil such as tung or linseed with solvents and resins, and wipes on in minutes. Pure tung oil is the drying oil alone and can take weeks to cure, per the USDA Wood Handbook.
Can you use tung oil on teak
Yes, with the same trade off as any oil: it holds the color, not the strength, and needs fresh coats. The Star brite Golden Teak Oil is itself a blend of polymers and tung oil. Anderson recommends a sealer instead of oil.
Can I use teak sealer over teak oil
Neither Star brite nor Anderson says. Star brite writes only that its sealer works best on freshly cleaned or new wood, so ask the maker of your finish before putting one over the other.
What happens if you do not oil teak
It turns silver gray and keeps its strength, per Anderson Teak. Wash it with mild detergent 2 to 3 times a year.
What are the downsides of teak oil
Frequent coats, about monthly per Anderson; a film that holds dirt and mildew if applied unevenly; and Country Casual notes oiled teak often turns black.
Is Star brite teak sealer water based
No. Its safety data sheet lists 60 to 80 percent hydrocarbon solvent. Anderson recommends a sealer without naming a base; Kingsley Bate recommends water based.
Teak sealer, oil and cleaner
Star brite
Teak Sealer, 32 oz$55.50One-coat sealer that outlasts oils and helps prevent blackening.
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Star brite
Golden Teak Oil, 32 oz$29.84Keeps teak golden longer with UV and weather protection.
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Star brite
Teak Cleaner, 32 oz$24.95Brings weathered gray teak back to warm color in one step before oiling.
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Star brite
Teak Care Kit$65.89Three-step clean, brighten and oil kit for a full teak refresh.
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