You have just received your teak table and are wondering whether you can install it outdoors and use it immediately? Yes.
Maison Pavane teak garden furniture is given a finish that protects the wood against moisture and UV rays during its first year. However, this finish does not prevent greasy stains.
If you want to protect your table from the very first meals, several solutions are available. Our Maison Pavane teams tested them to compare their appearance and resistance to everyday stains.
Key points to remember
- Your Maison Pavane teak table can be used outdoors as soon as you receive it, without any additional treatment.
- The original finish, two water-based matte coats, protects the wood against moisture and UV rays during its first year. It does not prevent greasy stains.
- If you want to preserve its light colour as much as possible, you can leave it with its original finish or choose a wood saturator, the tested solution that changes the original colour the least.
- If your priority is resistance to greasy stains, teak oil or linseed oil provided the best resistance in our June 2026 tests.
- A stain is not necessarily permanent: light sanding with 120-grit sandpaper can remove the mark.
Which finish protects a new outdoor teak table upon delivery?
Before it reaches your home, the teak is worked in our manufacturing workshops to achieve an even colour. Two coats of matte water-based finish are then applied.
This finish protects the wood against moisture and UV rays and slows its ageing when exposed to outdoor conditions.
You can therefore install and use your table outdoors as soon as you receive it, without any additional treatment during its first year.
From the second year onwards, its maintenance will depend on its exposure and the appearance you want to preserve. You can then find our advice in our complete guide to maintaining outdoor teak.
Does the original finish effectively protect against oil stains?
No. The original finish is deliberately not designed to protect against greasy stains.
Why? Adding protection changes the natural appearance of teak. Oils, even when advertised as colourless, tend to darken the wood and give it warmer tones.
At Maison Pavane, we therefore prefer to let you choose between preserving the original light colour or enhancing protection against stains.
“We deliver our outdoor teak furniture with a finish that protects against UV rays and moisture. However, any stain protection changes the colour of the wood. This is an aesthetic choice that belongs to the customer.”
William, Outdoor Product Designer at Maison Pavane
Without additional treatment, a splash of oil during a meal can quickly penetrate the wood and create a darker mark.
Which protection changes the colour of teak the most?
We tested three solutions: teak oil, linseed oil and wood saturator.
| Protection | Appearance observed by Maison Pavane |
|---|---|
| Teak oil | The wood becomes browner and more amber-toned. Honey and slightly orange hues become more pronounced. The grain is also more contrasted. |
| Linseed oil | The wood becomes darker, with a deeper brown and fewer golden highlights. It should be applied in a thin coat to avoid a shiny or sticky finish. |
| Wood saturator | The wood remains lighter and brighter, with a warm beige base and a few honey highlights. This is the tested solution that changes the original colour the least. |
The choice therefore depends above all on the appearance and ease of maintenance you are looking for.
Teak oil, linseed oil or wood saturator: which offers the best resistance to greasy stains?
To take things further, Maison Pavane tested these different finishes against two common outdoor stains: olive oil and sunscreen.
The tests were carried out in June 2026 according to the following protocol: each stain was applied by hand and then cleaned at three different times: immediately, after five minutes and after two hours. The results observed after five minutes and after two hours were identical.
Our observations are straightforward:
| Protection | Resistance observed during our tests |
|---|---|
| Teak oil and linseed oil | These solutions offered the best resistance in our tests. After cleaning with a damp cloth and then drying, no visible trace remained. |
| Wood saturator | The saturator also protects the wood, provided you act quickly. A stain cleaned immediately with soapy water and a soft cloth, then rinsed and dried, leaves no visible mark. However, if the greasy substance remains on the surface for more than five minutes or if cleaning is insufficient, a mark may appear. |
| Original finish | The wood marks quickly. During our tests, even immediate cleaning was not enough to remove the trace completely. |
These results correspond to the products and conditions tested by Maison Pavane. The tests were conducted by William, Outdoor Product Designer, and Clara, Customer Service Manager at Maison Pavane.
“The question customers often ask us is: can I use my table straight away? The answer is yes, but with certain nuances that are important to point out to avoid disappointment.”
Clara, Customer Service Manager at Maison Pavane
How do you remove a greasy stain from an unoiled teak table?
Have you chosen to preserve the honey-blonde colour of your table and a stain appears during the very first meal? Don’t panic, it is not permanent.
During our tests, light sanding with 120-grit sandpaper removed the mark.
The saturator offers another advantage here: it keeps the stain closer to the surface, making it easier to remove by sanding.
- Lightly sand with 120-grit sandpaper, following the direction of the wood and only on the affected area.
- Check the result: the wood may become slightly lighter after this process.
- Apply a new protective finish to restore an even appearance.
Also note that after one month of exposure to outdoor weather conditions (alternating rain and sunshine), the stain naturally fades over time as it penetrates the wood fibres.
FAQ: new outdoor teak questions answered
Can an outdoor teak table be used as soon as it is received?
Yes. Maison Pavane teak garden furniture receives a matte water-based finish that protects the wood against moisture and UV rays during its first year. No additional treatment is necessary before the second year.
Does a new teak table need to be oiled?
No, this is not necessary during the first year. Teak oil or linseed oil should only be applied if you want to enhance protection against greasy stains, accepting that the wood will darken.
Does teak oil darken the wood?
Yes. In our tests, the wood became browner and more amber-toned after teak oil was applied. Honey and slightly orange hues became more pronounced, and the grain was more contrasted. The saturator is the tested solution that changes the original colour the least.
How long should oil be left to dry on a teak table?
Allow 4 to 6 hours of drying time between coats, and 24 to 72 hours for complete curing. Teak oil dries more quickly than linseed oil.
How do you remove sunscreen from teak?
Clean the stain immediately with soapy water and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. If a mark remains, light sanding with 120-grit sandpaper, following the direction of the wood, will remove it.
