This post was updated on August 27, 2025
Hi, I’m Scott Paul. I’m a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience specializing in exterior wood decking. My review of Cabot Australian Timber Oil is based on decades of hands-on testing and real-world experience as a wood restoration contractor.
My goal is to provide you with expert insights and help you choose the top deck stain options for your projects. Let me guide you toward the best choice for protecting and enhancing your wood surfaces. See here for more info about me.
Cabot Australian Timber Oil Wood Stain 2026 Ratings and Reviews
At DeckStainHelp.com, we’re proud to be the Internet’s leading resource for deck stain opinions and reviews. Over the years, Cabot Australian Timber Oil has received mixed reviews from customers regarding its appearance and longevity on deck projects.
If you’ve used Cabot Australian Timber Oil, we’d love to hear about your experience! Feel free to leave a comment below and share pictures of your completed projects. Your feedback helps others make informed decisions for their deck staining needs.
Containing a precise blend of superb-grade linseed oil for maximum penetration, long-oil alkyds for durability, and pure South American tung oil for color depth and water repellency, Cabot Australian Timber Oil delivers three-way oil protection and a beautiful hardwood stain. In addition, complex translucent iron oxide pigments are added to ensure a lasting U.V.-absorbing surface rich with color and dimension. The result, after years of development, is an advanced-technology treatment of unrivaled performance designed to protect your wood surfaces like never before.
Rating Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil Wood Stain After Testing
My Cabot Australian Timber Oil Wood Stain review contains an 8-step process and the final average score. Each step is on a scale of 1-10.
- The appearance of Cabot Australian Timber Oil Stain after Application
- Preventing UV Graying
- Peeling or Wearing
- Cost Per Square Foot
- Preventing Mold and Mildew
- How Easy was the Application
- Color Shifting
- Ease of Reapplication
- Cabot Australian Timber Oil Final Score
8-Step Review of Cabot Timber Oil Wood Stain and Dry Time
1. Appearance After Initial Stain Application: 8
The Mahogany Flame looks very red but is overall very rich and nice-looking on the PTP test deck. All grain was visible and not “covered” by the semi-transparent pigment.
2. Preventing UV Graying at 2 Year Mark: 6
The Australian Timber Oil performed decently at the 2-year mark. It had retained about 60% of the original color.
3. Wear/Tear and Peeling: 8
Some wearing but no peeling. Wear was visible on the exposed areas and under the furniture
4. Cost Per Square Foot: 8
We used 2 gallons to cover our 300 sq. foot deck.
5. Preventing Mold/Mildew/Algae: 5
After 2 years, we found evidence of mold on half of the deck. Mainly in the exposed areas. The mold was embedded in the Cabot and could not be removed with a light wash. To remove, you would need to strip the deck.
6. Ease of Application: 7
The Australian Timber Oil is thicker in consistency than it used to be. It is not the most straightforward oil-based stain to apply, but still easier than applying most water-based stains. We back-wiped the deck after 20 minutes to remove any excess stain that did not penetrate the wood grain.
7. Color Shifting (darkening) after 2 Years: 7
Darkening of the stain had occurred where the stain was still attached to the wood. Mostly due to dirt and mold.
8. The Difficulty of Reapplication: 7
We suggest a deck stain stripper with pressure washing to remove the Cabot ATO. A wood brightener would be needed after neutralizing the stain stripper. This would be the best way to prep for another coat of stain and will remove the mold as well.
Is Cabot’s Australian Timber Oil Good For Decks? Overall Score After 2 Years: 7
Over the years, Cabot Australian Timber Oil has undergone formula changes due to evolving VOC laws, and unfortunately, it’s not the same product it once was. These changes have affected its overall performance, making it an average option compared to other stains available on the market today.
While we still like the product, it’s not our top choice. If better stain brands are available, we recommend considering those for improved durability, appearance, and overall performance.
Have you used Cabot Australian Timber Oil recently? Share your experience in the comments below—we’d love to hear how it performed for you!
Product Information:
Where To Buy: Select Hardware Stores or Online
Cost: $49.99 per Gallon, $245.99 per 5 Gallon Pail
Stain Type: Semi-Transparent
Available Colors: Amberwood, Honey Teak, Mahogany Flame, Natural
Application Temperature: 45-90 F
Coats Required: 1-2 Coats
Coverage Per Gallon: 200-300 sq. ft
Application Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, Roller
Dry Time: 24 Hours
Cleanup: Mineral Spirits
VOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in All 50 States
More Info: Product Data
Manufacturer: Cabot
Test Deck Stats:
Deck Wood Type: Pressure Treated Pine
Deck Square Footage: 300
UV Exposure: Mostly Sun, half of the deck had a covered roof.
How Many Years Tested: 2 Years
Stain Color Used: Mahogany Flame
*All products tested and results are from our experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Consider that results may differ due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.
Cabot Deck Stain Photos and Real Application Results
Stained our deck back in mid-March with Cabot Jarrah Brown after replacing a few boards as previous owners neglected the maintenance. A couple of days later it started to look cloudy and muddy. We had scrubbed the deck and cleaned prior to staining. It looks terrible and we can’t figure out how to clean off the cloudiness. I really am hoping not to strip/sand and start over. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
You cannot fix this outside of removing all or covering it with a solid stain.
Can you elaborate on how/why this happens so I don’t get into the same issue again? Was there too much product used? or is it that the cleaning process prior to staining didn’t work? I am at a loss for how to prevent this from happening.
Thank you for your feedback
Not sure why it happened but Cabot is not a very good brand anymore. They sold the company years ago and then they changed all the formulas. Now it has lots of issues.
If you want to prevent, then remove all and switch to a better brand like TWP or Armstrong Clark Stains.
Hi – I too am interested in the “why”s of things… I am trying to learn myself – but I do have some thoughts as to what may cause your clouding – 1) moisture, 2) over-working the product 3) maybe residue from the cleaner was still on and reacted with the product, 4) and “too much product” – too thick – could be something, 5) can the product go bad on the shelf? – maybe call the company and ask them. I received great customer service from Behr when I stained my concrete patio (and may not have done it right), they sent me another 10 gallons of the stain (my deck is 45′ x 25′) as well as a case of the sealer – no charge – and answered my questions and advised. Most of these companies want you to be happy and are there to help.
So we can use solid stain over a newly stain ATO deck? We had similar issue and do not like the results with just ATO.
No, you should strip and brighten for prep: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/
I bought this product because I assumed something named Australian Timber Oil was an oil-based stain. It’s not. I realized that after applying it to new wood—a bench seat that I had built and sanded down. This water-containing formula absolutely raised the grain on the wood that I had sanded to a smooth finish. I called Cabot’s help line and was told that, yes, the product sold in my state is the water-added version. I told him it was stupid to call something “Oil” when it’s a water based product. He said he’s heard that before. No kidding. I’d never buy it again—just based on the intentionally deceptive label on the can.
Cabot used to be a great product but then they sold out to Valspar years ago and they modified all the formulas. It is not the same and we stopped using it.
Now I understand that in my state, California, the low VOC formula is what is sold by Cabot. What’s unacceptable is that the can I buy here doesn’t tell you that. When I talked to the Cabot customer help guy to complain about raising the grain, he asked me what product I was using. I said Australian Timber Oil”. He said that I needed to find the product number on the can. When I found it, he said I had the water-added formula. Otherwise, the can and name are exactly the same for the oil-based or water-based formula. That’s just deceptive. The only reason I bought it is that I assumed it was an oil stain.
I wasn’t very happy with the result—and I don’t mean the part about raising the grain. The stain doesn’t have great depth of color, and of course, you can’t really intensify the color with a second coat. Disappointing waste of fifty bucks.
Yes, we agree. Waste of money.
Can I use Cabot semi transparent deck stain over Cabot Australian Timber Oil that was applied 2 years ago?
Depends on if the new stain is water or oil based?
Which one can I use? Oil based?
Yes, most likely it will work but best to ask them.
I put Cabot’s down (Australian timber oil) and a surprise storm came in 90 minutes after I finished. Rained hard for 15 minutes and water set on deck all night, It doesn’t look like it’s peeling but there are some small whitish spots. Do I need to sand the deck down and start fresh, or just apply a second coat?
Depends on how it dries and cures after the rain stops and the water dries off. At this point, there is no way to determine what needs to be until that happens. It may be fine.
How would I know/determine what to do? It looks like the water is beading up nicely but it is slightly faded compared to other areas
As we mentioned, wait until dry to assess. If it looks good then leave alone. if not, post a picture.
We used this last summer to stain our deck. Looked great but now after one season it has peeled off badly in certain areas. Very disappointed. Looks awful. Should it not last for more than one year? Also very hard to find. Used a colour called amberwood.
Yup. I feel your pain. We stained brand new mahogany deck in the fall and it didn’t last until spring. Looks like crap! Beware!!!! Faulty product that doesn’t live up to what it leads you to believe!!
We recently applied Cabot timber oil to our 200 sq. ft. deck,. It had about 38 to 40 hours of dry time before a light 30 minute drizzle. Is that enough time for drying?
Yes, you should be fine.
Can it be used on a porch floor?
Yes, it can.
Thank you! I’ve been trying to figure out what to use on my wrap around porch. My house is 100+ year old and I dislike the floor paints and love the natural look of wood. I’m open to other suggestions too!
Look at one of the top 6 brands:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
hi- are there any benifits of applying an additional coat of timber oil the second year?
If it needs it because it is fading or wearing, yes. Otherwise, wait another year or two.
I want to put a second coat of Cabot’s timber oil on a new built cedar picnic table. What steps would you suggest?
Prep with a deck cleaner and then recoat.
Would you recommend this product on teak? Marine teak oil seems to only last a month or 2 before going back to a grey look. Thanks
Use this. Better product: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-wood-stain-for-exotic-hardwoods-review/
It may be because I live in Hawaii but the house is away from a lot of trees; constant wind also keeps the moisture down and we have roofing over the lanai. In these conditions, the Cabot has been excellent. We have re-applied twice in 10 years mostly because of simple wear. We have never had mold or mildew, no UV graying. We’ve had dogs and cats, and we have not had a problem with dirt either, it does seem to wash well with just water and a sponge mop. Now I’m getting ready to re-do – but I’m worried that the formula has changed. I will keep you posted!
I used Australian Timber Oil Jarrah Brown on my porch, steps and railings. It looks lovely but it shows dirt, footprints, dog paw marks etc. The dirt doesn’t wash off, even when scrubbed. Did I miss a step ?
No, just an issue with the stain that it attracts dirt, etc.
Do you have to use another sealer on top of this product or use a primer before or would you consider this an all in one?
You cannot seal over a deck stain nor can you use a primer for a semi-transparent stain like this.
Do you recommend Thompson’s timber oil as a good deck finish for an old painted deck restoration?
No. Thompsons is a poor product.
Does this stain work well with Ironwood (IPE)?
Average. Used to be great for IPE until they changed the formula. Now it does not last very long.
Would your results for the Australian Timber Oil also be representative of the Cabot Wood Toned Deck & Siding Stain? How similar are these products? Did you pick the Australian Timber Oil to review because it was better, or because it was more popular, or what?
Thanks.
More popular. ATO has been around forever. Not sure on the similarities, if any.
Thanks – a follow-up: My web searches seem to indicate the Timber Oil is semitransparent, and the other might be semi-solid. Is this true? At least, that’s the only Cabot stains I see, except for the Timber Oil. I know you prefer the semitransparent style.
Not sure, we have never used the other. Semi-transparent typically soaks in better.
I had a quarter of my deck replaced with pressure-treated wood 9 months ago and just had someone pressure wash the older portion of the deck and apply one coat of Cabot’s mahogany flame stain to the entire deck. Obviously the new decking is lighter than the old. The contractor said we could apply another coat of stain to the new wood after 24 hours of drying. Is this true? The newer wood seems to have absorbed the stain much more than the old wood, so 2 consecutive coats seems plausible, but I have always heard 1 coat-only-warnings for Cabot’s Timber Oil.
It is possible that if over applied it may not dry or cure correctly. We do not use the Cabot ATO anymore since they changed formulas so best to ask them directly for advice.
When should I apply second coat
Love this product because it is a stain that protects with no future peeling. Great wood penetration which applies with a wet on wet application. I rolled it on and cut the edges with a brush. Do not try to second coat after drying. Great water resistance.
I sealed our deck with Cabot Australian Timber oil. Water sits on top of it, so it sealed properly but when it dries there are water spots and looks dirty, Not happy, l pride in my deck
Thank you
Marcia
Do you recommend putting 2coats on older wood? It was pressure washed first.
Yes.
Thank you, I thought I seen from Cabet, Not recommended.
The timber oil we used on our brand new deck is so slippery that I have had to put towels down and rugs down, in the winter and when it rains, just so we could walk on it. When I was 8 mo. Pregnant and holding my 3 yr old I slipped and landed on my back. I am an ex gymnast and I rarely fall, I could not control this wipe out. I was not prepared for this stuff to be as slippery as it was and still is, 4 years later.
I’ve tried other stains in the past and just stain an application has been the easiest and the best that I’ve used great product like the Finish after it’s dried.
Can you spray Cabot timber oil
Yes.
Used Australian Timber Oil on a deck last year that had been thoroughly cleaned after having been neglected for several years. The deck now looks bleached and dry, so I’m wondering if it is okay to apply another coat this year?
Prep first and then recoat.
I have to reapply every year. Maybe I am prepping wrong. All I do is clean with soap and let dry and them reapply.
Laura, it would be best if you pressure wash the surface, let dry a few days, then reapply. I have done this since 1992. Have yet to replace a board on the deck at my parents farm.
Hi, a few questions about using 100% tung oil diluted for a new pressure treated dock in South Florida. I don’t think I’m interested in the Cabot’s since it has linseed and other properties in it.
From what I’ve read 100% tung has superior waterproofing and mold abilities over linseed.
– can 100% tung oil be put on a new deck without waiting for it to dry out for 1-12 months?
– is it recommended to first put a clear waterproof on first? Or any other recommended prep before or after?
Thanks Phil
Tung oil is useless when it comes to UV protection from graying. No reason or advantage to using it. You need a semi-transaprent stain for UV protection.
Can i use Cabot Australian timber oil on a cypress siding house and how many coats can be applied? Also how long does it last?
Best to read their directions when it comes to amoun of coats needed. You should be able to use it on the Cypress siding. Probably will last a few years.
Used this product 14 years ago when house was built, recoated once since. Just recently applied another coat after a number of years, to prep we cleaned and pressure washed deck, hand sanded a few areas tha were beginning to peel and used sanding screens on the whole deck. after blowing and sweeping off slight dust recoated with Jarrah Brown, after sampling color on new wood from a quart can. Sample color was very close. Applied a coat of stain from a couple gallons bought and find after drying it is RED!! Not brown at all like the color sampled, IT HAS RUINED OUR DECK!! Tried today to apply another coat of Honey Teak over the alleged Jarrah Brown and it won’t take a second coat, beads up like water on wax paper, HORRIBLE. Calling Cabots in the morning to try to get this fixed but am not hopeful, perhaps small claims court.
Where can I purchase the oil based Australian timber oil not the water based one water base does not last I tried it an am very disappointed an the people at manufacturer weren’t to helpful
Can I use this oil over latex on my pine soffits?
No, that will not work.
I recently bought this Cabot stain in Honey Teak to stain custom planters with privacy fence backing that my husband had build with warm pressure treated wood. I did a colour test on a piece of scrap wood and am pleased with the results. After reading your review and others’ comments, should I be concerned with mold/mildew buildup considering its for standup planters and not a walk on deck?
Yes, it is possible that you will get mold here but this could happen with and stain brand based on it being used for planters.
I have used the mahogany flame for several years on my cedar deck. It looks good all year, is easy to apply and maintain. I do have to reapply a coat evry year due to the amount of weather my deck endures (I clean it with a general solvent to take mill glaze and mildew off). Over the years the color deepens–this is a pic of new wood and 15 year old wood recently stained after a rain.
Just finished applying. Very easy job. I’ve built my deck entirely out of used wood (load separating gates used in trucking). I love the results! Let’s see how it stands up on my 500 sqft deck.
What color did you use? I really like the tone.
This is the best product I’ve ever used especially in the Florida weather. Two years ago we used it on the doors of a barn and the stairwell and it still looks like it was painted yesterday.. excellent product better than anything else on the market
Is Cabot Australian Timber Oil the proper stain to use for ipe?
It used to be a great choice until they switched the formulas. There are better options now:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/category/deck-product-reviews/ipe-and-hardwood-stain-reviews/
I want to use your timber oil on a wood barn. Since there is residual stain from many years ago, I understand that power washing is key.
The wood variety is hemlock. Can you offer any additional advice?
You would have to strip off the old coating first before using the Cabot Timber Oil.
I have had terrible results with Australian Timber Oil on an Ipe deck. Having painted houses professionally, it’s a given that the appearance an longevity of an exterior coating is dependent on your prep work. My process started with stripping the deck down with Restore-A-Deck stripper+power washer and then brightening it with Restore-A-Deck brightener. There was some spot sanding after that and the deck was swept clean with a push broom as well as a leaf blower to get rid of any sawdust. Well, Australian Timber Oil looks great after you put it on. For about two weeks. After that, it blackens, develops mold even in direct sunlight, wears terribly etc etc etc. I will not use this product again.
Worst waste of money. Wearing off in one year. Just selling their name now.NO MORE CABOTS.
I used Cabot’s Australian oil on my 200 sq ft deck 3 years ago. It has held up very well with no peeling.
I applied a new coat this summer after cleaning off some mold with hydrogen peroxide and a pressure wash. The new coat looks great and went on easy on the old coat. This is 1000% better than the Behr stain that had been used in previous years where it peeled every year and required a new coat every year and began to look like it had a spotted disease. I had to sand it to bare wood to get the Behr off. Ugh!!! This last application of Australian oil took less than half a gallon. The tech person at Cabot had advised using it very lightly and that was very good advise.
I recently applied this to older Cedar furniture I spent the winter stripping and sanding. It had Cabot Jarrod Brown applied 12 years ago which is a very dark color.
After sanding I applied the “Natural ” color in the “RED” can the #3400. You cannot get this product in Illinois any longer but I had two full unused cans for a few years ago.
The first coat applied was sucked in as any sanded bare wood would do. It was rough and not too appealing. I decided to lightly sand the furniture a week later and then apply a second coat on the areas that would get baked by the sun. the results were incredible. A rich deep color for the Cedar furniture and a smoother finish was the results.
Since this was just applied in Spring of 2017, I will wait a year or two to re-post the results.
As for which stain to use on my cedar deck, I am leaning towards the TWP 100 or the Armstrong Clark Brands. I am just now looking over the test results. I am a bit obsessed on reading results first before putting in all the time, labor, money to avoid being disappointed.
The TWP 100 is not allowed in IL so you will need the 1500 Series. Might want to get samples to test.
I’m planning on using Cabot Australian Timber Oil Natural as a sealer on a new pine picnic table. With all the angles on the hexagonal table I was hoping a pump sprayer could be used for application. Do you think a sprayer would work alright? Will the oil work well on new wood?
I would check with Cabot in this for their directions on applying and new wood.
Walking on the deck left residue on my socks. I wouldn’t want to sit on it. Could be that was not applied correctly
Can you use cabots on interior bamboo floor. We have a yurt and water on the floor could be an issue but hopefully not. Any advantages or disadvantages to interior use l?
Doubt it but best to ask Cabot directly.
I applied Cabot Australian Timber Oil to my deck one year after it was built. Now, less than 12 months later, the major walking areas are already wearing off down to natural All vertical areas including tops of hand and deck railings look good still. Prior to applying, we washed and cleaned the entire deck, railings, spindles, everything with a deck cleaner and allowed it to dry well for a week while we worked during the week. Again, it’s just the walk on areas. I have before during and after videos. Anyone got suggestions?
Prep just the floor and reapply. Leave the railings as is for now.
Actually regarding my previous post….auto correct made it incorrect. My decks are South African Hardwood not South American
My decks (and I have many , all with tons of railing) are made of South American hardwood. NOTHING will penetrate that wood. Is this a new better penetrant of that type of wood or will I be trying the same thing I’ve tried and has failed for about 14 years???? I am so sorry I used that hardwood for my decks. Beautiful the first year and a nightmare ever since. (I guess if you like gray weathered decks it’s good!). Mine started out the color of cedar.
Sad!!!!!
Your wood type requires an annual repplication. Start by stripping it all off and brighten the wood. Stain with Armstrong Clark in Amber color.
Excellent product. Wouldn’t consider using anything else.
Has anyone used this on bamboo fencing?
You cannot use a penetrating stain like the Cabot ATO on bamboo as it will not soak in. We do not have that much experience with bamboo, but it seems you need a film forming coating that is semi-transparent. TWP makes a 300 Series that is hard to find but is suggested for bamboo.
I used Cabot Mahogany Flame Transparent Exterior Stain on my 100' deck. The fencing has lasted great, but the deck where you walk has not, neither on the flat rails. You can only imagine how much it costs to cover a 100'x45' two level deck completely surrounded by shadowbox fencing also stained same color. I wish Cabot would help take care of prep and labor this time if I purchase the stain again. I am happy with the product, when first applied the deck looked amazing! After a few years it has let me down, but I know with a fresh coat I'll be pleased again.
It is normal to have to redo every 2-3 years or even sooner on a horizontal surface.
I assume the product reviewed was the tint-able version sold at ace hardware? The 5 color pre-mixed oil base is only sold in some states because of VOC restrictions
Thanks for your thorough review. This is the best review and stain guide I found!. I have used both Sikkens and wood shield by Home Hardware. I find Sikkens more durable and better colour retention but like the wood stripper brighter from home hardware. Next project is a garage door and I plan to try Cabot stain. I don't understand why anyone would pick a cheap stain as it is cheapest cost of a project. When we bought our home they used a cheap solid stain on our deck and it started peeling the next year. It was a lot of work to remove and used Siemens extol semi with great results. I would not recommend a solid stain on a deck. Wear a off or peels too quick and looks terrible after couple of seasons.
I really like the Cabot stain. I've used it on several decks.
After one year in hot South Florida sun needs to be redone
Rubbish product. Will never use again. I’ve tried it 4 times and it will not last our Canadian climate in Ontario for more than 8 months before flaking. Each time we stripped and sanded to bare cedar and followed instructions to a T. New formula does not work.