If you've had teak furniture restored by us, you've probably heard us mention Semco. It's not a household name the way some wood care brands are, but it's been trusted in the marine industry for decades — and that's exactly why we use it.
Where Semco Comes From
Semco was developed in 1976 by Lawrence Serra, who couldn't find a product on the market that actually did a good job maintaining teak's natural beauty. What he created became a genuine standard in the marine world — today it's used by boat and furniture manufacturers, luxury hotels, cruise ships, and premium outdoor furniture makers. It's grown almost entirely through word of mouth rather than traditional advertising, which says something about how well it actually works for the people who rely on it.
What Makes It Different From a Typical Sealer
Semco is a solvent-based sealer with a water-like consistency, containing UV inhibitors, a mildewcide, and moisture protection — but no silicone, varnish, polymers, or the "exotic oils" you'll find in a lot of other wood care products. It's absorbed into the wood rather than sitting on top of it as a coating.
This matters for how it actually looks once applied. Semco is designed so that properly sealed teak looks like it has nothing on it at all — no glossy sheen, no "painted" appearance. It simply protects the wood while keeping it looking like natural, well-cared-for teak.
Why We Don't Use Teak Oil Instead
Here's something worth knowing: there's technically no such thing as "teak oil" in the way most people think of it. Products sold under that name are usually just linseed or tung oil mixed with solvents. They look nice when freshly applied, but left outdoors, they wear away within weeks and need constant reapplication — they don't hold up to real sun and weather exposure the way a proper sealer does.
Semco was built specifically to replace that approach. An initial two-coat application protects the wood for an entire season, and after that, an occasional fresh coat keeps it looking great for years, rather than needing constant upkeep every few weeks.
The Shade We Use Most
Semco comes in five shades — Natural, Cleartone, Honeytone, Goldtone, and Classic Brown. For furniture, we typically use Honeytone, since it gives the wood that rich, warm honey colour teak has when it's brand new, which is what most of our clients are hoping to bring back.
How You Know It's Still Working
One of the nice things about Semco is that it gives you an easy way to check if it needs to be refreshed. If water splashed on the surface still beads up, the seal is doing its job. Once water starts soaking in instead of beading, that's the sign it's time for a fresh coat.
Is Sealing Right for Your Furniture?
If you want to hold onto that honey-brown look and minimize how often your furniture needs a deeper restoration, sealing with Semco is worth adding to your service. If you're happy letting your teak grey out naturally over time, that's a completely valid choice too — sealing is offered as an option because it comes down to the look you actually want.
Curious whether sealing makes sense for your furniture? Send us a few photos and we'll walk you through the options. Get a free quote — serving Toronto, the GTA, and Muskoka.