The appearance of your home’s exteriors matters, especially if you want to impress guests, passers-by and even buyers if you are selling. It is the first part or area that people see, so its condition surely impacts their opinion of your house.
So, don’t neglect your exteriors. Do your due diligence, especially if you have wooden exteriors – sidings, deck, picket fences, etc. These parts need regular maintenance for them to last long and look good. Staining exterior wood is one way to improve their look and ensure their longevity.
Staining Exterior Wood: What Is It?
Staining is the process of colouring the wood but still keeping its natural features like the knots and grains visible. It is a treatment option worth considering if you want the timbre’s natural beauty to stand out.
Wood staining is highly popular for exterior structures as it does more than just enhance their appearance. It also protects them from the elements and premature deterioration.
For one, it can decrease the risk of rotting – an issue that plagues a lot of wooden structures. Rot doesn’t just make the wood unattractive but also weakens it. This can make it a safety hazard as it may eventually collapse.
Staining Exterior Wood Vs. Varnishing
Staining exterior wood is similar to varnishing. One key difference though is that varnish just coats the top of the timbre, forming a protective barrier.
Meanwhile, the stain deeply penetrates the wood, effectively sealing off its pores. This greatly helps in preventing the timbre from absorbing water and consequently, warding off rot.
Staining wood can also provide protection from the sun’s UV rays, minimising the risk of premature discolouration.
Here’s the thing:
It is possible to apply both stain and varnish on the wood. But you have to stain the timbre first then apply the varnish. Also, it is important that you give the stain ample time to evaporate before you apply the varnish.
Staining Exterior Wood vs. Painting
While staining gives the wood a splash of colour, it is very different from painting. Staining only gives the timbre a tint and keeps the knots and grains visible. Painting wood totally covers the surface, hiding its natural features.
Ultimately, both treatments improve the aesthetics of the wood and provide a layer of protection. What you should use on your siding, fence and other exterior wooden structures largely depends on the look you want to achieve.
If you want to enhance the appearance of the wood without hiding its natural beauty, then staining is the right treatment option for your project.
Tips on Staining Exterior Wood
Decide on What Type of Stain to Use
Exterior wood stains come in several solvent bases and transparencies. The two most popular solvent bases are water-based and oil-based stains.
Water-based wood stains are available in several colours. They dry quickly which is great if you want to complete the project fast. Meanwhile, oil-based stains deeply penetrate the timbre, enhancing the appearance of the wood grain. It dries slower than water-based stains which means that using it would entail a long waiting time.
When it comes to transparencies, you can choose from clear, transparent, semitransparent, semisolid and solid.
Clear wood stains do not add colour to the wood but effectively protects it from various elements like water, UV light, moulds and mildew. At the opposite end of the spectrum are solid stains which give timbre a rich colour and maximum woodgrain coverage. This type is very similar to paint as it hides the timbre’s natural features.
On the other hand, transparent stains give wood minimal tint, enough to emphasise its natural colour and woodgrain. Semitransparent stains enhance the timbre’s colour but still keeps the wood grain visible. It does a better job at protecting surfaces from the sun than clear and transparent stains. Semisolid stains have more colour, hiding the wood’s natural beauty.
In terms of choosing what stain transparency is best for your project, it depends on various factors. For one, certain stains work best for specific wood type – semitransparent on mahogany or solid on pine.
Other things you should consider are current wood condition – bare or coated, how visible you want the grains and knots to be, the colour you wish the wood to have and how exposed the structure is to the sun.
Just a few tips:
If the wood is currently bare, then you can choose any type of stain. But if it’s already stained, then it’s better to stick to the same kind and just recoat it.
If the wood is worn out already, it is recommended that you avoid solid stains as these are best for new wood.
Test the Stain
It is difficult to imagine how the wood would look after staining. This is why it is highly recommended that you test the stain first, preferably on a wood that’s the same type as the one you’d be working on.
In addition, staining will change the wood’s appearance permanently. So, you wouldn’t want to proceed to applying the stain on the entire surface and run the risk of redoing everything or even changing your wooden structure just because you don’t like the outcome.
Examine the Wood
Just as you would when you paint concrete walls, inspect the entire wooden surface. Look for rough or broken areas as well as any type of damage that can become an issue when you start staining. Mark the problems you found, so you won’t miss any when you start fixing them.
Clean the Wood
The most important part of prepping is cleaning the wood. This is not just for aesthetic purposes but also to ensure the longevity of the stain.
Apply the cleaner and scrub away all the dirt and grime on your wood. Wash it off with water and let it dry.
Apply the stain like you would apply regular paint. Use a brush or a roller and make sure that you apply an even coat. Lastly, staining the wood, let it dry for 24 to 48 hours before you use the area or touch the surface.
Staining exterior wood is a challenging task. Save time and get an impressive output – let professionals do the job! We have a team of experts who are experienced in staining sidings, decks, fences and other exterior wooden surfaces. Call us at 86 608 1817 / 085 139 0233 or visit our website today for a free quote!
