Why staining wood

The primary purpose of stain is to color wood, while offering certain protections as a result of the coloring and absorption of the stain deep into the wood. Perhaps the most common reason to use stain as protection is against ultraviolet light.

Many stains help reflect UV light, which prevents wood surfaces from fading and losing their color. In addition to protection from the sun, stain can offer several other forms of protection to wood. For one, stained surfaces have color saturated within them so they tend to resist being further stained or discolored.

Since stain soaks into wood and bonds with it, it doesn't allow other materials to soak in as readily, giving stained wood somewhat better resistance to water, and other liquid materials spilled on the surface.

Certain types of stains can also contain ingredients that make for an inhospitable environment for insects, as well as the formation of molds and mildew. While stain offers some protections for wood, other wood treatments can offer even greater protection. You get an oil, resin, or alkyd that all act as binders which attach to the pigments that lay on the surface of the wood. The stain then sinks in to the wood protecting it deep into the layer. Softwoods like cedar are much more accepting of the stain versus hardwoods such as oak.

While stain will change the natural color of the wood, don't think that you can use regular paint instead. Paint will only coat the surface and give a mild amount of protection when compared to a stain. You should also sand the wood before staining to ensure that you get the best results.

Excess stain can be wiped away once the pigment is absorbed into the binder. The extra stain occurs after the solvent has evaporated. Once you have completed the staining process then you must finish the job with a protective coat to complete the task. You have a few different options such as varnish, wax, or polyurethane. However, if you do find yourself making a door, whether it be for your shed, your basement, or even your front porch, the construction is likely to be more or less the same.

It is best to use a very thick piece of wood for security purposes, as thin wood is very easy to break. When it comes to simple, utilitarian construction that is meant solely to do a certain job, all you need is a good sealant.

When it comes to something that is supposed to look nice, a stain is very important. For certain things, you would need both or as in the case with the door perhaps only a partial sealing. In the end, every project is different, so I hope that I have given you the knowledge to make an informed and competent decision. The proud owner and lead writer of WoodImprove. Started writing in and sharing his love and passion for wood treatments and crafts. I am looking more towards a sealant application to hopefully lessen a slight musty smell.

All other walls are newly built-in with sealed foundation wall — insulation — GWB. Any recommendations on other adequate methods Stain, Poly, Oil or Water-based? It seals well while retaining the natural wood color, which is my assumption from your message. I recommend this brand which has good reviews from people I know and trust — this is a satin finish. You can use wood stain, which will bring out the grain and give good UV protection. However, for true sealing properties, my money is on polyurethane.

We have used kiln dried unfinished Cedar planking on our living room walls. Does it need to be sealed? I love the look of the wood as it is in its natural state and do not want to risk changing the color if I can help it.

I do however want to do what is necessary to have it last for years to come. Wood prefers dry conditions. You can use this product by Thompsons to seal the wood without changing its shade. Unfortunately the exterior surface, had begun showing signs of wear and even has very fine splitting vertically in some areas—the elements have certainly taken their toll on the exterior. The interior still looked great.

Olympic Maximum Stain and Sealant in 1, Semi-transparent. It looks fine, wonderful on the interior side. There is little protection for the front door—no overhang, awning, portico, covered entry, etc. This side of the house is east facing. Hello Morgan, it is better to use varnish for extra protection, if you are concerned about the fine splitting in some areas. You can use something like this product by Minwax for the front door.

It is a specially formulated protective clear finish for exterior or interior wood that is exposed to sunlight, water, or temperature changes. Hi there Glad I found this post, thank you.

Hello Nate, You can use 2nd option oil-based stain , applying a waterproof seal will further solidify your first objective.

If you are looking for the best protection apply a waterproofing seal. Take extra precaution while handling wood treated with CCA. The front of my years old house has a wood entrance. It seems as if it was sealed and painted with several coats.

The paint is now pealing and some wood spots are showing. After sanding, should I apply a sealer and then paint. Can you please tell me which products to use. Hello Gina, yes, you can apply sealer and then paint but make sure you sand the surface before application. You can use this product by Minwax. Hi Bob, yes it is good to seal the tree. You will definitely prolong its life and it will definitely protect the tree from pollution.

I had an outdoor sign made several years ago. It was made with treated wood. Now the wood had deep cracks. I thought about filling the cracks with wood filler and then staining and sealing it.

I need help deciding if I am on the right path. Hi V Pautsch, Unfortunately, sometimes with untimely maintenance, cracks appear on the wood. First, it is good to choose the right filler for this purpose, maybe this article will be useful to you, it is also important to choose the right color. If, in addition to the cracks, the coating is in relatively good condition, you can fill the cracks with filler and then sand them carefully.

You can apply a layer of stain and then seal. In this way, the filled cracks will be less noticeable. I plan to stain them, to bring out the grain, before assembly. They will be outside all year, perhaps covered with a tarp for winter?

Are there products that are best for skin contact, and conversely ones I should avoid? I recommend you use a matte finish. When the surface is glossy, the skin slides when wet and sticks when dry. In your case, it is best to use paint for garden furniture like this by Rust Oleum. If I seal it, can it easily be restained, in later years, without having to do much sanding!

OR If I plan to touch it up with stain every year or couple of years, would staining it be sufficient? OR Do you have any better suggestions for an outdoor bench. Thank you for any advice you might be able to provide. If you plan to keep staining it every year then sealing it would be difficult because you would have to sand or strip the sealer every time for the best results.

I have a detached garage that I just turned into a man cave. I finished the interior walls in CVG douglass fir tongue and groove boards and really love the grain of the wood. The space is insulated but not temperature controlled.