It will take about six to 12 months to reach that rich dark hue that so many people have come to expect with cherry, depending on light exposure, and this reddish tone will only continue to deepen as time goes on.
Many, probably most, store-bought stains are made with both dye and pigment. If wood stained with these stains is exposed to sunlight or fluorescent light for a while, the dye color will fade away, but the pigment color will remain. The effect is that the stained wood changes color.
Oak flooring is naturally light in colour with golden, honey tones. Although oak will mellow and darken a little over time, it takes hundreds of years to develop the rich dark patina of aged oak.
Wet the wood with water and let it dry before applying the stain to raise the grain and create a rougher surface for more colorant to lodge. You could shorten the procedure to one step by using a water-based stain. It will raise the grain, and the coloring will be darker when you wipe off the excess.
Yes, direct sublight will "speed" things up. If you expose the wood to 10x more light, it will darken about 10x faster. Strong outdoor light will darken cherry noticeably, even after one day.
Yes! Cherry wood naturally darkens over time. At first, natural cherry wood will appear as a light wood with pink tones. Over time and with exposure to the sun, it will naturally darken to a medium, red-toned wood.
The simple answer is yes. Natural cherry wood oxidizes when given exposure to UV lights, causing it to gradually darken over time. In most cases, 80% of the oxidization happens in the first year. If the wood is in a particularly sunny spot, most of this oxidation will likely occur in the first three months.
Using most gel stains, you can darken wood furniture, or stay the same color, without sanding off the old stain. But, I usually use General Finishes Gel Stain because the finish always looks beautiful.
All hardwoods will undergo the natural aging process and change color overtime with exposure to UV light and oxygen. In general, while lighter woods tend to become a bit darker and richer, woods that begin dark will lighten up.
However, if you would like to darken the oak, hardwax oil is more ideal. Another popular oil for oak is danish oil. This type of oil can bring out the rich tones in the wood as well as preventing surface stains.
Cherry wood, great for indoor furniture
I find that one of the best aging wood surfaces is that of cherry wood. It undergoes a distinct transition of color when exposed to air and UV light. Initially, it tends to have a light pink/golden color, but over time it changes to a darker red-brown tint.
Over time, exposure to sunlight can cause wood to darken, especially if a finish or sealant does not protect it. In addition to causing color changes, sunlight can cause wood to dry out and become brittle over time.
With staining, you'll know if you've over-applied your deck stain because there will be sticky patches or puddles that just aren't drying—the wood has absorbed all it can, so the remaining stain has nowhere to go.
We always recommend two coats of stain for any wood project, but you should only apply as much stain as the wood can absorb. Extremely dense hardwoods may only be able to absorb one coat of wood stain. The general rule of thumb is to apply only as much deck stain as the wood can absorb.
If you try to stain new wood too soon, the stain won't take. The wood needs to be porous so that the stain can soak in and reflect the color that you chose. If the stain doesn't take, the color will fade in the sun and wash out in the rain.
Color changes tend to be the most dramatic in the first year—even within the first few months. Here's a tip from our (unfortunate) experience: move items around on your new wood furniture so you don't get spots that are darker or lighter.
The moisture has penetrated the finish and seeped into the wood, causing it to darken. With some elbow grease and patience, though, it is possible to remove both types of water stains. Here are tips and techniques for restoring your wood surface to its former beauty.
Exposure to water
The water, as it is evaporated, can move water soluble chemicals in the wood up to the evaporating surface, leaving these chemicals and, as a result, discoloration.
Make sure you sand the wood well before applying stain. Any scratches will be enhanced by stain. Sanding will also help open up the pores of the wood so that they can absorb stain better. Start with 80 grit to remove big scratches and imperfections, then move up to 120 and finally 220 grit.
The new stain you are applying over the old stain should be compatible. For instance, if it's an oil-based stain, apply another oil-based stain. If it's a water-based stain, apply another water-based stain. Incompatible stains can lead to poor adhesion or blotchy and uneven finish.
Unlike cherry, maple, and oak (which all darken in color as they age), walnut wood will actually lighten slightly over time.
Effects of Sunlight
When wood is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays present in sunlight, it initiates a chemical reaction that affects the wood's pigments. Over time, this reaction leads to a darkening of the wood, resulting in a yellowish or reddish-brown tint.
Like most wood species, it may change color over time due to exposure to light and other environmental factors. Generally, it will tend to darken as it ages, taking on a golden or honey-colored patina.