Because stain seeps into the wood, it's more protective than a coat of paint which is a coating that simply sits on the top of the wood. Solid stains look almost identical to paint but are more protective to the wood because they seep into the porous wood fibers.
Paint tends to last a little longer than most stains, coming in at around 8-12 years before you will likely have to repaint. Stain, on the other hand, typically has to be refinished every 5-10 years.
If you don't properly prepare the wood, moisture damage could destroy the wood, or natural tannins may bleed through the paint. Wood preparation is time consuming, but it's not overly difficult. With the right know-how, a novice painter can paint untreated wood surfaces for an even, clean, professional appearance.
Stain is often cheaper to purchase than paint. It is easier to apply stain, as well as to re-coat surfaces that need a touch up. Stain is quicker to apply than paint, because you don't always need to prime surfaces first. It also only usually needs one coat.
A quality stain will seal the wood grain, so it prevents moisture from penetrating your deck and causing it to rot. A good stain generally provides better moisture retention than paint.
The Cons of Staining Wood
While some stains can last up to five years, postponing re-staining a wood surface for too long can cause the job to become more complex and labour intensive. Even decks that are stripped and re-stained will still require maintenance every couple of years.
Wood is dried-out and dull if you do not apply some sort of sealer. Staining and finishing are two very different things.
Once a wood surface has been painted, it can be incredibly difficult, time consuming, and expensive to remove the paint and restore the wood's natural beauty. Painting a wooden surface with a darker colour can also result in the paint fading faster, which means that you will need to recoat the surface more often.
And you certainly can paint over stain, choosing the method that best suits the type of stain on the surface and the kind of paint you wish to use. Keep in mind, however, that proper prep is essential; skimp on these steps and tannins from the stain would likely bleed unattractively onto the fresh paint.
Stain before paint is usually the norm! Why? Because if you mess up, you can easily paint over stain, but it's not as easy to stain over paint… often sanding/stripping is required.
What happens if you don't prime bare wood is not pretty. Similar to new drywall, raw wood soaks up paint like a sponge. As a result, your surface will look blotchy since pores in the woodwork unevenly absorb the paint. More importantly, the painted wood will likely peel in two or three years without primer.
There are many different varieties of paint, but when it comes to the best paint for outdoor wood furniture, acrylic, latex, and water-based paint do best. Acrylic and latex are both water-based, but unlike the latter, acrylic contains more chemicals.
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.
The answer is yes, but with some considerations. First of all, it is important to make sure that the surface is extremely clean before applying the stain. You should also use gel stain to stain wood with milk paint. Gel stain will stick better.
Apply a second coat of stain after the first has dried fully. This will usually produce a slightly darker coloring with the excess wiped off. Substitute a glaze or gel stain for the liquid stain. Glazes and gel stains usually contain a higher ratio of pigment to vehicle.
Good news, you can stain wood without sanding the old finish off! But you'll still have to do some prep to make the new gel stain bond properly with the old stain. Start by always cleaning the old finish with a good cleaner and degreaser, like TSP. Be sure to rinse all of that cleaner off before moving on.
Sand and clean the surface of the wood. Then, apply wood filler using a putty knife. Once filler is dry, sand the area until the surface is level and smooth. Then apply stain or other finish as desired.
When it comes to painting over stained walls, you might think that a quick coat of paint will do the trick. But you'll likely be left with a stain seeping through the new topcoat. Professional painters know the secrets to successful stain blocking, and it all starts with primer.
Oil-based paint is one of the most popular types of paint for wood. It's durable and easy to apply, and it provides a beautiful, long-lasting finish. In addition, it dries slowly, so you'll have plenty of time to fix any mistakes.
Paint can slow down rot, but not prevent it forever. Paint is not totally impermeable to moisture and rot fungi. Once the wood has reached a sufficient moisture level and the rot fungi have penetrated it, it will rot. Wood is especially susceptible for moisture and rot penetration through its end grain.
When well-maintained, paint seals wood and protects it from water, effectively waterproofing it. However, when cracks appear in the paint, water can reach the wood, and the wood is no longer waterproof.
While staining creates a rich, deep color that highlights natural wood grain, it does not provide long-term protection. Without a protective top coat, wood can be damaged easily due to contact with water, food, or sharp objects. A polyurethane top coat protects the wood from scratches, stains and water damage.