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.
Maintenance: Stained wood requires more maintenance than painted wood. Stains can fade or wear away over time, and the wood may need to be re-stained every few years. Painted wood, on the other hand, is more durable and can last longer without the need for touch-ups.
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.
You can expect no more than 1-2 years of protection even when using the best exterior deck stains, like TWP. Once the deck stain begins to fade and no longer repels water, you have waited too long and should be re-stained by professionals.
Solid stain fades faster than paint, meaning that you will need to repaint it sooner.
The difference between a solid stain and paint
Whereas paint sits on top of a surface, solid stain absorbs into it. This means that instead of peeling like paint does, solid stain fades with age. As a result, solid colour stains tend to look better than paint does as time goes on.
Hirshfield's offers quality deck care products including: Cabot, Arborcoat®, Ready Seal, Storm System and ProLuxe Sikkens. These products provide varying degrees of UV protection as well as offers a wide selection of colors. Never use solid siding stain or paint on a deck. In this application, these will usually peel.
A common mistake when applying stain is not taking weather, temperature and moisture into account. Staining when the deck surface is too hot or the wood is too wet; when rain is too imminent or when nighttime temperatures are too cold can all lead to problems down the road and shorten the life of your stain.
Staining a wood deck doesn't just add to its beauty; it adds a layer of protection to the wood that will help it look great for years to come. The same holds true for staining fences, siding, or outdoor furniture. The best wood stains can help add years to the life of the wood.
Clear and transparent stains need a touchup every year or two. Semi-transparent last 2 to 3 years. Semi-solid stains are good for 2 to 4 years of protection. Solid stains on decks may protect up to 5 to 7 years.
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.
As a general rule, your deck should be stained every 2-3 years. This can change, however, if you are in an area of high-humidity or especially volatile weather. The signs to look for when determining if you need deck staining are: The stain color of the wood is wearing off.
Woods high in tannins may require sealing first, but all species of stained wood can be painted, including hardwoods and softwoods, and even grasses like wicker and rattan. Previously stained furniture and home elements (doors, trim, cabinetry) will accept paint, with the latter sometimes requiring a deep clean first.
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.
Generally, if you use a water-based wood stain over an oil-based paint, the wood stain will not stick. You may see signs of cracking and peeling. On the other hand, if you use an oil-based wood stain over latex or acrylic paint, it is likely to adhere better and create a stronger finish.
After staining wood, you will want to finish with a topcoat sealer to protect your wood project. Apply a sealant and let it fully cure before handling!
Wood Stain Drying Time
Depending on the type of stain you are using, most stains are dry and cured within 24 hours to 48 hours. After that time, it's safe for additional coats or to apply polyurethane or the sealer of your choice.
Because stain requires a dry deck for a secure application, a week of dry fall weather is ideal for staining your deck than in summer or spring humidity. More specifically, the moderate temperatures of early fall are optimal for staining, as the later fall weeks may bring colder days that are too chilly for your stain.
Using a lint free rag is the best way to apply wood stain because it is great for controlling the amount of stain that is applied and for removing any excess stain. Also, the rag leaves a beautiful, even, and brush stroke free finish. It also can easily be thrown out once finished.
Outdoor wood stains are water repellant, so they make the wood waterproof, that is protecting it against water and, as a result, against mold. The only problem is that it is a short-term protection. As the stain wears out, the water easily finds a tiny crack to penetrate the wood.
Semi-solid stains are a better choice for decks that have seen their share of cookouts. You'll still see some grain, but you'll hide more of the wear and tear your deck has endured. Solid wood stains are for deck surfaces that have a lot of imperfections, or you just want to add a splash of color.
A solid stain is, essentially, a paint. Both are films that sit on the surface of a substrate. A penetrating stain differs from a solid stain entirely in that the product actually absorbs into the wood. To determine which product is right for a given project, there are a number of different things to consider.
From cuts to grazes to unceremonious bouts of nosebleeding, you can expect to get your clothes dotted with dark red stains if any of these happen to you. The proteins found in blood and the pigments that make up for it all contribute to a difficult stain removal process such as a hot cocoa drink.
You don't necessarily have to choose between staining and sealing. Some products can combine both properties, or you can add both to your deck. However, other homeowners choose to either stain or seal their deck.