Staining!!!

Ever wonder why or where to stain? Curious about what the advantages and disadvantages are? And then, what are your options in products and application? JS Painting Company can handle all of your staining needs. The following will answer the basics about stain.

First of all, what are the differences between paint and stain? The easiest way to think about the distinction is to say that paint covers while stain soaks in. One thing that this means is that stain requires a surface to be porous and is affected by the level of porousness. Paint on the other hand is less affected by porousness. Because stain soaks in it makes application more variable. For instance, the color and darkness of the final product depends on how much the stain is allowed to saturate the wood. So if a surface is very porous it will take way more stain and look very dark and if it is less porous it will take less stain and have a very light tint. On a more technical note, sanding is an effective way to increase porosity, and a method for making sure a stain keeps a lighter color is to use a sanding sealer or benite oil or a similar product to fill the wood with a colorless product. Things like stripping and restoring wood causes it to become much more porous.

Some stains are meant to fill wood with several coats, leaving a very thin coating on top. Other stains are meant to fill wood with color but rely on the use of a complimentary clear coating in order to protect the wood against the elements. There are other stains that are less transparent, ranging all the way to opaque solid-bodied stains which look almost like paint, aside from the fact that paint does not show the wood's grain.

When working with high quality materials and fine woods, a transparent stain can showcase the natural beauty of the wood. If wood is a bit older, a semi-transparent stain can breath new life into the surface. Choosing to stain is generally an aesthetic choice, but in some cases, stain is just the best option. Unlike paint, stains rarely peel or blister, instead they fade or suffer from bleeding tannin. Stain is thinner than paint, it leaves way less build. So if you have peeling and bubbling problems related to ventilation, stain can offer improved breathability. The main downside is that stain requires a maintenance coat every three to five years. Stain is also a good option for horizontal surfaces like decks and porches. Anything that has to endure foot-traffic is going to need attention every few years and using stain gives you that natural look that can accent a home. Additionally, the maintenance won't require the scraping that will leave behind those little repaint craters.

JS Painting Company can handle all of your staining needs, and importantly, we can advise you on the best products and techniques for your needs.