Choosing the right wood deck stain?

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Here is a great example of a failed film forming deck stain.

The large selection of deck stains and sealers available on the market today give you a variety of choices to pick from. Not just the choice of colors but also the makeup of the stains themselves. The first choice you have to make is the choice between a water based stain and an oil based stain.Weathering tests have shown that most natural wood stains and water repellents last only 7 to 18 months before mildew and weathering become problems.

In my opinion, water based stains are nothing more than thinned out latex paint. They offer the same protection as latex paint does. These stains tend to adhere to the surface of the wood, just like paint, to keep the water from intruding into the wood. Because the stain relies on adhesion to the wood surface, this makes the stain susceptible to cracking and peeling because of improper preparation or inferior stain.

The best choice for deck staining and sealing is an oil based stain. Now when you say oil based stain, most people think of a petroleum based product. This would be incorrect thinking as most oil based stains are based on linseed oil, paraffin oils or a synthetic oil. None of these deck stains are derived from crude oil so you do not have to worry about OPEC raising the prices.

As with most products, not all oil based stains are created equal. Some of these stains are just like the water based stains and have film forming properties. They will claim to be a penetrating stain because a part of the product does penetrate the wood, making them a better choice than a water based stain. As all deck stains and sealers break down over time, film forming stains will start to crack, peel and flake leaving the underlying wood exposed (look at the photo above) to

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This deck (yellow pine) was stained with Baker’s Gray-Away Super Cedar Dark

the elements and a very ugly looking deck. Most home owners report they are refinishing their fences every year to maintain the original wood color.

Two major rules apply to selecting a natural wood finish. You should use a wood preservative rather than just a water repellent, penetrating stain or a combination stain and water repellent. It should also be pigmented. The pigment must be high quality so that it complements the wood, rather than masks fungi. A wood penetrating water repellent and ultraviolet light absorber will help the finish to maintain a good appearance. The finish should penetrate into the wood rather than form a surface film. Any product that forms a film on the surface will eventually flake, peel or chip.

The stain, finish or sealer you choose must also offer easy maintenance in the future. Always choose a product that can be re-coated without build-up. Most film-forming products must be stripped each time before re-application (something you aren’t told until it’s too late).

One final reason that also fit into our decision was the fact that Baker’s Gray-Away and Armstrong-Clark are not only superior products but they are also economically priced. It is for these final reasons that we have chosen Baker’s Gray-Away and Armstrong-Clark as our deck stains and sealers of choice. Baker’s Gray-Away and Armstrong-Clark meet ALL of these requirements for long life, exceptional protection and easy maintenance!

About the Author: Xtreme Maintenance operates their deck staining service out of Helena, Montana. You can visit their site at xtrememaintenance.com or call them at 406-465-9334 for  a free no obligation quote.

 

Related Deck Staining Blogs


Here are some other sites that have some more good information about deck staining and coatings.

101/365 - deck stain | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
AOL.com Video - How to Get Grease Off a Concrete Driveway
How to Stain a Deck : How to Stain a Deck: How to Prepare a ...
Berkeley Parents Network: Deck Building and Repair


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