Exterior Stain

Types of Exterior Wood Stain

There are four primary types of stains:

1. Clear Toner- Much like sunscreen protects your skin, clear toner uses iron pigments to prevent UV rays from damaging wood without obscuring the wood’s grain. The clear finish won’t peel but does need to be reapplied every year. 
2. Semi Transparent- A semi transparent exterior wood stain contains enough pigment to slightly alter the wood’s color without obscuring the grain. You will need to recoat every two to three years. 
3. Semi Solid- This variety of deck stain contains less pigment than a solid stain but will still slightly obscure the wood’s grain. It doesn’t form a film that can peel and needs to be applied every two to four years. 
4. Solid- Solid exterior stain is perfect if you want the appearance of flat paint with the durability of stain. The grain will be entirely obscured, with the texture remaining visible. A solid stain is prone to peeling if not adequately applied but will last between five and seven years when used correctly.



How to Choose the Best Exterior Deck Stain 

Now that you know the main types of wood stains, how do you know which is the best for your project? The answers to a few questions will help you decide.

• Is the wood already stained? If not, you can choose any deck stain. For wood that has been previously stained, you can apply a water-based stain over an oil base but not the other way around.
• What kind of wood are you staining? The standard softwoods, such as cedar and pine, will readily absorb any exterior stain. If you’re working with hardwood, like mahogany, always test a small area to ensure the stain will penetrate the wood and dry.
• How old is the wood? Solid stains are best reserved for new or older wood that you can sand to a like-new surface. If you’ll be staining wood that cannot be sanded, it’s best to stick with a penetrating clear, semi transparent, or semi solid stain.