Contrary to most people’s beliefs exterior staining can and usually is more challenging than painting. There are many variables in preparing wood for staining and countless products on the market today from oil base stains to the newer acrylic based stains; but one thing never changes, preparation! Most stain manufacturers still call for the use of a solution of household chlorine bleach and water to kill mold and mildew. Even though this solution works it slowly destroys the linin, a chemical bonder that naturally bonds the wood fibers together. We now use products containing oxygenated bleach such as Timber Wash or Wood Renew. Visit Saver Systems or Perma-Chink Systems, Inc for more information on these products.

     Most people think that simply power-washing and spraying on a coat of stain is all that is necessary to re-stain a home or deck. This is far from the truth! If you read the back of all oil base stains it clearly states in bold letters, “do not apply new stain over a previously stained or sealed surface”. Most if not all recommend stripping all the old stain off using harsh chemicals followed by scrubbing and power-washing. This is costly and very labor intensive. We’ve cleaned and stained countless homes and decks and have concluded there’s no easy way if you want it done right. Unfortunately, stained homes up here have a very short life span. Exposure to sun and moisture has a big influence, but in general even the best products last only 2 to 3 years according to most manufacturers. We’ve used many different stains over the years and have found Sikken’s products to be the best in oil base stains. I have researched dozens of companies and recommend anybody looking to re-stain their house or decking visit The Log Home Store. Click on cleaning and finishes to learn what it takes to do it right. Even though your home may not be logs the basics of wood still applies when reading through their wealth of information.

     When applying stain most people think the more the merrier when in fact the opposite is true. Stain is a penetrating product meant to soak into the wood surface not to sit on top. We go to great efforts to apply only what is necessary to achieve the right amount and more important the right look. Stained homes should have a dull almost flat finish with no shiny areas. Shiny areas are a direct result of applying to much stain, saturating the wood. Eventually the excess stain will peel, crack and flake off. Once this starts to happen it is almost impossible to regain uniformity without stripping all the old stain off and starting from scratch. The same thing applies to decking.

     Over the years I have stripped several homes and many decks using biodegradable product such as StripX™ that will make a deck look almost brand new. Visit Wood Care Systems for more information on this product. To get the most out of stripping we generally use brightening agents such as Timber Bright to lighten and brighten the wood. All these lightening and brightening agents contain oxalic acid and must be used with care. Too strong of a solution may be very effective but can raise PH levels in the wood and cause irreparable damage.

     Recently there has been a trend to apply 2 or 3 coats of translucent stains to log or wood sided homes to give a mild sheen; plus, add longevity to the stain. Visit Sikkens Wood Finishes for all the information on their translucent stain products; SRD 250, Cetol products and Log and Siding Oil.