 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
Stains
|
Stains can be broken down in three basic categories:
1 - Water repellants / Clear stains / Clear stains with tone or pigment
2 - Semi-transparent stains
3 - Solid / Opaque stains
Water repellants and clear stains provide the least protection against UV rays. Some clear stains are supplemented with a pigment to produce a finish other then clear. Often referred to as wood-toned, these lightly pigmented "wood-toned" finishes add natural color to the wood, while enhancing its natural beauty. Because these finishes are lightly pigmented, they last longer than traditional clears.
For protection that lasts longer than clear and pigmented stains, semi-transparent stains are recommended. Semi-transparent stains contain a larger amount of pigment allowing for less UV exposure. Semi-transparent stains do allow some of the wood grain to show through but less then a clear or clear with pigment stain.
Finally, solid or opaque stains offer the most protection against UV rays. Opaque stains act as a solid paint and once applied, do not show any wood grain.
There are advantages and disadvantages with each kind of stain. The general rule of thumb is that as you move from clear to solid stains, you sacrifice more of the natural wood tone of your deck. The disadvantage of using a semi-transparent or solid stain is that, should you ever choose to change colors, the stain must be removed with a wood stripper. The advantage of using a semi-transparent or solid stain is the increased time between cleaning and sealing.
CKJ Pressure Washing and Deck Restoration Recommendations:
We recommend using a wood-toned (clear with pigment) Wolman, Cabot or Behr stain when sealing decks. We feel wood toned stain produces the best all around look, and although sealing will be more frequent, the look is unmatched.
Listed below is a deck stain report produced by Consumer Reports. The report tested the products of several leading manufacturers over a period of three years.
|
