What is the difference between staining and painting

Staining can sometimes require more coats than painting if the wood is highly absorbent. Be sure to follow directions as over-coating can result in peeling, improper curing, and a much longer drying time. Staining a surface changes the colour of the wood, while still allowing natural components of the wood such a knots and colour changes to show through.

Solid stain can be used to cover knots etc; hiding the natural components in the way that a paint does, while also soaking into the wood. Painting a surface conceals the natural components of the wood. Stain gives a matte look, whereas paint can come in different sheens, from matte to high gloss. Hence, solid stain is less time consuming to apply on a surface. Stains are also a cost-effective choice and they require very low maintenance cost.

But this is simply not true. Stained surface often need to be re-coated just as you do as any of your painted surfaces. With stain, no priming job is required and it usually requires only one coat. Unlike solid stain, paint has more color choices and is available in various sheens. Paint is often more expensive per gallon, is more time consuming to apply, and always should be applied over a primed surface.

Paint tends to provide color uniformity, has various degrees of sheen, and has a broader color range. However, stain has its advantages also. It is easily applied and recoated, and surface preparation is usually minimal. With stains, primers are not always required. A few stains are meant for concrete, but most stains are meant to be used on wood. Stain is the best choice for these types of homes because it dramatically enhances and preserves the natural beauty of the raw wood as well as the wood texture.

The beauty of a stain finish lies in its ability to accent the texture of the wood. Depending on which type of stain you choose, you may impart a definite color to the wood or merely tint it lightly, allowing much of its natural coloring to show through. Does stain last longer than paint? Stains also do not require primers to adhere. Unlike stain, paint offers more when it comes to hue variety. From neutral colors like forest green or chocolate to eye-popping crimson or royal blue for more contemporary vibes.

Stains are limited to clear shades of brown because they are designed to maintain the native or natural qualities of wood. Both staining or painting a deck requires surface prepping like light sanding or scrubbing with deck cleaner.

The effort required while staining is less. Painting has several processes. First, you will need to treat your deck with wood perseverative then proceed to coat it with a quality primer. You will also need a minimum of two coats of oil-based or latex paint.

Once done, you will be required to seal the surface with a polyurethane sealer. With stains, you do not need to do all this since you can choose a 2-in-1 stain and sealer.