If you’re “board” and hoping something fun “wood” come along, then look no further. This month at Wittswood, we are going to talk to you all about wood coatings and stains. We even a few tips for all the do-it-yourself-er’s!
Wood is a classic building material that simply never goes out of style. Be it the classic wood bedroom set that your grandmother passed on to you, or the china cabinet that has been in your home for generations, wood never goes out of style. Not only is wood durable, it is also one of the most versatile materials - you can mold it into anything. Be it doors or floorings, decks or bird feeders, wood never goes out of style either.
Did you know that wooden flooring is all the rage right now? In fact, people are installing more wooden bathroom flooring than anything. Don’t believe us? Read our blog here and find out more! Hardwood is still the trend. From Pinterest boards to interior design magazines, you’ll always find wood making an appearance. It seems as if now standard designs are not quite complete without the inclusion of hardwood. You can find out more about wooden décor on our website!
Wood staining is a popular practice for improving the look of your wood projects, but it also has many practical advantages. Apart from wood being durable and sustainable, wood staining also has many advantages including but not limited to preservation, financial savings as well as convenience. Here are some of the common advantages of wood stains –
1. It prevents Rotting
Wood is prone to rotting when exposed to the elements of nature, such as your exterior wooden doors or barn doors. Not only does rot make wood less aesthetically pleasing but also eats away at the structural integrity of your wooden furniture or floor. Rot can also develop in a variety of ways, but the most common forms of rot are mold, mildew, and termites. It should also be noted that there is no real cure for rot. Once your wood starts to rot, it is irreversible.
It is therefore advised that you re-coat and re-stain your furniture regularly to avoid rot and maintain the quality of wood.
2. Protection from the elements
Let’s face it, the weather in our country makes it very difficult to protect our outdoor wooden furniture. Be it an exterior door, your backyard deck or your outdoor furniture, they are all susceptible to varying degrees of the elements of nature.
The entry of water into wood can cause more damage than rot can cause to wood. Once moisture is trapped inside the wood, it makes it more prone to splintering and breaking. Even direct exposure of unsealed wood to sunlight can cause discoloration. Sealing your wood with stain will preserve the appearance of your wood and maintain its structural integrity for a long time.
Read on to find out which type of stain should you use for your next DIY project!
3. Cost Effective
If you have an outdoor deck, you’d understand the pain and cost involved in painting the deck. Or an exterior door even. If you’ve ever wondered why people didn’t paint their exterior doors a whimsical color, wonder no more. It is because when paint is exposed to the elements, it starts to weather and chip away. This does not only affect the appearance of your wood, but it also takes away from its structural integrity by exposing it to the elements.
A good sealant on the contrary is much cheaper to apply and last for much longer before maintenance becomes necessary.
4. Aesthetical value
The aesthetical value of wood often lies in its natural look. If you’re looking for more protection, then staining wood is to be preferred over painting wood. With stain, the grain of wood remains visible. Now, before you chalk it away as the boring option, stains are also available in a variety of color and tints. If you’d prefer a more natural look, then you can always go for an un-tinted and uncolored stain. Staining provides a lot of room for customization as well.
5. Time Saving
Leaving wood in the elements without any coating is clearly a bad idea, not just from an aesthetic point of view, but also from a safety point of view. When it comes to choosing between stain and paint – which one is easier to maintain and apply? The natural winner between the two is stain. A wood stain can often be used without a primer, therefore saving on time and money. Stains overall are easier to maintain and apply.
While the need for maintenance does vary with climate and product, even heavily exposed wooden doors are likely to require re-staining once every few years.
The benefits of stains are numerous and impressive. While there are many options available in the market how do you choose the right type of stain for your project? Well, we are here to help you out. These are the four factors to keep in mind while buying the right type of wooden stain for your project -
1. Color Preference
As we discussed briefly earlier in this article, wood stains and coatings are available in a variety of different colors and finishes. While choosing a stain you must ask yourself if you need the stain to match the exterior house colors such as the fences and deck or would you rather have them be complimentary? If you need more help picking out some ideas, you can always do a quick google search!
2. Coverage of the stain
When we talk about stain coverage, it is important to decide between a light or a heavy one. Are you looking for something that will allow the grain of the wood to shine through or something to shine over it?
3. Source of Light
The type of light that hits your wood is an important factor in deciding what type of sealant or stain you would prefer for your wood. It will also affect the need to sand and clean your wood, so that you can assess with accuracy how a particular stain affects its appearance.
4. Type of Wood
Last but not the least, the type of wood you have greatly affects your decision to invest in a stain. Stain reacts to all wood differently; even the same piece of wood can take on different hues and tints. The key is to adjust the stain with thinners and other colours of stain. It's done trial and error, but it’s the only way you can match colours accurately.
Buying the perfect wood stain can be a harrowing process. But in the end, it is totally worth it. You not only save time but save money as well by picking the right kind of stain for your woodwork.
At Wittswood we carry a few different varieties of wood stains and coatings.
Leave us a comment if you liked our ideas or even better, send us some pictures if you do pick up an idea from our blog.
At Wittswood, our external oak ledge and brace doors are one of our customer all-time favourites! Check out our newly added barn sliding doors that are on their way to become the #1 bestsellers!
If you’re not completely satisfied with what you are looking for, you can place a bespoke order with us as well! Contact us TODAY!
We also offer a range of other exterior doors, interior doors, as well as gates which can be made bespoke to fit your needs. You can have a look at our exterior doors here - Exterior Doors, our Interior Doors our Gates!
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