Keep the Wood In & Around Your Home Looking Great with the Right Stains & Preservatives

Whether you’re staining an end table or redoing your deck, it’s essential to choose the right wood stain for the job. Water-based stains are ideal for interior projects like hardwood flooring and trim. They dry quickly and are less likely to create toxic fumes during application. The water content may raise the grain of the wood, so be sure to sand thoroughly before applying a good wood sealer or preservative. Oil-based stains naturally repel water, making them a good choice for decks and fences. However, they do contain chemicals which help the oil and pigments to blend so be sure to wear breathing protection during application. Clear polyurethane or varnish are both good wood preservative options.

Gel stains also contain oil but they’re less messy because the gel won’t drip, splatter, or run. You still need adequate ventilation when applying, and use turpentine or mineral spirits for cleanup. Varnish stain is also available. This two-in-one, time-saving product contains oil, solvents, pigments, and resins to both dye the wood grain and also form a hard protective coating. Varnish stain should be applied with a brush to avoid tiny bubbles caused by spraying. A careful, uniform application should give you a smooth surface without any blotches or colour discrepancies.