Deck staining, which is better? Oil stain versus latex stain?

Don’t know which type of stain you should use when doing deck staining? Read on and learn the ins and outs of both oil and latex stain.

Deck Staining

Not only is the type of stain but the quality of the stain is important. Our Toronto deck building and power washing and staining service have painted both and the process is basically the same. It’s all in the preparation work prior to staining. Power washing only in some cases will not be enough preparation work. We always power wash and sand where the sanding is important because what it does is it opens up and allows the stain to penetrate properly. But if the wood fibers are closed they won’t allow steam to penetrate so that is the reason why sanding is important. Another thing to think about and no is better to do this work during drier parts of the season. When the wood is moist and damp it won’t allow deep penetration of the stain. So when the ward has been sitting in the sun and air drying it will take the stain the best.

Latex exterior stains

every year are getting better and better with newer technology and chemistry. There are more factors involved than just making a straight stain because also the stain has to be environmentally friendly. And at the beginning with stains and actually latex house paints the quality wasn’t as good as it was with oil paints but now with new technology, they are improving rapidly.

Deck Staining

deck sanding and staining are one of our specialties here in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill areas.

Types There are two main types of oil-based stain and one main category of latex stain. Bleaching oil-based stains make wood appear grayish and naturally weathered, according to Iowa State University. They help give the wood an even color and kill mold and mildew. Pigmented oil stains and latex stains come in a variety of colors to give wood different tints. Oil-based pigmented stains come in thicker and thinner finishes, which have more or less of a coloring effect and allow less or more of the natural wood grain to show through.

Appearance Latex deck staining almost always has a solid color appearance, while oil-based stains range from very transparent to solid, according to Iowa State University. Some transparent latex stains exist, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but they coat the wood rather than soaking into it as transparent oil-based stains do.

Therefore, transparent or semi-transparent oil-based stains can often give a more natural appearance than latex-based stains.
Oil-based solid (opaque) stains tend to coat wood similarly to latex-based stains, but transparent oil-based stains tend to soak into wood without leaving much of a layer over its surface.
Weathering

Semitransparent latex stains tend to form a very thin protective coat on wood and are prone to cracking in extreme weather conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Opaque

(solid) latex stains form a thicker, yet flexible layer of protection over the wood, which does not crack as easily as semitransparent latex stain or opaque oil-based stain.
Solid oil stains

tend to crack easily unless exterior wood gets several coats of the stain.
Semitransparent oil-based stains

soak into the wood and, therefore, do not crack or peel under extreme weather conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They will fade with time but are very easy to reapply.

Lasting Power

Lowes.com explains that latex stains tend to last longer than penetrating oil-based stains. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that if a latex stain does peel, cracks and layers of other stains may show easily through a new coat of latex stain. Penetrating (semi-translucent) oil stains, however, go on easily over the old weathered stain and blend relatively well. Other Differences Latex stains deter mold more than oil-based stains, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Latex stains, do, however, have a downside of showing lap marks more often than oil-based stains.

via Exterior Wood Stain Oils Vs. Latex | eHow.

Deck Washing and Cleaning

We can power wash for the general cleaning of your deck and we make sure your deck screws are below the level for safety and we check all your deck boards for quality ensuring that there is no rot or broken boards. In some cases, we apply two coats of stain when we are doing the horizontal parts of your deck. For more info on  focus, too much mapDeck staining exterior wood staining on fences and decks called Vic at 416-568-3547