Paint vs Stain - Should you Paint Or Stain your Exterior Wood?

Josh Richards • Nov 19, 2022

Homeowners are often faced with the challenge of choosing between paint and solid stain when finishing their exterior wood. Exterior wood is considered the most effective way to add beauty and protection to your home. It also adds an authentic and warm feel to homes. If you'd like to preserve the beauty of wood, it must be regularly stained or painted.

The stain or paint will stop wood rot, moisture, and pests from entering. Additionally, it keeps your home siding looking great. But the main issue is whether to choose stain or paint to maintain your home.

In this blog, we'll look at paint compared to stain and their advantages and disadvantages for your exterior wood. Whatever you decide to go with, using the best top-quality materials is highly advised.

So, which is better? Paint or stain the better choice for exterior wood? Let's have a look.

When it comes time to choose between stain and paint, it is essential to know their differences. Solid-coloured stains are similar to the standard paint. Both are an appearance of a coating on wood's surface. These kinds of paints or stains won't be able to penetrate the wood. They can be found in various colours and provide lumber siding with the longest lasting and most complete protection. Let's look at the differences in depth.

The difference Between Paint and Stain

With our naked eyes, paint and solid stains aren't any different as they are nearly identical. Solid stain and paint form a layer on the wood surface on which they're applied. They do not tend to get into the wood. Both paint and solid stain can be found in almost any colour, providing the longest-lasting and most durable protection for sidings on houses.

However,the most significant benefit of stain is that it expands and contracts with wood and helps manage the weather's changes more effectively. As compared to paint stain is more breathable and permit excellent airflow in the wood. In comparison, the paint can dry faster in a thick coat, providing a more significant protection layer.

Benefits and drawbacks of using paint and stain on exterior wood
Painting Wood

Paint can be used on any property, and it's outdoors or indoors. Paint is available in a broad range of colours, so you'll be able to pick the best colour for your wood exterior. Combining exterior elements in similar colours can create an impressive and striking appearance. Paint can also hide imperfections in your wood exterior better than staining. It's simple to maintain with good paint lasting about ten years.

But, there are disadvantages; for instance, painting may hide the natural beauty of the exterior wood, which can be a beautiful asset to your home. Additionally, painting can be more expensive than stain, mainly when you include the preservative for wood and primer. Although it is easier to paint over the stain job, the reverse isn't as straightforward. Staining over painted finishes is more laborious and time-consuming, so painting is typically an ongoing decision. Paint suffocates the wood and it will cause cracking, chipping and warping.

Staining Wood

Staining maintains its beautiful natural wood and protects it from damage by the elements. It works from the inside put working as a conditioner in the wood. It prevents cracking, chipping, and warping. These are the advantages and disadvantages of staining exterior wood. With staining, it is possible to decide on the level of opacity, and it's up to you what percentage of the natural wood shines through. A high-quality stain will also shield your wood from moisture and decay. Stain isn't as slippery as paint, making it an excellent choice for decking when safety is a top priority for you. Stain is also a more affordable option than painting.

Although it's not expensive, the reality is that the stain will not last for as long. Exterior wood must be stained once every few years, which is a significant disadvantage to painting. Furthermore, the stain will not conceal the imperfections of the exterior wood and the paint itself, so it is something to consider when your wood is old and weathered. In addition, not all kinds of wood are suitable for staining, such as tropical hardwoods.

Why Staining Exterior Wood is Better Than Painting?

Exterior wood is the most durable and appealing siding material used in many houses; however, it needs protection from moisture and sunlight. There are generally two choices for finishing wood siding. There are two choices: paint or stain. Which is the best option, dependent on various factors, including your personal preferences in appearance and maintenance? In addition, the condition of your siding is also crucial.

The main benefit of staining is that it expands and contracts more following the wood and will withstand weather changes best. Additionally, the stain is more breathable and lets air flow naturally through the siding. On the contrary side, paint usually produces an extremely dry, thicker coating that creates solid protection.

Although staining requires more frequent application than paint, yet it requires less maintenance to maintain its attractive appearance. Even when the stain age and gets weathered, it fades gradually. This means it is possible to refresh the appearance with a simple wash of clothing and a fresh coat of stain. However, the paint will eventually break or peel with age; it can cause the appearance of your siding to dull. Additionally, oil-based semi-transparent staining can get into the wood and are porous. They're not likely to peel or blister over time.

Summary

In the case of paints versus staining, it's crucial to differentiate between the two slightly. Solid-color staining is almost identical to regular paints, as they both are an emulsion on the wood's surface and do not penetrate the wood. They can be found in any colour and offer the longest-lasting and best protection for wood. The benefit of staining is that it expands and contracts in accordance with the wood, which will endure the changing weather more quickly. It is also more breathable and allows natural air to flow throughout the wood. The paint will dry in a thick coat, creating an even more sustainable barrier.

The Decision Is Yours

This blog post has provided you with an understanding about the different aspects of staining and painting. In the case of paint vs. stain, regardless of the option you decide to go with, the reality is both of them are fantastic and beautiful options, however, it depends on the need for exterior woods.

To get the high-quality wood staining service, choose Precision Staining. We only use the finest quality materials to ensure that your exterior wood is beautiful. If you're located in Orlando, Florida, give us a phone call and set up an appointment.

FAQ
Stain or Paint - Which Product To Use?

It is recommended that you stick with the same substance that was applied previously regardless of whether it was stain or paint. This is particularly important when you've recently painted siding as it will require lots of priming and sanding to stain the siding that was painted. If your home was stained previously and painted, it's not difficult to change to painting.

In general, if you live in an older house and you are choosing a siding material for your siding needs to be determined by your expectations regarding how it's going to appear and the frequency of maintenance. If you're looking to get the best of the standard quality of your wood siding, make use of semi-transparent stain. In contrast to achieve a consistent colour and better protection, use stain with solid colors since they require less maintenance. If you require a more durable security, opt for paint.

Can I stain over paint?

The majority of people who own painted homes, keep painting it to preserve it. However, if your home is covered with a number of coats of paint and we start to worry about its weight. If the paint is excessively heavy, then it will "unbond" from the wood and the coatings of the paint could break. So, if we apply two coats of paint over a thick layer the paint that is already in place, this "bundle" of paint may be even more heavy and break or fail to bond with the wood. In such cases we could consider adding stain to the paint. Although the stain won't soak onto the wooden surface (the paint film will block this) The thin pigment of the stain acts as a light color layer over the paint's "heavy" layers of paint.

If you want to stain something which has been painted in order to see the grain of wood again and to see the wood grain again, we can either mechanically or chemically remove the paint prior to applying stain. It is a costly and time-consuming procedure that could be considered as part of a historic home improvement or if the homeowner has a stunning wood deck that they want to see the wood grain on it.

Should I Use Solid Stain or Exterior Paint?

When you're deciding whether to apply stain or paint for your home, ensure you take into account the area you're coating. The most effective times to apply solid stain is when the wood that is being coated is new. Solid stain absorbs into wood faster than paint and functions like a primer but it isn't able to function similarly when it is applied to an already painted surface. The new shake shingles, cedar siding and fencing offer fantastic opportunities to apply a solid stain since it can be used to seal the wood without need for a primer which saves time and money in the amount of coats needed to complete the task. While it's not always the most effective option when applying solid stain on top of paint, it's relatively easy to paint over solid stain. This means that solid stains are often an excellent choice during the initial couple of years of a brand new fence's or home's life.

Although solid stain comes with advantages, paint provides more protection, durability and a greater colors. Solid stain fades quicker than paint, which means it will require a paint it more frequently. If it is applied to the surface that has been sealed or painted the solid stain will often appear to be similar to paint, however with a shorter life span and less protection and may not offer the benefits of premium exterior paint. This is why paint is typically the most effective choice however, solid stain may be beneficial when someone wants to preserve the look of wood, and the surface that is being stained is unfinished.

If you'd like to know more details about the difference between solid stain and exterior paint and the best choices you can choose for your residence, or know more about our offerings. Contact the expert group at Precision Staining.