“Most paints are generally applied in multiple coats, allowing the coats to dry between applications. “A stain is not paint and should not be applied in the same manner,” he says. Just because they have a paintbrush in common, stains and paints are not created equal, Gradisher says. What to do about it? Byrd says one easy solution is to spot-sand the area, and then re-sand the entire surface, and reseal with a clear finish. This causes the wood to absorb the stain more readily, and discolor. Fact is, when wood gets wet, the grain rises and expands where the water has touched. Unless it’s still in tree form and rooted in the ground, wood doesn’t like water. “However, in today’s world, your polyurethanes, lacquers, and some types of marine varnish are just not going to accept oil on top of them to condition it.”įor those types of wood, Byrd suggests just using a microfiber cloth that is dampened slightly with water. You’re not helping it, you’re really degrading it.”īyrd says orange-based products do have their place in treating wood, such as with older wood finishes that do not have a true clear finish. All you’re doing is making the wood sticky. “Also, if you’re painting something that might have aluminum oxide on it it doesn’t need to be treated with an orange-based oil. But what you’re really doing, especially treating wood finished in a water-based or oil-based polyurethane, is breaking down the finish. “Everyone wants to apply Murphy’s Oil Soap or one of these orange oils. “When this is the case, applying an oil is really not going to help you,” Byrd says. “This will eliminate the need for higher pressure and reduce the likelihood of damage to the wood during the cleaning process,” he says.Īnother common problem that Byrd frequently sees on the job is treating wood without a true clear finish. He recommends using a cleaner and brightener product, in conjunction with pressure washing. Gradisher says if the customer wants to use pressure washing, it should not be the primary means of cleaning, but rather a means for rinsing the cleaner from the wood. “The wood should be cleaned with a chemical cleaner.” “The most common cause of this is inadequate cleaning of the wood prior to the application of stain,” he says. No painter wants to see a blotchy or uneven finish, but this can be another problem of staining, says Gradisher. If a spray applicator is used, back-brush or back-roll to improve penetration and uniformity of appearance.” Always stain the entire length of a deck board or horizontal siding board to a logical break, such as a door or window, and do not stop in the middle of a board. “Staining too large an area at one time can also cause lap marks. “To prevent lap marks, mix all stains thoroughly beforehand, and periodically during the application,” he says. He says another cause of lap marks can be inadequate stirring of the stain prior to the application.
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Gradisher says the ideal time to apply stain is when the temperature is between 50º and 90º F, but never apply it in direct sunlight. The most common cause is finishing the wood when it is too hot or windy.”
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“These occur when wet and dry layers overlap during staining. “Lap marks are one of the more common staining problems,” says Bill Gradisher, a technical expert in the R&D department at PPG Architectural Coatings. One of the most persistent problems pros encounter on a job is lap marks. Stain will not cover gray wood you have to sand it down to fresh wood, or use a chemical wash you can even use bleach and water to neutralize the gray.” “The customer had bought the cabinets installed and didn’t realize what he was buying. “I had a customer who purchased installed cabinetry that had been exposed to water at some point, causing the wood to turn gray,” Byrd says. It can cause you more problems in treating and finishing it.”īyrd understands the challenges of one of Mother Nature’s favorite sons, wood, and the havoc the elements can play with a wood finish. “And what we’re seeing today isn’t always the best wood, even if you’re using high-end materials. “Wood is a natural material, and wood will do what wood wants to do,” says Ken Byrd, owner of Redlands, CA-based America Painting Company. Just ask any commercial or residential painter. The common drink coaster might not have the cache of a tech-muscled home security system, but just watch it stop a cold-beer stain from rendering a $2,500 redwood patio table an embarrassment.Īs simple as it sounds, it is indicative of how fickle wood finishes can be.