Wood stain colors enhance the beauty of all wood species, whether it be hardwoods, or soft and porous like redwood and cedar. Always, there is a perfect wood stain color for each project. However, using the wrong one will have devastating results that are quite difficult to fix.
Put in mind what results you are after. Are you going for traditional or a more daring look? Do you have enough time for the look you want? How about something easier to use?
Different kinds of wood stain colors
1. Pigmented Stains- contains pigments mixed with a binder. They give off a dramatic color but sometimes hide the wood’s more subtle features.
2. Dye Stains- uses dyes. It does not hide the wood’s delicate features and are best for transparent and bright effects.
3. Oil based- oil base wood stain color is usually easier to use, the longer drying time giving more color control
4. Water based- water based wood stain colors allow a quick finish and has no lingering odor.
Major Types
Interior use- interior wood stain color needs a protective top coat so as to be protected from the weather.
It provides lavish color all the while letting the grain and brilliance that is natural to the wood show. It includes wiping and gel stain with dye stain. These need a number of steps during their application and require the use of a sealer to give protection to your stained wood from the damage sunlight and water would bring to it. Maintenance should be given to all interior wood color stain finishes to maintain the rich and vibrant colors.
Another choice is the pigmented finish. This finish is applied until the color you desire is attained with light standing in between each coat.
Exterior use- exterior wood stain color does not need the additional clear finish. It has a built in protection.
They are extremely unlike products when compared to the interior wood stain color. These exterior wood stain colors can range from solid wood stain color, to semi-transparent wood stain color, to the natural translucent wood stain color.
The semi-transparent and the opaque or solid wood stain color have the highest ultra violet (UV) protection. What is more, it does not need a varnish or clear finish to ensure color retention.
The amount of ultra violet protection is directly proportional to the amount of color of an exterior wood stain color.
