| Wood stains are still part of the category of paint. | | | | the two is that stains have a pigment or a dye. |
| It even still has the same formulation of binder, | | | | Varnishes do not have pigments, as it is colorless |
| dye, and solvent. However, these have a lesser | | | | when applied. However, these two come hand in |
| amount of binder in it. The idea of why these | | | | hand when doing floor finishing and furniture. The |
| stains are invented is to allow paint to seep even | | | | stain provides the color while the varnish add the |
| through holes and pores of wood. Unlike paint, it | | | | gloss and the overall polished finish. As a matter |
| does not create a film covering the whole | | | | of fact, some products in the market combine |
| surface. It assumes the form of the painted | | | | varnishes and stains for easy use. With this, you |
| material thereby creating a more authentic look | | | | do not have to apply two materials on separate |
| rather than a plain and homogeneous finish. | | | | coatings. It can be done with just one coating. |
| The varieties of stains differ in its viscosity. They | | | | The degree of difficulty of using stains depends |
| range from very thin to very thick. The thicker | | | | on the kind of wood to used. Some woods are |
| variety is known as siding stains. It is typically a | | | | more porous than the others. Aged wood stains |
| paint that does not cover a surface by forming a | | | | well compared to green lumber wood. Some may |
| film. The advantages of using siding stains include:a. | | | | require a little more effort in staining while some |
| Its design is aimed at penetrating the to-be | | | | do not. Another factor to consider is the current |
| painted material less effectively than paint.b. It | | | | weather conditions. Some stains are really fast |
| protects the wood from the harsh UV rays of | | | | drying making it undesirable to use during hot and |
| the sun thereby preserving and making it last | | | | sunny climate. The last factor is the type of stain |
| longer.c. It stops water from seeping through the | | | | to be used. The viscosity of the stain is to be |
| wood or any other material lessening its chance | | | | considered because only the right amount of |
| to disintegrate easily.d. It prevents the proliferation | | | | viscosity would yield the perfect result to your |
| of mildew and fungi again making the wood last | | | | wood. |
| longer that expected.e. It slows downs the attack | | | | Now back to the question if it is better than paint |
| of termites and another wood-eating insects. | | | | itself. The answer is it all really depends. There are |
| Now the question is what makes it different from | | | | construction works that would ideally require paint |
| lacquer or varnish? The only difference between | | | | while others would call for the services of a stain. |