6 Wood Finishing Myths You Should Stop Believing

Time and material cost spent in a woodworking project have the ability to turn the final finishing stage into a stressed situation. There are range of ideas you can click when concerned about finishing. Take a look at the usual wood finishing myths along with the actual concepts. Do read it, as you may come across some really useful details about wood finishing products.

1. Myth:Finishing on both sides of wood prevents or decreases warping.
   Fact: Finishing only slows but doesn’t reduce or prevent warping that results from wood shrinking. This is because moisture vapor goes through the finish and leads to warping up to an extent. Warping that’s caused by compression shrinkage on areas open to wetting & drying are not hindered.

2. Myth: For better results, sand to #440 or finer grit.
   Fact: Wood sanded to #440-grit has high gloss as compared to wood sanded to #180-grit, as #440-grit polishes more than #180-grit. However, no major difference is seen after application of any film finish. How about trying it and seeing how many hours you save.

3. Myth:Slow brushing leads to best results.
   Fact: Slow performance isn’t appreciated anywhere. Hence, brushing needs to be done rapidly. Make sure maintaining the control.

4. Myth:Brush should be applied across the grain first and then with the grain.
   Fact: You can opt for slow-curing finishes, like varnishes. Though you may get a coat that’s little more even in thickness but it won’t be visible.

5. Myth:The longer deck stain colors are left on the wood, the deeper they soak in the wood and the darker the wood turns.
   Fact: Yes, wood turns darker when stain is left for longer but the reason is different. Actually, some of the thinner in the stain evaporates, which increases the ratio of colorant to liquid. With high concentrations of colorant, darker colors are produced.

6. Myth:Apply and wipe off stain with the grain.
   Fact: When excess stain is wiped off, direction of stain application doesn’t matter. Also, it doesn’t matter in which direction stain is wiped off. What matters is making final pass with the grain, to ensure that streaks left are not noticeable.

Stop following anything you just hear from someone. Trust the proven results that have been explained to you quite clearly. Good luck!

 

The Role Of Temperature In Staining Outdoor Wood With Perfection

Nobody could ever deny the importance of staining his outdoor wood assets. From decks and patios to benches and railings everything should be treated with superior quality of wood finishing products. It is essential not only for defending them from decay but also they appear as beautiful as new after this.

When homeowners are keen to add to the curb appeal of their property they can select the best from variety of deck stain colors and apply them on the lumber. For staining you can hire professionals or you may keep the job with you if you have got the right tools, enough patience and time and most importantly knowledge of temperature.

Did you read it right? Was it knowledge of temperature? Yes it is all about temperature at the time when you took up the task of staining your external wood. For beginners it can be perfect to plan it on a weekend. After you get up late in the morning, naturally because it is a holiday, you spend some leisure time with your spouse and kids in preparing luxury breakfast. Post breakfast it may again take half an hour to one hour in collecting the things that will assist you in cleaning and staining your deck. Stop if it is already 1 or 2 in the clock. Many of you may ask why?

Well it is important to look for an ideal temperature so as to get the best staining results. For many homeowners it may come as a surprise that they should make use of deck sealer and stain after looking the weather forecast.

Noteworthy Points That Relate Temperature and Staining

1. High temperature may not be conducive for staining schedule as stain may dry too quickly. This will not allow penetration of stain deep into wood and therefore it is important to choose a day when temperature is either less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit or stain early in the morning.
2. A cloudy day is much better choice than a sunny day to stain your outdoor wood, but if rains are predictable refrain yourself from staining. Moisture and rain will not let the stain dry and it might get washed away with a pour.

 

Summer Special Tips For Staining Outdoor Wood

For deck owners summertime is deck time. Modern American homeowners understand the significance of their decks and patios. They are not mere extensions of your living space but they are perfect spots for all family gatherings and BBQs. This is possibly why they buy best of stain colors to beautify the wood decks and keep them in best state.

External wood especially that forms your deck is exposed to lot much of physical abuse. It is undoubtedly the highest traffic area of your house and is not spared from the Sun, wind, snow and much more on any given day.

What Comes Before Beautification of Deck?

Summer season is not difficult for human but for your wood too. While your expectations from your lumber patio and decks are high, they in turn need to be properly maintained and prepared for summer gatherings with the help of best quality of deck stain and sealer. You can do a lot like adding hanging pots to your deck for giving it a cool look. Some home owners prefer to shade it up with big and beautiful umbrellas while others bring some artificial fountains to give it special effects. From seating arrangements to lighting you can make it favorite spot for all because it is suitable to host friends’ reunion or family get together. But in absence of below mentioned small but very important steps it can all prove to be a failure.

Look out for dangerous signs. Your wood is subject to rotting and cupping. These when avoided can bring up the cases of injuries and tripping. Get them mended before you get into cleaning and staining your wood surface.

Ask questions to professionals. They know the best what kind of wood finishing products will suit the local climate. In many areas oil based premium wood deck finish will serve for two years or so.

Get engaged in cleaning. Don’t let the BBQ stains settle on wood surface. Clean the spills immediately as grease is not good for the finish. Make sure you don’t leave the debris over a week.

To help it look young and strong season after season you should do a lot when it comes to care and maintenance of timber deck.

Choose The Right Brush For Wood Finishing

Are you planning to buy wood finishes to improve the life and enhance the beauty of your wooden furniture or deck? If yes, apart from buying the best finish, you need to be careful about few things. What are they? Read further to know it and so much more.

There’s no denying that finishing products are possible to be applied with brushes, clean rags and various other applicators. However, for best results and clear look, use the right brush is the best deal. Want to know what is special about a brush? Check out the below given reasons:

• High-quality brush is able to carry more wood finish
• It gives neat work with negligible runs and dips
• It does not leave bristles in the finish
• It responds very well to cleaning and storage
• It can be reused
• It lasts longer

So, any brush can do all these? Well, the answer is no. You have to be very careful in choosing the right brush. Want to know how to do that? Take a look at the below given characteristics:

• It gives a well-balanced feel
• It has flexible, silky and long bristles of varying lengths
• It has bristles with flagged or split tips
• It is made with a non-corrosive metal or plastic ferrule
• It has tapered and well-secured bristles

By now its clear that you need to be careful regarding the quality of the brush when it comes to get neat and appealing finish. However, you must keep in mind what kind of project you are going to undertake. For example, whether you are working with oil-based finish or water-based.

If working with water-based stains and finishes, use brush with synthetic bristles for water-based stains and finishes. As far as oil-based products are concerned, use good quality natural bristle brush.

With this, it’s a wrap. Get up now and buy the proven and environment friendly wood finishing products. And yes, keep these points in mind for the best brush.

3 Reasons To Buy Superior Wood Finishing Products

While planning and building wood-based structures and flooring, paying attention to wood finishes is as important as paying attention to the design and materials. Finishes come in a wide variety of preparations including liquid, paste or gel and are mostly applied thinly on the wooden surface.

As far as general types of finishes are concerned, they have two general types:

1. That create a thin coating in the wooden surface
2. Mixtures that penetrate in the wooden material

It’s good to know that best products cost a few hundred dollars and may consume time. However, when it comes to preserve or enhance the value of wooden surface, this is a major requisite.

Let’s take a look at three reasons buying quality wood finishing products makes sense.

1. To keep the floor clean: If the wooden flooring is prone to heavy foot traffic as well as plenty of household activities, dirt and grime can easily accumulate and clog the pores. Not only it will give an unattractive appeal but also pose health risks owing to bacteria. With a reliable finish, the porous surface can be sealed, thereby, giving a clean look.
2. To enhance the look: To protect the material’s texture, the coat must be thin, as it gives the natural look. To achieve this, use varnish or lacquer. Talking about changing texture of the wood, fill the pores and apply multiple coating before scraping.
   Not to forget, finishes also add a dash of color in the wooden materials, which is possible through staining.

3. To stabilize wooden material: Always invest in high-quality wood coating and finishes. There are many products that are exclusively designed for various surfaces including decks. They create a protective shield against distortion and cracking. Don’t forget, thicker coat refers to limited moisture exchange.

Adding a finish and coating can be done anytime you are ready. You may find the project expensive and time laborious but it is essential to keep your wooden stuff lively for long. Just like finishes, be careful when working with wood stain colors. Take ample time and buy the best ones.

How Hiring Deck Staining Professionals Save Your Money?

Home owners who have decks at their homes enjoy advantage of additional living space. While in cold evenings they can enjoy a mug of coffee there, summer evenings witness cool indoor games sessions played among family and friends. Wood decks add to the aesthetic appeal of your property from the selling point of view too. However you cannot ignore the deck maintenance as the consequences can be multiple and serious. Besides purchasing eco-friendly deck stain and sealer there is a lot you can do for your wood. Don’t go anywhere and check it out right below.

How To Maintain Well Stained Deck?

A properly maintained wood deck enhances its beauty. Staining deck is the best way to extend the lifespan of the wood deck too. Of course wood finish used should be of premium quality but would you be able to complete the process of staining on your own? You can either consider it as a DIY project trying your hands on it or professional assistance can be sought.

Looking at it superficially you may think that hiring professional will be an expensive affair. On the contrary hiring a deck staining expert will help you save lot on your side. It will save enormous stress that you will go through while taking up the job. You will have to start from scratch like cleaning and buying the tools.

Since you do not have professional exposure of staining you will not be able to get the desired results even from the best of wood stain colors. Deck staining is a long procedure that needs lots of patience to perform the job with consistency. As mentioned earlier you might not have all the required tools also. Moreover the time consumed in the whole process can be better utilized by you. Deck staining professionals can stain your deck in less of time and with less of wastage of stain colors and other products.

Vibrant Wood Finish Paints You Will Fall in Love With

Are you planning to design your room? Why not start doing it from the ground up? One of the best ways to add beauty and value to any property is with wood floors. The vast collection of wood care products such as stains and wood paint available these days keep the floor durable and beautiful.

Hardwood Floor Color

We all want perfect colors in our home, especially on striking points like hardwood floors. The stunning options available allow one to mix and match colors and find something that will match their expectations.

The first thing that is important while working with stains is testing the color on a scrap wood first. However, this wood must be of the same species as the floor.

The beauty of wood

Now it is very important to keep in mind that the beauty of wood is nothing but its natural variation. Stain color that’s used determines the finished appearance of the wood. Moreover, species of wood that is being finished, pre-treatments performed and quantity of stain applied also play crucial role. You may not know that even two pieces of same species can differ in natural color which therefore, has a lot to do with the final perception.

Floor staining can be done within a short span of time and transforms the whole look of the floor. However, it should be done before the finished is applied.

The Appealing Benefits

When working with new floor installation, nothing could be better than staining to bring the space to life. Take a look at the major benefits of staining:

• Impressive Appearance:Stain colors instantly add sophistication and an element of drama to the space. Dark colors are in trend these days and give a lasting impression that charms everyone.

• Mock Different Wood Types: Yes, you may not realize but this fact is true. Staining has the ability to mimic several types of wood. Whether you want cherry tone, oak tone or walnut tone, just apply the right stain and there you are with the desired results. 

• Accentuate the Space:Adding comfort and warmth to the home can be done with stains. Also, it accentuates the grain of the hardwood flooring and creates a rustic & cozy feel to the space.

What are you waiting for? Choose the right stain or wood finish paint if painting is what you want to do and improve the look of your flooring which will eventually enhance the beauty of your place. Let the right colors give your home a new definition and meaning in every way possible.

Encompass Safety Tips in DIY Deck Staining Projects

Staining wood is decades old practice for protecting, enriching and extending its life span. The wood decks are revived either with the application of deck stains or wood paint. Both the given options have their own set of pros and cons. While wood paint offers better life, stains come in budget of every deck owner. This takes second to nothing that you should take best care of wood deck so that it continues to enhance the curb appeal of your sweet home. At the same time deck owners get troubled with the call to take between hiring staining professional or take up the project on his own. For many reasons, the price factor in center, D-I-Y staining is preferred by a large number of deck owners. When you deal with wood finish paint with your soft hands, you are vulnerable to lot many related troubles, allergic reactions just to begin with.

Project Yourself Too While Protecting Wood

Staining is somewhat easy if you stay protected all the while. The experts share some great tips to use when you decide to stain the wood yourself. These effective and useful tips are mentioned below for your perusal.

• Start from the basics and simple things.Don’t get yourself stained. You should wear old clothes while staining the deck and fences. As there are high chances of getting the stain on clothes, use old clothing only. Tie your hair in a tight bun and wrap it with the cotton scarf or cloth. Make sure you wear safety glasses to keep stain out of your eyes.
• Keep the stain away from fire and dispose the used rags. You may not be aware that the stains are inflammable and can catch fire easily. If you make use of any rags for cleaning the stain or reaching in the gaps between boards, dip them in bucket of water before disposing them in dustbin. This way they will not be catching fire.
• You may feel light headed so inhale fresh air going at a distance from the deck and stains.
• Always use best wood deck paint, and especially when you have kids around you cannot take chance with quality of the stains.

New Solid Steps To Enriched Deck

Like every other part of your house, your wood deck also needs proper maintenance. Failure in protecting it from the harmful Sun rays would lead to before time fading of the wood’s natural shine and depreciate the life of the deck at the same time. It is important that you enhance the look of your deck with wood finish and increase the life of the wood.Staining is significant to complement the look of your home exterior. The wood stain colors impart beautiful colors to your deck floor and fences and also they protect the wood used in building the deck from rotting and warping. While building a deck, the deck owners should be aware of the fact that it will require regular maintenance such as staining.

What You Need To Know About Staining Deck?

Your deck is always exposed to the natural elements that are harsh enough to cause damages to the wood. It is not as simple as applying any exterior wood stain to your wood floor but it takes a lot more than this to protect your wood from the ill effects of them. It does not matter whether the deck is new or old when it comes to do the preparation for staining. You need to have a thoroughly cleaned surface to stain. Start from sweeping it and follow it with pressure clean. This should be aimed at removal of mill scale, mildew or mold accumulated on it. Old decks need special cleaning as the possibilities of accumulation of dirt and debris are much more than a new surface. Proper cleaning ensures that the wood floor stains are properly absorbed. It is equally important to leave the surface after the application of stain for minimum 24 hours to let the stain penetrate deep in the wood.

DIY Versus Experts

It is very much possible for you to stain your deck on your own. The only fact related to staining is that it needs high level of patience and professionalism to complete the job to the level of perfection. Years of experience with experts make them qualified for the job of staining.

Time and Temperature Make the Best Time for Staining

To withstand the harsh conditions of American weather your deck needs your attention and best deck stain. It should appear good and it should be durable too because it has to deal with a lot of traffic coming in a home. The decks which are the extensions to living areas or are the part of backyards are the most used in comparison to the garden patios. Applying premium quality of wood deck stain will ensure the extended life of your wood. While many homeowners trust the professionals to take care of their deck few others have the skills and the tools in their homes to take up the deck staining project on their own. No matter you do it on your own or you hire a staining professional, you should know that time and temperature influence the results utmost.

When To Stain The Wood?

Wood used in your deck and fences has to deal with the harsh realities of the outer world. You cannot treat them anytime that is convenient for you like wood furniture kept inside your house. Deck stains used by the homeowners may not give the desired results when the preparation and the application are not proper.

The best time to stain your deck would be when the two factors- time and temperature work well with each other. It will depend on the size of the deck that how much time is required to stain the deck. On an average two days at the minimum are required to prepare and stain the deck. Preparation primarily revolves around the removal of the heavy objects and power wash the dust, dirt and debris from the wood surface.

Many homeowners don’t realize that summers are not ideal for staining the deck. You need the stains to be absorbed properly so that they stay for long. Higher temperatures and direct sunlight don’t allow the stain to dry on its own. Mild temperatures like early in the morning and later in the afternoon can be your choice in colder months when there is no direct sunlight.