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.

Deck Staining Tips For Beginners

Have you moved into a new house that comes with a deck or patio? Or you have recently got one constructed for your family? Whichever is your reason to read this blog you certainly need tips related to wood finishing products to save your time, efforts and of course money.

Before you start with it even in your head, make sure you stick to the instructions given by manufacturer. Wood decks are beautiful but highly delicate. Their maintenance is highly important considering the physical abuse they are exposed to.

What All Deck Owners Should Know?

• Owning deck of your own means an extra space to enjoy and relax. Selection of right deck stain and sealer can rule the possibilities of having beautiful and well maintained deck.
  It is important that you pick quality stains from the myriads of options available in market. Don’t compromise with the quality of the stains and sealants you use. Use natural compounds that contain very low volatile organic compounds with deep penetration properties.

• Prepping up is most important. Your wood should be more than ready to be stained. You cannot only beautify your wood with cleaning and staining the wood deck but also add years to the life of your wood deck. How you can treat wood with sealants if it is not dried up. Allow the deck to dry for at least 48 hours. Clean the deck before staining. You must have adequate time gap between rain and staining process.
• Perform test stain. Before you apply the wood stain colors to the whole deck surface it is important that you test the stain on a wood sample. Allow it to set and dry down so that you can come to know the actual color during day light. This small but useful practice will help you decide do you need to apply a single coat or double for the desired results.

 

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.

The Many Benefits of Hiring Deck Staining Professional

Deck owners are so much soaked in the pleasure of having deck that they forget that lot of responsibilities come with this part of ownership. They sometimes think that buying wood finishing products will preserve and protect their wood. Unfortunately it does not happen. Your external wood gets abused and exposed to many harmful elements like harsh Sun, heavy rainfall and much more.

Why to hire professionals?

Deck maintenance is no choice but is obligatory for every wood deck’s long life. By maintaining the wood deck you will not only beautify your wood, but also you will extend the life of your wood.

Deck maintenance requires lot of attention. Your outdoor decks need to host guests and hold family dinners too. Enjoying barbecues in the greatness of the outdoors is out of this world experience. Compromise with the quality and beauty of your deck can be an unsightly sight. Of course quality wood finish paint can help you get rid of temporary stains but for the finest staining results you need to hire the professionals.

They are worth hiring for the experience and exposure they have gained over number of years. They not only get your outdoor wood the best exterior wood finish but also they have the tools and technique to complete the staining project.

Your deck is part of your home and overlooking its health for long will affect your whole house’s appearance. Hiring professionals have some clear benefits such as saving time. You being an inexperienced person cannot do justice to the staining job. It demands high level of knowledge and proficiency to complete the staining project. Moreover it is very difficult to carry out the project with consistency throughout the period. It requires a lot of patience and focus. In the absence of which you will find unevenly stained surfaces with patches.

On the other hand if you hire the professionals to do the job, you will be able to enjoy a weekend with your family.

 

Things To Do For Making Your Timber Deck Look New

A home with backyard deck is a dream for many Americans. Decks can be built in various materials like wood, composite decking boards and deck tiles. Nevertheless the beauty and charm of wood is incomparable to any other material. Decks give your home a stunning curb appeal and provide beautiful platform to host family gatherings on weekends. There is huge array of wood stain colors that can add to the attraction of your deck. Deck owners can pick any low VOC stain to apply on the newly constructed or old deck. The old decks do not look appealing and may make you feel ashamed before your guests.

The significance of taking care and maintaining wood deck is not limited to the appearance but a lot more deep. When a homeowner decides to construct deck he knows it is an investment. It can certainly increase the cost of property considerably and leaves a lasting impression on the on-lookers. You invest a big amount of money in its construction and forget it afterwards. It is a huge yet common mistake the deck owners do.

Your wood deck is exposed to many harmful elements and needs extra attention and care than any other wood surface. Thoughtfulness towards applying quality wood floor stains on regular intervals will prove to be very rewarding. Respecting the deck that receives lots of traffic everyday will enrich the wood and adds to the years of its life.

Quick Tips For Wood Deck Maintenance

Impose the tips given by deck experts and enjoy better lifespan of your beautiful deck.

• Dirty deck invites mold and mildew which can cause rot. Sweep your deck regularly to clear off the debris, dirt and dust etc. Follow it with cleaner to remove the tough stains. Remember to cover the flowers and other pots with cover.
• Clean the deck with help of pressure cleaner and let it dry for minimum 2 days before you seal the deck.
• Don’t do it when kids are around as they can get affected by the harsh chemicals used in making of stains and paints.
• Stay protected if you are carrying on the deck staining project.

 

Deck Stains – Take Precautions While Staining Deck

Deck gets lots of harshness from climate and man. Natural elements like Sun rays, rain, and moisture conspire against the wood floor stains applied couple of months or years back. For protecting wood from permanent damage, the deck owners should find out the best deck stains. The application of stains can either be done personally or professionally. While doing it on your own may seem easy, it requires lot of experience and patience to complete the job safely.

• You should wear gloves and masks. When the deck owners decide to perform the staining of deck on their own, they should take all the precautions to protect you from the harmful effects of chemicals present in stain colors.Wearing gloves and masks will prevent ingestion of harmful chemicals through mouth and nose.
• Protect your clothes too. Getting stain on your clothes is not that unusual. This is why you should wear old clothes so that you don’t regret messing up your new clothes while taking up the staining job.
• Purchase the good quality wood stain colors. Like every other thing you should be investing in quality products for staining. This will not only ensure that your wood will be safe there are high possibilities that the content of volatile organic compounds is less in those products.
• Keep stains away from fire. They can easily catch fire this is why you should keep them at a big distance from inflammable things. Have water nearby to use in emergency situations.
• Children should not be in vicinity.It will be in the best interest of the kids and pets to be not around where the staining is done. It will be good if you don’t have kids around as the side-effects of staining include dizziness, light-headedness and vomiting are common.
• Seal you hair too. Tie your hair into a bun and cover it with the scarf or big cotton piece to protect them from the harsh effect of stains.
• Hire the experts. The best was saved for last. Hire the deck staining professionals as they are familiar with the techniques of staining that are fast and effective.

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.