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.

Cool Treatment Your Deck Secretly Wishes For in Summer

Ownership of a deck gives you rewarding experiences. Maintaining its beauty is a part of your home care job. If you succeed in maintaining your deck, it can up the value of your property to the prospect home buyers. At the onset of summer, every homeowner tries to fix the issues with his deck to the best of his knowledge. But, sometimes it is not enough as it is evident with the early damages to the deck sealer you applied. Though it is best to get the deck staining project done by the professionals but if you want to do it on your own, read its step by step procedure.

Warm weather of summers makes your deck more vulnerable to weathering and damages. Start the summer preparation of your deck with cleaning the deck at the first place. After winter, there are lots of leaves, debris and dirt underneath furniture. You may also find the insects hidden throughout winters. Remember to remove dry leaves and other unwanted elements from your deck only after removing the furniture. Follow sweeping with deep cleaning for removing the embedded dirt particles in the cracks of the deck. If you do not own a pressure washer you can rent it from local shop.

Also, make full use of it by cleaning the house as well while you are at it. It is not every day when you are into the cleaning shoes, so make full use of the same. Replace or repair the boards depending on the condition of them as they can age or their damages can go beyond repair due to poor maintenance.

While you prepare your deck for summer, it is the time to revamp the stain of the deck. Renew and refresh your deck with a high quality wood deck sealer. The rails are the parts of your deck, so don’t forget to clean and stain your deck. Think about cushions, hanging flower baskets and lighting to make your deck happening.

Does Your Wooden Surface Really Need Sealing?

Are sealers good for wooden decks? Do you really need to apply them for the longevity of your wooden stuff? Well, it depends on the type of wood you have. If we talk about cedar and redwood, they don’t need sealers, as they are rot-resistant. Though there’s no harm in applying sealer on them; still, why waste money and time when these type of woods are perfect the way they are.

Moving on the other woods, they can definitely get benefits from sealing. This is because it not only increases their lives but also enhances the looks. UV protection sealers keep the wood looking natural by preventing them from turning grey or dark. Moreover, it also acts as shield against wetting and drying in changing seasons. This keeps the wood from degrading. To be in harmony with the environment and keep it safe, eco-friendly sealer should be used. With these go green sealers, you can get the ideal look without creating ecological disturbances on the surroundings.

Generally, there are 3 types of sealants that can be used on wooden deck. These are:

• Clear
• Semi-transparent
• Solid color staining

Talking about the clear finish, it allows the wood to gray naturally; whereas, others preserve the natural look. Semi-transparent is effective against UV rays and imparts color. Last but not the least, solid color offers the best protection against UV rays; however, it takes away the natural beauty by changing the color.

Before the application, it is important to clean the deck because dirt gets sealed with the wood if it is not prepared ahead of time irrespective of the type of sealer one use. For the best results, penetrating sealer should be used as it reduces the chances of crack and splinter. These are probably the best products that are durable and reliable.

Last but not the least; sealing is done best soon after the deck is constructed. After this, reapply the sealant every year to five years, depending on the climate.