Wood stain: pros and cons

Wood, even after the appearance of metal and various modern synthetic materials for construction, remains popular and in demand, as it is a high-quality and environmentally friendly raw material. And thanks to a huge selection of all kinds of paints and varnishes, such as wood stain, it became possible to significantly improve the appearance of wood products, and, importantly, extend their service life.

Under the influence of aggressive environmental factors, including all sorts of bacteria, mold and insect pests, the tree can deform and start to rot. In order to minimize the risk of such problems, it is very important to take timely care of the wood. The most effective way to deal with such circumstances is wood stain. The tool is a liquid composition that sets it the desired tone from a mass of options for colors and shades. This allows you to refine the natural color of wood or radically change it.

In addition to aesthetic functions, the main feature of the composition is antiseptic properties. Thanks to the use of the product, wood will be able to serve you twice as long.

Another feature of almost all types of wood stains is the ability to penetrate deeply into the wood without harm to the pattern and texture, unlike enamel or paint.

Wood staining has several advantages:

• the ability to combine different shades of color;
• strengthening and preserving the structure of the tree;
• the service life of products increases;
• the indicators of wood resistance to moisture increase.

Stain is not only a varnish for wood, thanks to its use, you can create a unique interior in a room or completely transform, at first glance, everyday interior items or furniture.

There are 2 types of means - water and non-water (oil and alcohol) stain.

Water based stain it is offered by manufacturers in a ready-to-use state or as a powder (dry mixture). This type of composition is used most often, since it has a very diverse range of colors. The color of the powder stain can be easily adjusted, it directly depends on the amount of loose substance, that is, the more there is, the richer and brighter the result will be.

The water-based composition has the advantage of no unpleasant odor, thanks to which the stain can be used indoors. The disadvantages of this type include the ability of the product to lift the fibers during the surface treatment. Due to this, the moisture resistance of the tree is reduced. The time required for the stain to dry completely varies within 10-14 hours, which can also be attributed to the disadvantages of the variety of the composition.

The technology of working with water-based stains requires pre-wetting the wooden surface, then sanding. The composition is filtered before use. Only after completing such preparatory work can the tree be painted. It is not advisable to use this product on resinous woods.

Oil formulations include dyes dissolved in drying oil or oils. You can work with this type of impregnation with any tool. The tool does not raise the fibers of the raw material and does not allow it to be saturated with excess moisture. Using a similar composition, you can get any color and shade, additionally using dyes. They are available in powder form, white spirit is used for dilution.

According to experts, oil stain is the simplest and most convenient to use. Oil based impregnation is very popular among decorators and decorators due to the ability to achieve the desired color.

The pluses of oil stain should include its environmental friendliness, since the most common basis for it is linseed oil. It takes about 2 hours for the surface to dry completely. The composition does not leave stains.

Alcohol based stain Is a dissolved aniline dye. The impregnation is available ready-made or in powder form. The main task of the composition is to protect wood from the damaging effects of moisture and ultraviolet radiation.

The main advantage of alcohol stain is its ability to be instantly absorbed into wood fibers. The composition dries on the surface after 30-40 minutes.

The disadvantages include the fact that it will not work to manually apply the composition to the tree, since the alcohol will evaporate very quickly, which can lead to stains. For work, it is better to use a spray gun.

Along with the above types of wood stains, fundamentally new products began to appear in the assortment of building supermarkets. Modern technologies have allowed manufacturers to offer the consumer a water-based acrylic impregnation, as well as a wax composition. New tools were developed to eliminate the main disadvantages of existing formulations.

Wax stain restore old wooden coverings, it perfectly fills in color inconsistencies. In addition to the above characteristics, the positive qualities of modern formulations include their excellent moisture-protective properties. However, such products are very vulnerable to mechanical damage, so they should be varnished. Acrylic and wax liquids are available in a wide variety of colors. They emphasize the structure of the wood well.

The disadvantages of acrylic stains include their high cost, as well as the possible formation of spots on the surface when two or more layers are applied.

The main disadvantage of wax compositions is that they are not able to penetrate deeply into wood. The agent only forms a protective layer on top of the material. Such a composition should not be used before treating wood with two-component varnishes or polyurethane.

Since the composition perfectly preserves the texture of the wood and protects against the negative influence of many external factors, thereby extending its operational life, the answer to the question of what is worth purchasing - varnish or stain, becomes obvious.

Alternative types of stain include a white compound. This tool is the most environmentally friendly and inexpensive. Along with this, white stain is presented in a wide variety of natural shades.

Today, a range of similar products for coating and painting wooden surfaces will be able to satisfy the needs of every customer. Such products allow the craftsman to give the wood almost any color. Recently, among specialists, black stain is in demand, which gives the treated surface the appearance of a black mirror. The technology of applying the black compound requires preliminary polishing of the base.

Shades of gray will help the surface blend harmoniously with the interior of any room.However, the use of this color will be successful only if the walls and interior items in the room are bright. Gray color can cause apathy, and products painted in this color will be lost against the background of the rest of the decoration.

According to psychologists, the most optimal color for a person is green. It evokes positive emotions and is suitable for painting walls and ceilings, as well as for furniture and other things.

The blue color gives expressiveness and depth to the finished product. This stain will work well with whites and yellows.

In addition to multi-colored compositions, there is a colorless impregnation on store shelves, which makes it possible to preserve the natural color of the material.

The final color of the tree depends on the number of layers applied., therefore, experts advise to make a final decision only after the test staining. The material for test staining is sanded and smoothed. Next, proceed to the application of the first layer of the composition. After it has completely dried, a second layer is applied, but on a smaller area. The third layer is used to process the material on a piece of wood, which will be even smaller than the space allocated for the two previous layers of wood stain.

When all areas are completely dry, comparing the results obtained, you can choose the color you like.

Today on the paint and varnish market there are products of foreign and domestic manufacturers.

"NovBytKhim" Iis a company that specializes in the production of construction and household chemicals. The assortment of manufactured compositions includes various varnishes, paints, decorative materials, as well as stains on a different basis.

According to the majority of buyers, the compositions for wood from the NovBytKhim company for processing and painting wooden products have a strong smell, but they do an excellent job, and also dry quickly. Therefore, painting work must be carried out as quickly as possible. The composition lays down quite evenly, the color is uniform.

Trademark Liberon works as part of the V33 company - the international leader in the production of paints and products for wood surfaces. Products of this brand are popular all over the world, as they are intended for the care of wood, as well as for restoration work with antique interior items and furniture.

Consumers note some of the advantages of Liberon wood products:

• convenience and ease of applying the composition;
• lack of smell.

The disadvantages of such products include some discrepancy between the declared color and the one indicated on the package.

The most famous German companies that specialize in the production of wood products are Flamingo, Dufa and Caparol.

Caparol has a separate line of wood protection products.

Compositions produced by Turkish companies are considered no less popular products for the care and painting of wood. The leaders among them are manufacturers Betek, Dyo, Marshall.

Experts who are engaged in repair work note the high quality of German wood compounds.

Turkish products for painting wooden surfaces have only positive reviews.

Stains can also be classified according to their intended use - products for interior use and formulations for external use. The main and only criterion for their difference is the presence of pigment in the composition of means for external work, which provides protection against burnout.

When choosing tools, it will be useful to decide on the tool that will be used for surface treatment with the acquired composition.There are wood stains that cover a wooden surface with a brush, for some you may need a spray gun.

For interior work, for example, if the processing of pieces of furniture is required, it is better to give preference to wax or oil compositions. There are almost no volatile compounds in them. Almost all stains are compatible with paint varnishes.

Alcohol-based products have their own characteristics. They are ideal for tinting furniture, wood products or doors. And for a staircase or parquet, you should choose a different type of wood stain. Alcohol compounds must be applied to the surface with a spray gun, since any error or delay in work will be fraught with the formation of a stain, as a result of which repair or construction work will have to be started anew.

Powdered alcohol products should only be diluted with 96% alcohol. But there is no guarantee that the purchased alcohol will meet these requirements. Therefore, it is worth buying a ready-to-use liquid composition. This will help to avoid troubles associated with repairs, construction or restoration work.

Oil or wax based stains are expensive, unlike other types. But the method of applying them to the material can be anything. It is recommended to carry out restoration work with just this type of wood processing agent, since it is absolutely safe for human health due to its ecological composition.

In order to correctly apply the composition, you need to pay attention to the choice of the tool that will be used for the job.

To decide on this issue, you should take into account the following points:

• the size of the working area;
• color saturation level of the surface.

There are four main ways to treat wood with wood stain:

• painting by rubbing - applying the product to the surface with further rubbing over the entire area. It is best to cover porous types of wood in this way;
• spraying - for this, a manual or automatic sprayer is used;
• painting with a roller - a foam tool is used. This technology will avoid streaks and reduce the consumption of the composition;
• using a brush. Thanks to this option, the surface will have a bright color. Brush work is not possible with all types of wood stains.

In order to impregnate the wood well, it must be painted strictly along the fibers - this will reduce the consumption of the composition. For ease of use, the stain should have a comfortable consistency for application.

It is necessary to apply the stain gradually and evenly so that it can dry out in all places without exception. The first layer should be thin, it will create a base that dries quickly and allows you to continue working.

The product cannot be applied to the same place twice. Such an error will lead to the formation of dark spots.

After processing, water stain lifts the fibers, so after application they must be cleaned off with a piece of coarse cloth. This is done in a diagonal or longitudinal direction.

Surfaces treated with alcohol or water products dry in 2-3 hours, oil stains will take longer - about 2-3 days.

To determine the approximate consumption of the composition per 1 m2, the porosity of the wood must be taken into account. On average, one liter of wood stain is enough for 10-15 m2.

Step-by-step instructions for processing a wooden surface:

• remove all dirt and protruding fibers from the wood;
• pour the stain into a small and handy container, strictly following the breeding instructions;
• use the selected tool to gently spread the solution over the surface. To cover the wood faster, do not try to take as much stain as possible, as this will increase its consumption and reduce the quality of the work.

How to apply wood stain on wood, see the video below.