Benefits of a good Exterior Staining

In the summertime when the living is easy, there’s nothing quite like a deck for a barbecue among friends, or simply relaxing outside! But left unprotected, a wood deck will fade after one summer. After several summers of relentless sun, it will bleach, leaving it gray and weathered. Applying stain increases the longevity and attractiveness of any outside wood like a deck, fence or furniture. Of all the surfaces in or around the house, the deck takes more abuse than any other, here is why:

1.  Weather exposure is the main cause of damage. Morning dew, rainwater, melting ice and snow are quickly absorbed by unprotected wood, causing it to soften and swell. At certain times, it's almost as if the deck is under water for days. 
2.  Decks that are buit low to the ground are closer to insects. They also trap the moisture from evaporating water, wich creates an enviroment perfect for the development of fungi, mildew or mold.The result: black, brown or green “staining” that first appears as small “specs” which can eventually spread across the wood surface in mass formations, discoloring it and making it look unattractive at best, unsightly at worst. These insects use wood for a food source, and eventually cause the wood to rot and decay.
3. Another factor is the sun, which contains UV rays that degrade the fibers of the wood, specifically the lignin that holds those fibers together. Direct exposure to the punishing heat from the sun causes wood to dry out and shrink.  Because of this position in relation to the sun, the deck takes the most direct punishment from its rays. Siding, on the other hand, is on an angle to the sun, so it gets much less of the sun's direct rays. 
4. The traffic of course, constant footwear and moving outside furniture also contributes to a lot of wear out the applied product.

In many areas of the country, exterior stain is not only more commonly used than exterior paint, it is the only practical way to protect and add beauty and years of life to certain types of exterior wood. A stain job that is done right will last years without peeling or weather damage, even in areas where natural elements are harsh. Stain comes in a varying degrees of tranparency:

• Clear Coating-  Provide a water-resistant finish with little to no color change over the original wood. The lack of color within the stain allows the wood's texture and grain to show through.
  
• Toners- Some clear coatings contains a small amount of pigment and are know as toners. It comes in various hues. The benefit of transparent tinting toner stain is that an attractive natural grain and color from the wood doesn't get buried under new color. Most species used in the industry are browns, blacks,reds,blues and greens, but lighter colors as beige and white are also available.
  
• Semi-transparent - Provides light pigmentation that can enhance the details in the wood's texture and grain.

• Semi-solid -  Adds a deeper pigment, significantly changing the color and hiding most of the wood grain. Some of the original texture of the wood will still show through. 
  
• Solid-Color Stain- Compared to paint, solid color stain seals weathering damage and is quite thin  allowing the texture and character of the wood to show through.