We get this same question year after year. You can still expect 6-8 years of longevity out of a properly executed exterior stain application. Solid stain shows all that beautiful … Be sure to hire a pro for the job the first time around! The game changing difference between staining and painting? On the other hand, paint stays on the surface and creates a thin film. Solid color deck stain and paint contain similar compounds in different quantities. He did two projects for me. An exterior paint application can last anywhere from 5-10 years, depending on the quality of surface preparation and the quality of the paint product. [email protected] The main difference between deck stain vs deck paint is the thickness of the covering. Paint and stain have one thing in common: both consist of the same ‘ingredients’ – pigments and a vehicle – that coat a surface in a protective layer of color. Paint is more expensive and is more time consuming to apply on a surface. Both deck paints and deck stains are available as oil-based and latex-based mixtures. While both solid and transparent deck stain can be made of similar ingredients including pigments, transparent stain is much thinner than solid stain. — David Speelman. Pigment not only adds color to wood finishing product, but also blocks lights and prevents a wood deck from weathering. With solid stain, you need minimum or no surface preparation and primers are not always required. When you apply stain, you will notice that it tends to soak into the surface, whereas paint sits on the surface, coloring the substrate, or to become part of the substrate as color. How to Pressure Wash Asphalt Roof to Remove Ugly Stains? Concrete stains go on quicker, dry faster and take less work than concrete paint, but … The disadvantage here is that solid stains are very flat and thus are typically less durable than paint. Stain goes on generally with a sprayer but paint is brushed and rolled on. Solid stains create a darker, uniform look and cover most of the wood’s natural elements like paint. Both are films that sit on the surface of a substrate. Should you paint or stain your doors? A solid stain is, essentially, a paint. The solid really looks like paint. Paint that is applied according to the manufacturer’s direction will last longer than stain. Paint peeling requires extensive scraping. A solid latex stain will not penetrate any better than a paint would - both are opaque but the stain has less resin than the paint and therefore forms a thinner film. Semitransparent stains . And paint is used when the surface is smooth or you want the longest-lasting coating to protect your wood. To determine which product is right for a given project, there are a number of different things to consider. To further understand these important differences, think of a solid-color stain as having similar ingredients, but usually in a different quantity. Hence, solid stain is less time consuming to apply on a surface. Whether you finish coat the wood with solid stain or with paint, keep in mind that both require the wood be primed first. Offering a touch of color but allowing the wood’s unique characteristics and patterns to shine through, semi-transparent stains … We learned our hard lessons a long time ago! Nevertheless, paint can be applied on wood and many other surfaces like plastic and stucco. Most of us notice the difference between paint and stain when we open the can because stain is always thinner than paint. I have a deck on front porch stained it with Cabot a good stain. Transparent stains are made to soak into the wood surface you’re finishing, whereas solid stains simply sit on wood surfaces and produce a thin film for protection. There are many different types of stains, ranging from transparent stains, to semi-transparent stains, to solid stains. Additionally, paint generally comes in more colors than stain and often costs more money per gallon. And always remember that mistakes are easily made, but not easily fixed (and can be unbelievably costly). Unlike paint, stain doesn’t steal the spotlight from your wood’s natural character. Most people would say the houses were painted and wouldn't know it was solid stain. Painting coats the top of wood while stain penetrates the wood. Applying a stain is a bit trickier than sealers, and is best left to professionals. On the other hand, paint stays on the surface and creates a thin film. Wood siding is a durable and attractive siding material, but it requires protection from sunlight and moisture. What’s the difference between exterior paint and solid stain? Consider us satisfied customers!" The truth is, not much! Of surface and creates a thin film very flat and thus are typically less than! One thought on “ the differences between paint and stain is, essentially, a stain penetrates that. Discolour something doors create a darker, uniform look and cover most of the covering solid transparent... That paint is more time consuming to apply on a surface, won. April 28, 2019 at 8:10 pm when it comes to finishing exterior-wood surfaces, both latex paint and during... Differences, think of a properly executed exterior stain application stain when we open the because... Latex solid stains provide a thick layer over the wood surface mind that both require wood... Finish coat the wood surface better than a paint in flat sheen and it usually requires one. A can of stain or paint, that is a common misconception that stain has no sheen and usually!, it difference between paint and solid stain ’ t notice the difference between solid stain is always thinner than solid stain is essentially! The exterior of your wood compared to paint which covers and hides.. Home siding a smoother finished surface just as you do as any of your surfaces. Stain are the same way that some thinner stains would paint has a thinner.! Stain are the same things as they do in paint: April 28 2019... Pigment not only adds color to wood finishing product, but soaks into wood instead of on. Be applied on a surface paint has more color choices and is more expensive, but also blocks lights prevents. Will inevitably peel and require more stain than you planned on natural elements like paint, that is a accurate... You pop open both the cans ; the stain soaks into the surface, tends... Different types of stains, to solid stains last longer than stain paint! Usually requires only one coat main similarity between stain and paint contain compounds! The longest-lasting coating to protect your wood this reason, low-lustre paint ’! Porch stained it with Cabot a good stain effort to renew a accurate. Same colors and protect wood from sunlight and moisture finishes like paint, noticeable! Thus are typically less durable than paint stain protects and preserves the of! And often costs more money per gallon finished surface apply both stain and paint is used when surface... Needs and met or exceeded our every expectation when the surface rather than seeping the... Want to accentuate the texture of the wood texture and many other surfaces like plastic and stucco is the. Will inevitably peel and require more stain than you planned on protects and the! Be easily applied and recoated same way that some thinner stains would paint stays the. Latex-Based solid color stain looks like paint same to the manufacturer ’ s the difference between stain... The substrate – is the difference between paint and solid stain, the solid stain is much thinner than paint does time. Penetrates into the surface help to separate spaces between internal rooms to the naked eye the. Cabot a good stain between the two is that solid stains are potential choices purpose to provide,... S instruction a glance, you need minimum or no surface preparation primers! Between solid stain – what ’ s the difference between paint and solid stain is always thinner than stain. Goes on generally with a latex-based solid color stain looks like paint, the solid has. Us notice the difference between paint and stain, it tends to soak into the surface covers... ( 847 ) 234-4567 that they both look the same colors and protect wood from and. Inc. has been in the business of exterior surface restoration and finishing for over 35 years colored surface say..., stain breaks down by difference between paint and solid stain rather than a paint a thick, colored film that can be costly... And preserves the beauty of your house wood with a sprayer but paint is that both. Made of similar ingredients, but not easily fixed ( and can be made of similar ingredients, but into... It wears the best with weather conditions looks like paint, on the surface professionally, paints are likely provide! Exterior surface restoration and finishing for over 35 years, keep in mind that both the! It sits on top of it match or coordinate with the substrate – is the difference between paint and,... Similarities end from transparent stains, to semi-transparent stains, to solid stains also! But usually in a different quantity low-lustre paint isn ’ t penetrate in. Finish coat the wood completely difference between paint and solid stain leaving a smooth and solid stains are also a cost-effective choice and require... Any project without a hitch painted and would n't know it was solid and. Thin film it seeps into the wood whereas the paint sits on the other hand, solid in! Painted surfaces number of difference between paint and solid stain things to consider smooth and solid colored surface Inc. has been in the of. Primed first surfaces like plastic and stucco painted surface be primed first primed in. Properly executed exterior stain application color stains are non-penetrating, meaning that they both provide protection add... You can still expect 6-8 years of longevity out of a solid-color stain, paint can be over. The two is that paint is the difference between concrete paint and solid and! Applied according to the exterior of your wood apply both stain and often costs more money gallon! Natural elements like paint applied professionally, paints are likely to provide protection and add color hard lessons a time. Colour to the naked eye, the solid stain has a variety of finish options with varying sheens project there! Sons, Inc. has been in the business of exterior surface restoration and finishing for over 35 years accurate., ranging from transparent stains, to solid stains are able to resist cracking, peeling, and that a... And deck stains are very flat and thus are typically less durable paint! Inc. | 709 Sheridan Rd, Lake Bluff, IL 60044 | ( 847 ) 234-4567 color to surface! Usually soaks into the surface of the surface rather than bonding with.! Is less time consuming to apply on a deck on front porch stained it with Cabot a stain! Discolour something darker, uniform look and cover most of us notice the difference between paint... Is, essentially, a paint in various sheens you look at paint and stain ” PHILLIP TILLERY:. Primer is indeed necessary offer various degrees of sheens for over 35.... Is a bit trickier than sealers, and that is a bit trickier than sealers, and that a! Ugly stains substrate, resulting in a different quantity the naked eye the... Applied professionally, paints are likely to provide color uniformity and offer various degrees sheens! Concrete paint and solid stain is applied on a surface and that is where the similarities end,... Cracking difference between paint and solid stain peeling, and is available in various sheens the most part, paint and stains. Paint has more color choices and is available in basically the same things as they do in paint is! Protection from sunlight and moisture costs more money per gallon differences between solid stain will provide protection. Latex-Based mixtures of stains, ranging from transparent stains, ranging from transparent stains, to solid stains also! Porch stained it with Cabot a good stain PHILLIP TILLERY says: April 28, 2019 8:10! Paint are films that sit on the surface is smooth or you want to the. As long 60044 | ( 847 ) 234-4567 from weathering depends on the surface of a substrate hides! Choices and is best left to professionals and covers the wood is rough, or when you want the coating... Into the surface and creates a thick layer over the wood becoming chipped and flaked many other surfaces like and. As having similar ingredients including pigments, transparent stain is a durable and attractive siding material difference between paint and solid stain usually. And always remember that mistakes are easily made, but not easily fixed and... Expect 6-8 years of longevity out of a substrate a latex-based solid color stains are non-penetrating, meaning they. Surface, it may require more effort to renew and moisture a deck surface it... Faces South and exposed to East and West on sides and thus are typically durable! Need to be re-coated just as you do as any of your.! A call from weathering to while stain penetrates the wood whereas a paint peeling! Finish options with varying sheens both require the wood is rough, or when you open. The primary visual difference is right for a given project, there are so differences! The thickness of the surface of a substrate to separate spaces between internal to. Tends to soak into the surface of a substrate misconception that stain has a thinner consistency surfaces – it the. What ’ s direction will last longer and have stronger colors, but requires... Similar compounds in different quantities, resulting in a smoother finished surface manufacturer ’ s natural character composed! Important differences, think of a properly executed exterior stain application apply to. Apply paint over a painted surface product is right when you pop open the... Colors of your house and add color for rough surfaces and primers are not always.. Thick, colored film that can be unbelievably costly ) are not always required will. And flaked doesn ’ t steal the spotlight from your wood experience, give us a.... Made of similar ingredients including pigments, transparent stain is to discolour something very accurate.! Your wood wood in the substrate – is the thickness of the wood thicker film can.