Guide on How to Stain and Seal the Wood?

Replacing wood every year is quite annoying. Then what makes your wood last for years? The type of wood stain you are using as a coat gives enough protection to your wood? Does wood stain need to be sealed? Yes, there are many questions in your mind about what exactly protects wood from external elements. Here are the answers to clear all the confusions: 

Why should you stain wood?

Wood stain is a kind of paint used in coloring wood through a unique process of soaking pigment on wood fibers with solvent and binding to the wood. This stain’s primary purpose is just to color wood and offer it proper protection from absorption and coloring. It protects the wood colors from ultraviolet lights and helps to reflect the UV light, which finally prevents color fading from wood surfaces. 

Wood always needs layers of coatings to protect from water, wear, moist and fog. Cleaning and sanding are the foremost things that we do to preserve our wood from all the dust, impurities, and clear unevenness. But cleaning wood may not make your wood last for years. It needs some solvents, which give your wooden fiber enough strength to bind. Now here comes the necessity of wood stains and wood sealers. 

Wood stains give your wood a thin film of coat and also add color to your wood. Thus give your wood a cool and fresh look. However, these wood stains may not protect your wood from sharp objects and food every time. At some point in time, you may feel your wood losing its pigments and start degrading. This is due to regular cleaning, and also the stain film is highly reactive to the moist and other elements.

 Using a sealant is a good opinion after adding a film of wood stain. These sealants protect the wood stain film from being reactive and also give good finishing. Wood stains are made of pigments, dyes, and solvents that add color to your wood. Thus give your wood a good look and finish. But these may not provide enough resistance to external elements. When it comes to sealants, these are made of ingredients that give every pore of your wood protection from decaying and also smooth your wood. Hence, wood stains need to be sealed to protect your wood. 

It is common that people give good wood color and leave their wood without sealing. These costs to replace your wood soon. Here are the simple ways that you can do to your wood, to enhance its protection. 

• After giving a coat of wood stain, allow you to absorb the solvents properly. These pigments give your wood a good color and shine. Apply the wood stains as many times as possible until you feel the entire wooden pores are adequately covered.
• Sand the wood to clear the excess paint of wood stain and make the wooden surface even. Later, clean the dust with a soft dry cloth and make sure the wood is free from all impurities, before using sealants.
• Based on your wood type, choose the best sealants that bind your wood stains and give your wood a fresh cool. After getting the best quality product, it takes a smooth brush and applies the sealant evenly in all directions. Drying in between every coat makes your sealant bind its elements into the wood. Repeat this process until you get the required glossy shine.

Besides adding protection from the sun, stains also offer many other forms of protection to the woodworks. The stained surfaces contain many colors saturated in them. They resist wood from further staining and discoloration. The stain bonds with it and doesn’t allow any other materials to soak in it, ultimately providing protection and resistance from water, moisture, and humidity. The entry of water inside the wood causes heavy rotting, and the wood begins to break. It also provides an inhospitable environment from all types of insects, molds, and mildew. Wood is highly prone to rot outdoors if it’s not sealed properly. Rotten wood is less pleasing and also creates a hazard of collapse. Termites are also one of the well known dangerous enemies of wood, and once the rotting process begins, there is no way to stop the process. So staining wood is crucial to avoid rotting. 

Wood stain is very popular in improving outdoor wood projects’ complete look and has many positive advantages. It is the best way to prolong the lifetime of your favorite piece of wood. Does wood stain need to be sealed? Definitely! You must do it to prevent damages from sunlight, water, and insects. Wood is a natural material that doesn’t require lots of care and love. But following a few tips like stain wood prevents rotting, keeps the wood healthy and shiny.