Typically these types of woods are very dense, making it difficult for
stains to be absorbed. Additionally, they can contain a high amount of
natural oils making them resistant to penetration. For these reasons,
they need to be treated a little differently when staining. That’s not
to say that they can’t be stained, they just need to be treated a little
differently. Don’t fret though. I’ve outlined a few basics for you. “11
Keys” as I like to refer to them, that when followed, will help ensure
that your project looks like it was stained by a Pro!
1. Let the Wood Weather
As
I said in the opening, exotic hardwoods are dense and they can contain a
large amount of natural oils that will work to block any wood stain
that you try to apply from penetrating. So let Mother Nature help you
out. Once your deck has been built, allow nature’s elements to help
break down the surface of the wood and dry it out so that stains will be
more easily absorbed. The sun, the wind and the rain can do wonders.
The more the wood weathers, the easier it will be to stain it and the
longer your staining job should last.
2. Start With a Stripper
Even
if your wood is brand new and has never been stained, it is still a
great idea to start your project off by applying a stain stripper.
Sodium hydroxide is an aggressive chemical that can be very effective at
breaking down the surface of the wood, opening up its pores and making
it more absorbent. Remember, the more stain that you can get the wood to
absorb, the longer your project is going last.
3. Don’t Forget to Brighten
Yes,
you have to brighten the deck too, even if you’re working with brand
new wood. I know it seems kinda’ funny, having to brighten new wood but
the brightener will do a couple of things for you. First, it will
neutralize the effects of the stripper that you used previously. You
always have to use an acid brightener after using an alkaline stripper.
Secondly, in a similar fashion to the stripper, the brightener will also
help to open up the porosity of the wood even further. Again, the more
stain that you can get the wood to absorb the longer your project will
last.
4. Take a Good Long Break
Good
news. You can take the rest of the day off, take two if you like. The
important thing now is to allow the wood to dry out from all of the
cleaning you’ve just done. The drier the wood gets, the better it will
absorb the stain and again, the more stain that you can get the wood to
absorb the longer your project will last. So take a day or two off and
let things dry off before you start to think about applying the stain.
5. Not Any Old Stain Will Work
Your next big decision is what stain to use. Don’t screw up here. Not just any stain will do. In case you have just about any concerns regarding where by in addition to how to make use of cumaru decking florida, you’ll be able to email us with our own web-site.
Certain stains have been formulated for better penetration, making them ideal for hardwoods. Most manufacturers offer a product in this category. Deck Stain for Hardwoods is extremely durable, water-based and Eco-friendly. It’s both easy to use and easy on the environment. Whatever stain you select, make sure that you choose one that has been specifically formulated for use on exotic hardwoods and other difficult to penetrate lumber.
6. Ask for Directions
For the
female audience, I’m confident that you’ll get this next step correct.
However, all you men out there, ASK FOR DIRECTIONS. Everything that you
need to know about the product that you are going to use is on the back
of the can. Take a few minutes before you start and read it. The
directions will make you aware of any particulars to the product that
can effect how the job turns out. What is the dry time, how many coats
should you apply, how much time between coats, is there a critical
recoat time? There can be any number of things that you can pick up by
reading the back of the can. Take a minute and read the directions.
7. Brushing Is Critical
These
next few keys are really important so please pay attention. First,
regardless of how you apply the stain (e.g., rolling, spraying) it
absolutely 100% must be brushed. If you roll it on first, simply back
brush it in after it’s rolled on but while it is still wet. The same
goes for spraying. “Why must I go to all of that trouble?” you ask. It’s
a simple explanation. When you brush the stain, the brush creates a
friction on the surface, breaking the surface tension of the wood and
working the stain in to the pores of the wood. You get a much better
penetration of the stain. Remember, the more stain that you can get the
wood to absorb, the longer your project will last.
8. Wipe Off Any Excess
Ok,
this one might throw you a little, but again, it’s important. If you
apply too much stain to the wood (more stain than what the wood can
absorb), wipe off the excess. We don’t think twice about wiping off
excess stain when we are staining interior wood. My advice is to do the
same if you over-apply stain on exterior hardwoods. The reason is
simple. First, for aesthetics. When you apply too much stain, it puddles
on the surface and looks bad. Secondly, over time those spots are
likely to flake and peel. So how much stain should you apply? Only as
much as the wood can easily absorb.
9. Let It Cure
At
this point the deck is done. If you’ve taken your time and followed
these steps, you’ve got a great looking project going. Don’t mess up
now, let things dry. Leave the furniture in the yard and the dog in the
house while the stain has a chance to cure out. Come back tomorrow and
put things back together. You’ll be glad that you waited a day to do it.
10. Manage Your Expectations
Now
here’s some advice that I hope you accept. Manage your expectations.
Remember, you’ve selected an exotic wood for your deck, a beautiful
grade of lumber with extreme durability. Regardless of how good of a job
you did in every step of this process you will never get the stain to
last as long as it would on a more porous species of wood, such as
pressure treated pine. But also realize that every time you stain it
you’ll get a little longer life out of your project. Time will continue
to help the wood become more porous and as it does, it will absorb stain
better each time.
11. Keep An Eye On Things
Lastly,
you’ve put in a great deal of time and energy to stain your deck the
right way, so keep an eye on things. As time goes on and the stain
begins to fade and wear down, apply a maintenance coat. Don’t let things
erode so far that you’re forced to strip everything off and start all
over. It’s pretty easy and it doesn’t take much time to simply rinse
things off and apply a fresh coat of stain.
So that’s it. That’s
everything. Eleven keys to successfully staining exotic hardwoods. Go
ahead and try these eleven keys for yourself. See what the results are
when you set out on your next project to do it like a pro. You might
just surprise yourself!