One of the most intriguing paint projects you can undertake is staining your siding. This is due in no small part to the fact that staining itself offers a unique opportunity to introduce some color into your property while simultaneously retaining or even enhancing a natural look for your property.
This is especially true if you are going for a rustic look.
It can be a bit hard to balance paint jobs with a rustic theme, in part because painting tends to cover up all the wood, which is obviously a huge part of the rustic look in the first place. What’s more, there’s something to be said for the rugged and “authentic” feel that many rustic décor themes try to evoke. This stands in opposition to the polished look visible in other home décor schemes.
That’s what makes it so much more powerful when you’re able incorporate staining for your property’s siding. It allows you to more fully take advantage of the possibilities which coloring your wood can open up in terms of appearance, all without sacrificing the rustic authenticity of a wood-first appearance.
Still, the question remains – what are the main types of stain that you can use for your siding, and which one offers the best fit for your particular needs?
- Clear Stain
First, there’s the option of using clear staining products. These are best if you want to show off the wood underneath the staining to the greatest extent possible while still adding a bit of stain to the surface. As a rule of thumb, the more staining you add, the thicker and opaquer the staining tends to be. As such, clear staining tends to be very light.
If you are looking to achieve a clear, light color with your staining, these options are probably the best for your particular project.
- Opaque Stain
The flip side of that, naturally, is opaque staining. Whereas clear staining leaves much of the underlying wood visible, with just a light smattering of colored staining atop it, opaque staining can be so dark and thick as to make the wood underneath very hard to see. While the wood won’t become “invisible” (at least not unless you really slather on heaps of stain) this is the kind of staining you will want to add if you want your staining, rather than the wood, to be the focus.
- Semi-Clear Stain
Striking a balance between the two, as you might imagine, is semi-clear stain. If both of those aforementioned options seem a bit too extreme for your ends, or you want to more carefully balance the degree to which your wood versus staining is emphasized, staining colors which fall on the semi-clear spectrum are probably the way to go.
- Choosing the Right Option
With all that in mind, you’ll be able to choose the right type of stain for your needs. Keep in mind that as with paint, staining can fade, so whatever your choice may be, make sure it’s something you can easily reapply should it require a touch-up.
With those factors in mind, you’ll be able to choose great staining for your siding.
Ray is an inspiring leader with a strong work ethic stemming from his exemplary upbringing in a caring and loving family environment. His parents modeled the importance of integrity and hard work to him and his siblings, values which Ray now instills in his teenage daughter. As the owner of Aspen Painting & Wallcovering, Inc., he leads by example by expecting nothing but the best from himself and his employees. His primary goal is to provide superior service and quality craftsmanship to each of his clients so that they become enthusiastic ambassadors for the company. Ray is a passionate team player who always strives to exceed expectations.