Oil Based Stain

I am not trying to lean you towards using an oil based stain over a water based stain in this section. I am going to just show you a few differences between them. Both types of stain have advantages and disadvantages. From my experiences of using them I would say as for the important factor of (longevity) they compare equally.

There is however a difference when it comes to how much labor is involved with the application. Most oil based stains whether it is an exterior stain for walls or a deck stain will only need two coats applied.

A water based stain will take two coats of the stain and then a topcoat over the stain to achieve maximum protection. Depending on how large your log home is this extra coat can add up to alot of labor and material.

Even though oil stains usually only need two coats applied for maximum protection you need to read the application directions carefully. Most say to wait until the first coat is dry before applying the second. However I have seen some brands that say you need to apply the second coat while the first is still wet. I personally think that this could be hard to do on a hot windy summer day.

The two types of application that are recommended are by brush and by using an airless sprayer. I personally prefer using an airless sprayer because it is faster and I feel that I get a better coverage rate.

I should mention that I own a log home maintenance company and do this type of work all of the time. Therefore I own a sprayer and use it all the time. I'm sure if you are a do-it-your-selfer you probably don't have a sprayer and don't have much experience when it comes to spraying. I would then recommend using the brush method, better safe than sorry.

Even when I use the sprayer for applying an oil based stain I still need to back brush the stain as I go. This allows for maximum coverage and a uniform color. You see I don't get away without using a brush.

Now when it comes time for applying a maintenance coat of exterior stain it is easily accomplished. The only prep work that you need to do is to lightly power wash off any dust or dirt that might be on the logs. Wait for the logs to dry and then start staining.

One disadvantage that an oil based stain does have is that every time a maintenance coat is applied the logs tend to get darker. This is just the common nature of oil stains.

There is something that you should be aware of when you are getting ready to do a maintenance coat of stain. You should if possible use the same brand and type of stain. The new stain that you are applying needs to be compatible with the stain you are going over.

If you can't remember what brand and type of stain you originally used then you should do a compatibility test. With the new stain go to an out of the way part of the house to do a test application. Just do about a 4 to 6 inch area nothing to big.

If the stain lays down and leaves a nice even coat then I would say that the new stain is compatible. On the other hand if the stain spider webs or moves all over when you are applying it then I would say it's not.

Even if at first the stain seems to be compatible let it dry and check it in a couple of weeks. Check to see if it is adhering to the old stain properly, not peeling off. If it is peeling don't use that stain.

Where Should Oil Based Stains Be Used

Oil stains are very versatile and can be used on a wide variety of wooden structures.

There are numerous companies that make oil based stains and over the years I have used alot of them. I have narrowed down the stains that my log home maintenance company uses to a select few. These stains are the ones that I feel offer the highest quality when it comes to ease of application, clean up, durabilty and company support.

Unfortunately you will not find any of these stains at your local lumber yard or hardware store.

A good high quality oil based stain if applied properly will last between 3 to 5 years before needing a maintenance coat. This is an average time frame of longevity. There are always varibles to figure in for the application you are going to be doing.

The main thing to remember is to research the stain you are going to use to see what it is suited for. Never use a deck stain on a log home or on any type of wood siding, it's not designed for that use.

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