The short answer is it’s up to you, depending on the look you want to give your project surface. Stains are semi-transparent, so you will be able to see the wood grain through the color of the stain. Older solid wood looks amazing when stained, as the wood grain itself is the main character of the story. If you don’t want the wood grain to be as visible, you can use either a solid-color stain, or using a paint made specifically for wood.

This question typically comes up in relation to decks, but is relevant to any piece of wood. When wood is purchased from suppliers, it is often varying levels of wet, from kinda damp to downright waterlogged. Wood functions much like a sponge. When staining surfaces, it is important that the wood is dry, or else it won’t soak up any stain, much like a wet sponge versus a dry sponge. On decks, that can be anywhere from 8 weeks to 12 months, depending on the type of wood used. If you are unsure if your wood can be stained, give us a call!

It depends on the climate. Austin is a high-humidity area, so we typically recommend 48 hours before walking on newly stained and finished floors. We recommend waiting at least 3 days before moving furniture back into the room to really give the finish time to cure. We will advise you when it is safe to do so after completing your project!

Decks and floors have different life spans due to their varying exposure to the elements. Typically, floor stains will last anywhere from 7 to 10 years, depending on the amount of traffic the floor experiences, and the amount of sunlight the floors receive. Decks, on the other hand, are much shorter, due to their direct exposure to the elements. It is best to have a deck refinished every 2 to 3 years. By regularly refinishing your floors and decking, you can help prolong the life of the wood, saving you thousands in the long run.