Anyone with experience staining exterior timbers?

[Simple Abundant Living]

We have a square timber facade on our front porch that needs restaining. Does anyone have any suggestions as to products, prep, and application?  Thank you!

[Greg]

What was on there previously?

[Simple Abundant Living]

What was on there previously?

I have no idea.  Some kind of stain, no poly coat. These are rough square beams. They would have been fine for a few more years, but the sprinkler was hitting one and now it's faded.

[Greg]

You have some choices, oil vs. water based, transparent, semi-transparent, opaque.  The oil based opaque is probably the most durable, the transparent the least.

Best practice on rough timbers is to pressure wash, let dry, apply stain by roller and brush or, if a large area, spray and back-roll or brush.  Opaque stains offer the most protection... clear oil based stains can lead to mildew. 

Hope that helps.

[worms]

The moustachian way around here would be waste engine oil, diluted with diesel and brushed on.  Dirt cheap and the wood lasts forever, but that approach might not be acceptable where you are!

[Simple Abundant Living]

You have some choices, oil vs. water based, transparent, semi-transparent, opaque.  The oil based opaque is probably the most durable, the transparent the least.

Best practice on rough timbers is to pressure wash, let dry, apply stain by roller and brush or, if a large area, spray and back-roll or brush.  Opaque stains offer the most protection... clear oil based stains can lead to mildew. 

Hope that helps.

Should I try to get a specific timber oil stain?  Or will any exterior (deck?) stain do it?

[Simple Abundant Living]

The moustachian way around here would be waste engine oil, diluted with diesel and brushed on.  Dirt cheap and the wood lasts forever, but that approach might not be acceptable where you are!

LOL, I guess I'm not mustachian enough then. I can't imagine sitting on the porch with the wafting smell of diesel and old engine oil in the air. ;)

[Greg]

Pretty much any exterior stain will work.  There are differences between the version I mentioned above.  Keep in mind too that rough timbers will require more stain to cover than smooth surfaces, when calculating the amount to get.

[Simple Abundant Living]

Pretty much any exterior stain will work.  There are differences between the version I mentioned above.  Keep in mind too that rough timbers will require more stain to cover than smooth surfaces, when calculating the amount to get.

Is there a difference between Lowes/HD brands and what's available at sherwin Williams/kwal paint stores?  What about a matte poly coat on top?  Would that look weird? 

[Greg]

There's not a whole lot of difference in my opinion.  But, I'd shop where the pro painters shop.  The biggest difference might be price, and so HD and Lowe's might sell retail where Sherwin Williams might only sell at those prices to pros.

Most exterior stains are pretty low sheen already.  If you go with a top coat, you'll want to check with the paint/stain coating manufacturer to see if it's a good idea.  FWIW, I've only done clear coats on interior and select exterior wood situations.  Clear coats are often used over stain colors on furniture and interior trim, not so much on exterior areas except maybe doors and windows.

[Simple Abundant Living]

I think I've decided on going with Kwal paint's superdeck products. It's what most pros around here use and they've been the most knowledgable with my questions.

They raised an eyebrow at the extra clear coat too.  My neighbor puts satin spar varnish on his timbers yearly.  But he does seem a little OCD. ;)

[Thegoblinchief]

I like the look of transparent stains myself, but they definitely don't last as long as the opaque ones. You'll be easily staining twice as often.

If you aren't pressure washing, you can get stiff bristled deck brushes to scrub off as much accumulated crap as possible. There are chemical treatments to aid with this, but I'm blanking on the names.

[TrMama]

If you do pressure wash, make sure you wait at least several weeks before staining. If you live in a cool, humid climate (like the PNW) wait 6 weeks. And those must be dry weeks.

As I learned when the opaque stain on our deck started peeling off weeks after we moved in, pressure washing drives water deep into the wood and it can take a loooong time for it to dry completely. I'm pretty sure the previous owners of our house pressure washed and re-stained just before putting the house up for sale. By the time it sold and we moved in, the moisture was evaporating and causing the stain to bubble.

[Joggernot]

I think I've decided on going with Kwal paint's superdeck products. It's what most pros around here use and they've been the most knowledgable with my questions.

They raised an eyebrow at the extra clear coat too.  My neighbor puts satin spar varnish on his timbers yearly.  But he does seem a little OCD. ;)

I have stains outside.  As has been said, the opaque is best; clear/natural doesn't last.  Don't put a varnish or any top coat on it!  It will burn off where the sun hits it and you will be scraping/sanding every year to put on a new coat.  The stain is just fine alone.  It's been three years, and it looks like another three years or more before I'll have to redo the opaque.  The clear/natural is already starting to look like it needs another coat.  I'll probably switch to opaque stain when I do this.