Deciding Upon a TWP Stain for Exterior Wood
There are so many exterior wood stains on the market today that it can be confusing to say the least. You have water based or oil based, solid stains and semi transparent stains, and clear stains and stains with toner in them. First understanding how stain works best is a good start. Take for example TWP stain which is a popular exterior wood stain. Stain like this is meant to penetrate the wood to seal it properly and protect it from Mother Nature. You have to realize that no wood sealer out there is going to last forever. Even the stains that claim they last for up to 10 years realistically only last a few years. So you must consider maintenance, that is how well the deck can be maintained a few years down the road. In this case an oil based sealer like the one sold by TWP stain would be the best option. Water based sealers are not as easy to maintain and will not adhere well to itself when maintenance coats are applied down the road. Another option to consider is color. Basically all deck sealers provide moisture protection but not all of them provide sun protection. The sun’s UV rays are what turns the wood gray over time. The pigment in a wood stain is what gives sun protection. A clear sealer would give almost no protection while TWP stain with a toner in it would give adequate protection. The semi transparent stains are popular because the give sun protection and have a slight tone to them but still allow the wood grain to show through. For most an oil based semi transparent stain like TWP stain in a natural color is a popular choice.
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