When you are looking to change or improve your home’s exterior appearance, one of the biggest choices can be whether to paint or to stain. Often the choice to paint or stain is determined by what is already on the home, (i.e. if it is stained, go with stain; if painted, choose paint). Or, if you are choosing something for a non-wood surface, such as stucco, then paint may be the recommended choice since it will provide a first line of defense to prevent moisture from penetrating into the walls from the outside in.
However, if you are choosing something for a new wood surface of a home or addition, then making the choice between paint or stain requires more thought.
What is the difference between paint and stain?
Choosing between paint or stain for your wood exterior requires learning a little about how the media works and what you can expect from it. For instance:
- Stain is a transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque agent that is used to color wood by penetrating the wood fibers. Stain allows the grain or texture of the wood to be seen through the pigmentation.
- Paint comes in both oil and latex bases and rests opaquely on the surface of the structure like a film. Paint requires prepping, a coat of primer, and a finish coat of paint.
To Stain or Paint Your Truckee Tahoe Home?
Paint and stain require different prep work and maintenance, as well as provide two different looks. If long-term wear and maintenance is your main concern for your wood exterior, mountain home, stain may be the preferred choice. Stain allows the wood to breathe and is better at allowing water vapor to move through the wood than paint. Also, since paint traps the water, it can freeze and thaw in freezing conditions, making paint prematurely crack and peel, thus requiring more maintenance than stain.
The choice to paint or stain is ultimately up to you and your painting contractor. If you are unsure of what to use on your new home or remodel, contact us at Sierra Precision Painting and we can help you determine which paint or stain is right for your Truckee Tahoe home.