Coating Timber: When to Paint or Stain?

The following table illustrates the properties of different types of coatings.

	Paint (Film forming)	Stain (Film forming)	Stain (Penetrating)
Finish	Solid, opaque colour	Semi-transparent, allowing the natural colour and texture of the timber to show through	Semi-transparent, allowing the natural colour and texture of the timber to show through
Timber type	Has very little, or no impact on the final appearance	Dramatically affects the finish- absorbency and colour	Dramatically affects the finish- absorbency and colour
Effect on the timber surface	Forms a solid skin over the surface	Forms a solid skin over the surface	Penetrates into the timber providing nourishment. Aged coating does not flake and peel, but it erodes away.
Preparation required on previously coated surfaces	Sanding, stripping, priming etc	These coatings tend to flake and peel with aging, hence sanding and scrubbing is required, before washing with a timber cleaner	Washing with a timber cleaner to remove dirt, wax etc
Customer motivation	Extensive range of colours, low maintenance	Enhance and protect the natural beauty of the timber. They have a longer life than a penetrating stains but are more effort to maintain.	Enhances and protects the natural beauty of the timber