Staining a house is as time-consuming as painting. There’s quite a bit of prep work to be done before you can apply stains. While “Do-it-Yourselfers” may be apprehensive about staining the exterior of their home, the process is very similar to performing an exterior home paint job. However, the difference  is that when you stain wood, the next time around, the prep work should be less if stains are applied correctly. Although stains will wear out, they won’t chip and flake the way paint does.

When staining a house on the exterior, you’ll need to do the same prep work as if painting, except using a power washer. This tool can damage the wood.

Choosing the Right Stain

When picking stains, you want a blend of water-based urethane and acrylic resins. Quality stains will normally have a higher spread rate than cheaper stains.

To determine how much stain you need, multiply the perimeter of your entire house by the house’s height. Subtract 20 square feet for each door and 15 square feet for each standard window. The remaining number is the square footage of the surface you need to stain. Use the stain spread rate found on the can to determine how many cans you need. Most exterior projects require two coats of stain. If you stain wood in a darker color or go with a “solid” stain, you might get by with one coat.

Types of Exterior Stain

Many different stains are available, and deciding which to go with depends on your desired result. When staining a house, you can choose from the following stains:

• Clear: The most grain will be seen through the stain.
• Semi-transparent: Some grain will be visible through the stain.
• Solid: This is the most opaque stain. It will show little of the grain. It will also cover blemishes in the wood.

You may want to try a few different stains in an out-of-the-way location on the exterior to get a sense of what you like best.

How to Stain a Home

Here are some tips for getting the best result when staining a house on your home’s exterior:

• Always stop working two hours before sunset to keep condensation from affecting the wood.
• Do not apply stains when it is windy.
• Stain is best when applied between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dew point at least 5 degrees lower than the temperature.
• When you stain wood, avoid working in the sun. Schedule your work so you are working in the shade as much as possible.