Paint and Stain Combination Techniques

Both Add Color

• Your outdoor deck wood, clapboard, shutters should be stained in order to prevent wood from rotting due to the weather elements of rain, sleet, snow and sun. You don't have to sacrifice color by choosing to stain these home parts instead of painting them because stains come in different coverage types: semi-transparent and solid colors. Solid-colored stains give you the most coverage and protection for your wood, and they look like paints. However, solid-colored stains completely cover your wood grain. Semi-transparent stains are like paints, but this coloring technique offers less coverage, so your wood grain will still show through the lighter paint stain color.

Same Tools/Techniques

• Staining your deck requires the same techniques and tools as you would use to paint your deck or home. You need a paintbrush, paint roller or paint sprayer tool. Staining your deck can be similar to painting it. Clear toner stains only add a protective film on top of the wood to block UV rays of the sun while retaining your natural wood color. Use clear stains to preserve the beauty of natural wood and paint stains to color it.

Clean First

• Whether you plan to paint or stain your outdoor exterior, you need to wash it first in order to remove dirt and grime. Cleaning the exterior to be painted will make it absorb the paint or stain more completely and uniformly. Allow the exterior surface to dry completely before painting or staining or else you can experience complications getting the stain or paint to stick properly and not peel later.

Requires Renewing

• You have to repaint your home's interior or exterior every so many years depending upon whether you use a translucent or colored paint. The same is true with stains. Both products typically require you to renew with additional product from one to seven years depending on the product type and manufacturers recommendation. Do not paint non-wood trim or surfaces surrounding your outdoor windows or doors; it can cause them to need replacement, as they will become brittle.