Porch Paint Vs. Stain

Paint Characteristics

• Paint literally forms a shell on the surface of porch materials; it is the thickest type of finish coating available. Latex and oil are the most common varieties of exterior paint. In general, latex paints are more flexible and porous than oil paints. Thus, latex paints generally exhibit greater longevity than oil paints. However, oil paints' hardness and brittleness exhibits greater physical durability than latex paints. Both latex and oil paint completely block sun and moisture from underlying materials. On the other hand, if the conditions for decay exist in a material prior to application of paint, the paint simply encases the harmful elements.

Stain Characteristics

• Porch stains are available as both solid and transparent coatings. Like paints, solid-color stains are opaque. However, slightly thinner than paints, solid-color stains allow surface texture, such as raised wood grain, to show through a finished surface. Transparent stains contain less pigment than solid-color stains and paints and allow both texture and shade differences to show through the finished surface. Solid-color stains exhibit similar sun and moisture protection as paints, and transparent stains offer significantly less protection than paints.

Preparation and Application

• Paint and stain preparation and application requirements vary greatly according to whether the project is new construction or renovation. Although it's easy to install either paint or stain over new, untreated wood, successfully installing stain over previously painted wood requires substantial stripping and sanding. On the other hand, even though painting over previously finished porches requires surface preparation, specially formulated paint primers adhere to old paint and cover surface blemishes.

Longevity

• Paint requires less frequent refinishing than stain and, compared solely on maintenance requirements, paint is generally superior to stain. However, paint ages less gracefully than stain. Whereas weathering causes paint to crack and peel, transparent stains simply fade. Importantly, solid-color stains often exhibit cracking and peeling similar to paints. Despite greater refinishing requirements, transparent stains allow wooden materials to breathe and naturally expand and contract. Occasionally, transparent stains' porosity extends the life of a porch's underlying wood framing.