Stain Vs. Paint For the Exterior of a House

Appearance

• Stain will color your wood while keeping the grain pattern visible. Paint will completely obscure the pattern of the wood grain.

Application

• Stain penetrates the wood, and generally only a single coat is necessary or recommended. Paint forms a coating over the wood. Typically, two coats of paint are applied over a coat of wood primer.

Maintenance

• When stain fails, it fades. The siding is then washed, and the product re-applied. When paint fails, it peels and lifts. The siding must be sanded or stripped prior to re-application.

Longevity

• Stain will require more frequent maintenance than paint. On siding, you might expect five years from stain, versus 10 to 12 years or longer with paint.

Protection

• Both stain and paint will protect your siding from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, and exposure to moisture. Because it completely coats the wood, paint provides superior, longer-lasting protection from sunlight and water.