Should I Paint or Stain My Wood?

Should I Paint or Stain My Wood?

November 17, 2020

There’s no denying the fact that natural wood has a beautiful appearance. That said, many homeowners choose to elevate the appearance of their wood and increase its durability by either painting or staining it. Both staining and painting offer a variety of benefits, which is why a lot of customers ask us whether painting wood or staining wood is better in Pensacola, FL. Continue reading to find out the answer.

Painting benefits

Painting is a popular option around the world for indoor and outdoor wood. These are some of the top reasons we’re hired to paint both the inside and outside of homes:

  • Long lasting: Stains and paints are both engineered to last for a long time before they need to be reapplied, but painting tends to outperform staining in the longevity category, lasting 10 years longer on average. Be sure to repaint your exterior wood as soon as you notice the paint chipping or peeling.
  • Easier maintenance: When people bring up maintenance when they ask if painting wood or staining wood is better in Pensacola, FL, we tell them paint is much easier to care for. While both painted and stained wood need to be swept and washed regularly, cleaning glossy paint is much easier than stain, which dries in a matte finish.
  • More variety: One big reason homeowners opt for paint is that they have so many color options to choose from. Any color of the rainbow can be turned into a paint color, which is ideal for a homeowner who wants to stand out from other houses in the neighborhood.

Staining benefits

If you’re not going to paint your wood, then be sure to stain it. Here are a few reasons why homeowners go this route:

  • Wallet-friendly option: In terms of overall cost when considering painting vs. staining wood floors in Pensacola, FL, the cost-effective option is stain. A gallon of stain costs about $20 to $35, while paint runs from $30 to $60 per gallon. Additionally, paint requires homeowners to purchase a few gallons of wood preservative and primer.
  • Natural look: Since they’re virtually transparent in opacity, stains allow you to see the natural grain pattern in the wood. If you’d like your floors to have an all-natural appearance, instead of a manufactured one, stain instead of paint.
  • Easier to apply: Unlike with paint, which requires the surface to be treated with wood preservative, coated with primer and then sealed afterward, staining requires only a fraction of the effort. Wood just needs to be cleaned and then lightly sanded before applying a stain.
  • Can easily be painted: If you grow tired of the appearance of your stained wood and want to paint over it, go for it! All you need to do is dull the old stain by sanding it down and then paint over it with your new chosen color.

Hire our team to tackle the project

Whether you’re planning on painting or staining, be sure to call the pros at Fresh Start Painting Inc. to tackle the project. We’re experts in everything there is to know about painting vs. staining wood floors in Pensacola, FL, and we offer all of our services for competitive prices. Give us a call today to get started with your project!

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