Stains & Treatments

About Stains and Treatments

A broad range of stains and treatments is available for application on several different materials. Some penetrate below the surface to enhance or change natural hues, while others sit on top, forming a protection layer. 

Many stains and varnishes can be layered to support each other’s properties and make the most out of the coating. However, not all treatments are compatible for such use. Lacquer, for instance, shouldn’t be applied over oil-based stains, since its solvents will affect other ingredients and make the final result inconsistent and unappealing. 

Timber stains are soaking pigment inside the wood with the help of a solvent. Once dried, it sets and binds to the fibres. While used mainly for aesthetics, they also offer some protection, including UV-rays resistance. 

Stain colours are available in an extensive palette of hues, while the viscous solution is mostly semi-transparent. Wood varnishes are typically oil-based and dry to form a solid protective barrier. Metallic finishes can completely change the base material’s appeal, improving its properties at the same time. 

Advantages of Using Stains and Treatments

• Timber stains can improve the visual properties of wood species, enhancing their uniqueness or making them mimic each other.  
• Most types of wood stains add colour while allowing the texture and grain effects to remain visible.
• Stains and treatments can help achieve aged or supermodern looks of items, to fit them into a specific decor style and scheme. 
• Similar to wood stains, metal finishes can also convey the appearance of a particular type of metal on the surface of another one.
• Treatments and varnishes provide surface protection from elements and the signs of heavy use.
• Sealing the surface of wooden materials can significantly extend their lifespan. 

Types of Stains and Treatments

Wood Varnishes

Wood varnish is transparent and mostly colourless, although some varieties contain a minuscule amount of yellow or orange pigments. It’s a timber finish essentially based on drying oils, while some formulas feature polyurethane, alkyd, acrylic, and resins. All of them need an activating agent, such as solvent or thinner, to make them applicable. As the varnish dries, the thinner evaporates, leaving a hard sealing layer to protect the surface of the wood. 

• Acrylic is a non-toxic and quick-drying compound designed for both indoor and outdoor use. It can provide matte, satin, or glossy finishes.
• Polyurethane varnish is excellent for high traffic surfaces due to the exceptionally hard coating it produces once dried. Polyurethane seals the surface, protecting it from water, heat, and chemicals. It’s available in gloss, satin, and matte finishes. 
• Yacht varnishes, like their name, says, are designed to protect boats from the water. They are flexible, shiny, and ideal for surfaces without foot traffic. 
• Alkyd varnishes are a range of sealers based on modified vegetable and natural oils.

Lacquer is a varnish applied by spraying rather than using a brush. Shellac and drying oils are not strictly varnishes but are often used as primers or supportive formulas. 

In terms of drying speed, two types of timber varnishes are distinguished: quick and gradual hardening finishes. While the quick types can take several hours to dry, gradual ones may need several days to achieve the proper hardness. 

Timber Stains

Timber stains contain large amounts of pigment that sets and binds to the wood fibres when applied and dried. They enhance the appearance but provide little to no protection, apart from some UV-rays resistance. Timber stains should be followed by a layer of wood varnish or another type of protective coating. 

• Oil-based stains are the most common choice with strong penetration properties and a uniform finish.  
• Water-based wood stains are environmentally friendly. They penetrate less deeply than oil-based varieties but also dry faster.
• Gel wood stains don’t leak, which makes them user-friendly and easy to apply. They dry slower than water-based formulas and faster than oil-based ones. 

Solid or opaque stains completely cover the natural structure of the wood in the same way as paints do. They are typically the most rigid varieties of stains. Another type is semi-transparent formulas, slightly less hard and designed to show timber’s character. While solid stains can hold up to five years in outdoor applications, semi-transparent ones mostly reach up to three. 

Clear stain solutions contain little to no pigment and need annual re-application. Their purpose is to enhance the visual properties of wood species. 

Timber Coatings

The main purpose of timber coatings is to protect wooden surfaces from elements, wear and tear, and other factors. They are distinguished by their properties and maintenance requirements.

Depending on the formula, timber coatings may be suitable for some or all kinds of applications, from garden furniture to traditional flooring. The four main categories comprise:

• Penetrating oils: Suitable for both internal and external applications, oil-based timber coatings penetrate the surface to protect it from moisture and add dimensional stability. They can be enhanced with colour pigments to prevent fading. The finish of penetrating oils is typically matte and ideal for use on facades or internal wall coverings and screens. 
• Surface films: This type of coatings creates a thin film with a sheen finish on a wooden surface to protect it from UV rays. It’s designed for indoor use, easy to clean and maintain. Surface films work well on ceilings, walls and screens, as well as in high traffic areas. 
• Surface film/Penetrating oil hybrids: Like the name says this type combines the best from both. Initially designed for harsh climate conditions, film/oil hybrids are water-based, highly durable, they penetrate deeper and their protections last longer. Suitable applications include facades and exterior walls. The finish is matte. 
• Water-based formulas: A sleek, matt finish allows the product to penetrate and deeply accentuate the natural grain patterns. This coating helps prevent mould growth and requires minimal maintenance. Its ideal application is on interior walls and ceilings.

Metal Finishes

A metal finish is the appearance of a metal surface, sometimes completely different from its base. Almost any piece of metal can be treated with a metal finish to achieve specific properties such as texture, colour, lustre, and even artificial ageing. Many finishes also improve the functional value of a feature - like a stainless steel coating helps the faucet to resist corrosion. 

• Metal powder coating is a quality finish applied in the form of a dry powder through an electrostatic process. After that, the surface is cured with heat. 
• Brushed metal finishing is applied with a paintbrush, providing a subtle matte texture, good in camouflaging fingerprints and other marks. 
• Hammered metal is recognised by a visible texture full of intentionally created small dents and imperfections, designed mostly to fit rustic and vintage decor schemes.
• Oil-rubbed surfaces are shiny, with a patinated flair that works excellent on brass, bronze, or copper. Oil is typically applied manually. 
• Matte finishes are good in concealing fingerprints, with a refined colour palette ranging from light silver to jet black. 
• Polished finishes need routine buffing to keep the glossy appearance. Their glossy style needs high maintenance, making them a less suitable choice for faucets and similar fixtures.  
• Satin metal finishes deliver a smooth surface with minimal texture, not prone to show scratches and marks.
• The antique style is a perfect finish perfect for traditional and rustic decorative surfaces made to appear aged with a natural patina.

Things to Consider Before Choosing Stains and Treatments 

It’s advised to do sample testing before buying any kind of treatment, sealers, and stains. Many solutions have a different appearance when wet or dry and can change from darker to lighter in the curing process. Pigments can also act differently, depending on the base colour of the item they are applied to. That particularly applies to wood treatments, which can make the final result quite different from what was expected. 

All coatings should be used in moderation, to avoid later peeling, cracking, and chipping of the built-up product. 

Interior-only formulas are not designed to be used outdoors, and can’t provide protection levels necessary for the feature - such as decking - to endure. The absence of UV-rays protection will cause the wood to turn pale or grey, while inadequate waterproofing will lead to fast rotting and use hazards.  

Metal finishes can increase chemical and tarnish resistance, increasing the base material’s resistance to corrosion and mould growth.  

If you need assistance to find the right stains and treatments for your home or office, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.