Exterior Wood Stain Oils Vs. Latex
- There are two main types of oil-based stain and one main category of latex stain. Bleaching oil-based stains makes wood appear grayish and naturally weathered, according to Iowa State University. They help give wood an even color and kill mold and mildew. Pigmented oil stains and latex stains come in a variety of colors to give wood different tints. Oil-based pigmented stains come in thicker and thinner finishes, which have more or less of a coloring effect and allow less or more of the natural wood grain to show through.
- Latex stains almost always have a solid color appearance, while oil-based stains range from very transparent to solid, according to Iowa State University. Some transparent latex stains exist, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but they coat the wood rather than soaking into it like transparent oil-based stains do. Therefore, transparent or semi-transparent oil-based stains can often give a more natural appearance than latex-based stains. Oil-based solid (opaque) stains tend to coat wood similarly to latex-based stains, but transparent oil-based stains tend to soak into wood without leaving much of a layer over its surface.
- Semitransparent latex stains tend to form a very thin protective coat on wood and are prone to cracking in extreme weather conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Opaque (solid) latex stains form a thicker, yet flexible layer of protection over the wood, which does not crack as easily as semitransparent latex stain or opaque oil-based stain. Solid oil stains tend to crack easily unless exterior wood gets several coats of the stain. Semitransparent oil-based stains soak into wood and, therefore, do not crack or peel under extreme weather conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They will fade with time, but are very easy to reapply.
- Lowes.com explains that latex stains tend to last longer than penetrating oil-based stains. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns that if a latex stain does peel, cracks and layers of other stain may show easily through a new coat of latex stain. Penetrating (semi-translucent) oil stains, however, go on easily over old weathered stain and blend relatively well.
- Latex stains deter mold more than oil-based stains, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Latex stains, do, however, have downside of showing lap marks more often than oil-based stains.