Let's get Staining!!
Step 3- Staining a Log or Wood Home
You have finished your prep and arrived at one of the most rewarding parts of the job!! Your hard work preparing the logs or wood is about to pay off with a beautiful finish. Time to choose out the best stain for the job. This can vary greatly depending on if you are starting with a raw log or covering up over top of another coating. Canada's Log Home Store carries the industries top products engineered specifically for log and wood homes.
WARNING: Ensure Stain Compatibility with other Coatings/Chinking/Caulking
Did you know that some coatings that you use may contain non-drying oils or waxes and may prevent you from using chinking and caulking in the future? If you are not certain, ask a specialist about our compatibility testing, database of various stains and chemical ingredient review service.
CAUTION: Only use Log Products on Log Homes
We receive phone calls daily from people disappointed they bought a deck/fence /wood stain at a big box or hardware store and it failed early. Log's Ain't Wood and they behave much differently. You don't treat a 2x4 the same you way treat a log. You want a product specifically engineered to perform properly for your home. Would you rather save a hundred dollars on product? Or do the job twice as often??
Log End Seal
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Stain Calculator & More Info **Log End Seal requires heated shipping from Oct-April as it can’t freeze. Pickup is still available year round. Please contact us directly for shipping quote to add heat as it won’t calculate automatically.
Perma-Chink Lifeline Advance Clear Coat
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Stain Calculator & More Info
Perma-Chink Lifeline Ultra-2 Stain (Water Based)
Perma-Chink Lifeline Ultra-7 Stain (Water Based)
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Stain Calculator & More Info
Perma-Chink Log & Timber Defense (Hybrid)
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Stain Calculator & More Info
Perma-Chink Sure Shine Interior Clear Coat
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Stain Calculator & More Info
Sashco Capture Log Stain (Water Based)
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Stain Calculator & More Info
Sashco Cascade Exterior Clearcoat
Protect your Stain and Logs
You’ve applied Capture® Log Stain and your log home is now the perfect color – the one you always dreamed of. Now it’s time to apply Cascade® Clear Top Coat to help keep your log home in picture-perfect shape for years to come. Cascade’s sheen brings out the depth and character of the wood grain while minimizing color shifts in the Capture® Log Stain. Its easy-to-apply water-based formula makes routine maintenance simple and headache-free, so you get to spend more time enjoying log your home, not working on it. **Cascade in the Matte finish cannot freeze. If you need this one in the winter, give us a call and we can help coordinate heated shipping for you.REQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Stain Calculator & View More Info
Sashco Colorfast Pre Stain
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Stain Calculator & View More Info
Sashco Symphony Interior Clear Coat (Water Based)
Welcome home to Symphony Interior Clear Wood Finish®. It’s music to the eyes.
Enjoy the clean glow of wood with Symphony® interior clear wood finish. The wood of a finely-crafted cello creates a distinguished resonance, just as Symphony® works in harmony with the unique character of your logs and wood to reflect an atmosphere of cozy warmth and elegance. Symphony’s elastic yet scuff-resistant formula means hassle-free cleaning... Eyes can focus on the relaxing ambience, not on gathered dust. Welcome home to Symphony®. It’s music to the eyes.
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Sashco Transformation Log and Timber (Oil Based)
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Stain Calculator & More Info
Sashco Transformation Siding and Trim (Hybrid)
The best part is that Transformation Siding and Trim won’t peel.
Wood siding can be beautiful, but it usually screams “high maintenance.” Get Transformation Stain® Siding and Trim and give your ears the silence they deserve. Based on a stain formula that was originally created to withstand the extreme requirements of log homes, Transformation Stain® Siding and Trim wood siding stain is no stranger to high performance. It moves and flexes with the wood to maintain a protective coat that remains beautiful over time. The best part is that Transformation Siding and Trim won’t peel, which makes maintenance easy: a light power wash, followed by another coat of stain, and you’re done.REQUEST FREE SAMPLES (click here)
Stain Calculator & More Info
Sikkens Cetol 1 (Oil Based)
Sikkens Cetol 23 Plus RE (Oil Based)
Sikkens Cetol Log & Siding (Oil Based)
Sikkens Cetol Maintenance RE (Oil Based)
Stain Calculator
Measured Square Footage
Take each wall and multiply length x height. Example 40' long x 10' high= 400 sq. ft.
Add each wall together Example 400 + 400 + 250 + 250 = 1300 sq. ft.
For each of your gable ends (the triangles) use Base x Height/2
Example 30' x 15' = 450'/2 = 225 sq ft. Add all areas together.
Adjust for Type of Log
A round log has a different surface area than a flat timber. We must account for the curvature and size of the log so we don't end up short on stain. Select your log type
Maintenance Coat
Most maintenance coats are done with one coat, often clear. If you plan to add a coat of color and a clear, feel free to ask one of our specialists for some advice.
Surface Condition
Rough logs will take more stain than smooth logs. If your logs are rough, check off the box and it will calculate based on a rough surface.
Note: All calculations are estimated. Actual coverage will vary based on surface condition, species and moisture content.
GATHER TOOLS
01.
You'll need
One of the products listed above
- Plastic sheeting to protect surfaces not getting stained
- Log Brightener/Cleaner, if necessary, to remove surface contaminants
- A power washer or media blaster for surface prep
- Sand paper, Sashco’s Buffy Pad System or Osborn brushes (or a combination of all) to remove wood fuzz (called felting)
- Squirrel cage mixer to mix the stain
- Stain sprayer
- Large (5-6” wide) long-handled stain brushes
- Some buddies to help
- Food to feed said buddies
PREP THE SURFACE
02.
The most important step...
Use one or a combination of methods below:
- Primary Prep
- Media Blasting with crushed recycled glass (feels like sand)
- Osborn Brush, Sanding Discs or Random Orbital Sander
- Log Stripper or Log Brightener/Cleaner
- Pressure Washer
- Secondary Prep
- Sand paper, Sashco’s Buffy Pad System or Osborn brushes (or a combination of all) to remove wood fuzz (called felting)
APPLY THE STAIN
03.
Everyone's favorite step!
Here we go…
- First Coat
- This should be a drench coat (except for Sikkens stains). No subsequent coats will penetrate deeper than this so it is very important to not skimp.
- Immediate Back-Brushing
- A critical step to ensure good penetration of the stain. It also ensures stain gets pushed into any checks or cracks in the logs to provide water protection.
- Second Coat (Best for protection and color)
- This one goes on much lighter than the first and usually does not require back brushing although you still want to brush out any runs.
PRO TIP
VERY IMPORTANT:
TEMPERATURE: The surface of a log, especially the upper curvature gets very hot in the sun. Example: 32C outside= 77C degrees on the surface. This will flash the stain and it will not penetrate before drying. Use a laser thermometer to test first or DO NOT work with the sun at your back.
MOISTURE: Logs should be under 19% moisture content for most stain applications. If you pressure wash as prep, experience rain, or have logs that are still drying, you must not stain if they are above this level. It can trap too much moisture and result in rapid release when the sun hits that log, this is a major cause of blistering and peeling of stain.
Clear Coats
04.
Apply the clear coat (if required)
Extra Protection
If your stain has a clear coat component, you would apply now. You can choose a matte or semi-gloss finish. For exterior, the semi-gloss is far more popular. For interior the satin finish is much more popular. Usually this can be applied with a simple weed sprayer and then just brush out the runs. Your clear coat now becomes your maintenance layer until you decide to add a coat of color. Interior clear coats typically require no maintenance but they make your logs easily washable and collect very little dust.
Clean up as you go
05.
Almost ready to relax!
Get the beer ready…
- Clean the drips and any runs right away. They are much harder once dry.
- For water-based stains use soap and water for clean up.
- For oil based stain mineral spirits work well.
Kick your feet up & enjoy your work, you deserve it!
