Exterior Stain

Exterior stain is an affordable, low-maintenance solution to refresh and reinvigorate your home’s curb appeal. Suitable for weathered wood, siding, fences, decks, and furniture, exterior stain can help extend the life of your wood surfaces so that they may be enjoyed for years to come.

When to Use Exterior Stain

The best time to apply exterior stain is in the late spring or early fall when most regions have a relatively moderate climate. Avoid excessive cold, heat, and humidity. The ideal temperature range for application is between 50 and 80 degrees. Since summers are pretty warm and humid in the VA metropolitan area, late March to late May or early September to early October typically provide the best temperature conditions for exterior staining. Choose a day when no precipitation is expected for at least 24-48 hours before and after application.

Previously untreated surfaces should be stained shortly after installation to prevent deterioration, wood darkening, and mildew growth. Potomac Paint & Design can assist you with the application, as well as get you all the supplies you need, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

Benefits of Exterior Stain

Exterior stain can help update and rejuvenate your outdoor wood surfaces while protecting them from the environment and other integrity-compromising elements, ensuring the longevity of the items you love and depend on. Our experts at Potomac Paint & Design can help you select the best exterior stain for your projects.

  1. Provides UV protection: Over time, exposed wood surfaces like siding, decks, and furniture can become dull, discolored, and dry from sun damage. Exterior stains help protect and extend the life of your outdoor wood surfaces for generations to come.

  2. Prevents rot and provides mildew and water resistance: Exposed to a great deal of water in their lifetimes, wood siding and decks are particularly vulnerable to rot. Stain creates a waterproof barrier to protect your wood surfaces and helps keep out mold, mildew, termites, and many other pests that can compromise wood integrity.

  3. Cost efficient and increases home value: One of the most inexpensive ways to quickly update your home is with exterior stain. Resistant to cracking, chipping, and flaking, exterior stain offers durable luster and can substantially increase an appraiser’s value of your home. Available in a variety of colors and opacities, this solution is certain to create curb appeal and attract potential home buyers.

  4. Preserves aesthetic and is easy to use: Exterior stain allows the natural beauty and style of the wood grain to remain visible after application. The exterior stain is a customizable solution, offered in a range of colors and opacities that can accommodate any wood pore size to provide even and consistent coverage. Many exterior stains do not require a primer and offer a low-maintenance solution allowing you to save time and money. While maintenance recommendations vary based on climate and product choice, even high-traffic surfaces will likely need re-staining only once every few years.

Choosing the Best Exterior Stain

To protect your exterior wood surfaces properly and ensure a professional finish you’ll love, consider the type of wood, climate conditions, and desired opacity for your project. As a low-maintenance solution to protect against discoloration, mildew, warping, and rot, wood surfaces should only need re-staining every 1-5 years.

  • Stain opacity: Designed to protect without completely obscuring the natural shade gradient and texture of wood surfaces, stain opacity levels range from clear to solid. Translucent, semi-transparent, and semi-solid stains allow the natural beauty of wood to shine through while protecting surfaces. The greater the opacity level, the more excellent protection the product provides over time.

  • Sun exposure and climate: Water-based stain products offer the best UV resistance. Wood surfaces are more susceptible to rot and mildew in warm, humid weather, mainly if oil-based products are applied. Offering the most pigmentation and protection, solid and semi-solid stains are ideal for fences, weathered wood, and siding.

  • Wood type: Highly absorbent softwoods like pine and cedar can look blotchy, so quick-drying water-based stains may not be ideal. For softer woods, it’s best to use an oil-based product with low or zero VOC properties to ensure consistent coverage and finish.

Top Brands

At Paint & Design Centers, we pride ourselves in offering high-quality, trusted brands. Our extensive selection of Benjamin Moore exterior stain and prep products uses waterborne tinting technology to ensure products retain low or zero-VOC properties.

Exterior Stain Prep Products

  • REMOVE

  • RESTORE

  • BRIGHTEN

  • CLEAN

Ultra Spec® Ext Acrylic Solid Color Stain

  • Ultra Spec Exterior Solid Color Stain Flat

ARBORCOAT® Exterior Stain (now Woodluxe)

  • Ultra Flat Waterborne Solid Stain

  • ARBORCOAT Stain Solid Matte

  • ARBORCOAT Stain Semi-Solid Flat

  • ARBORCOAT Stain Semi-Transparent Flat

  • ARBORCOAT Stain Translucent Flat

  • ARBORCOAT Semi Solid Classic Oil Finish Flat

  • ARBORCOAT Semi Transparent Classic Oil Finish Flat

  • ARBORCOAT Translucent Classic Oil Finish Flat

Contact Us

Family owned and proudly serving the Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church, VA area, Paint & Design Centers offer a wide variety of Benjamin Moore exterior stain and prep products to help you renovate and refresh your home’s exterior. Our specialists can help you select suitable stains and prep products for your projects. Contact us today to schedule a consultation or visit one of our three convenient locations.

We are a family owned business offering the widest selection of paints, home and interior décor, and window treatments. We have stores in Alexandria, Arlington,Virginia, and we are proud to serve the surrounding Fairfax County. Contact us today to learn how Potomac Paint & Design Centers can assist you in making your home as beautiful as it can be.