This article was co-authored by Eric Shipe and by How.com.vn staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. They serve homeowners, interior designers, architects, and contractors with a refined process, creative ideas, 4K photo-realistic renderings, and 360 Panoramic views. Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 36,361 times.
Whether you’re breathing new life into an old wooden deck or revamping your kitchen cabinets with a new look, it’s important to choose the right stain. But if you’re perusing the shelves at your local hardware store, you’re likely to notice two different varieties: oil- and water-based stains. But what are the big differences? When should you choose one over the other? In this article, we’ll help answer these questions and more so that you can pick the ideal stain for the job.
Things You Should Know
- Water-based stains preserve the look, feel, and color of wood, but they’re harder to apply and maintain.
- Oil-based stains hold up better in crazy weather, they’re more durable, and they’re easier to work with.
- Regardless of the stain you choose, sand the wood before applying it and seal the wood when you’re done to protect your work.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about staining wood, check out our in-depth interview with Eric Shipe.
References
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2150-paints-and-finishes/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-deck-stain/
- ↑ https://www.wrmeadows.com/data/c3300-960.pdf
- ↑ https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/understanding_stains/
- ↑ https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/wood-stains/oily-paint-rags-can-spontaneously-combust/
- ↑ https://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/understanding_stains/
- ↑ https://www.consumerreports.org/wood-stains/oily-paint-rags-can-spontaneously-combust/
- ↑ https://www.sand-stain.com/blog/truth-revealed-water-based-vs-oil-based-stain-against-peeling
- ↑ https://www.sand-stain.com/blog/truth-revealed-water-based-vs-oil-based-stain-against-peeling
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2150-paints-and-finishes/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-deck-stain/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-deck-stain/
- ↑ https://www.sand-stain.com/blog/truth-revealed-water-based-vs-oil-based-stain-against-peeling
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2150-paints-and-finishes/
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-deck-stain/
About This Article
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.