Paint or stick with solid color stain? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

JL1 · 04-14-2009, 12:16 PM

Hi--- I have a home repair business, but I don't paint. And today's question is about MY house, so it is really important!

Based on a recommendation, I've got a guy coming to paint my house next month and he wants to put a high quality paint over my existing solid color stain. The stain has been there for over 12 years and is in fairly decent shape--- some fading and peeling as you would expect over time (in places where the sun is tough), but no big issues.

He said that paint will weather better and 'provide a finish' that is easier to keep clean, etc. I've talked to some paint stores and another painter and they all said it would be better to just stick with the solid color stain.

Any thoughts on this? Am I better off sticking with stain or will the paint be a better choice? I'm worried about possible peeling issues. By the way, I don't believe he is planning to prime the surface.

Thanks!
JL

StefanC · 04-14-2009, 12:19 PM

I would stick with the solid stain. It doesn't seem like you have much confidence in the guy and it's going to be a nightmare to fix the checking paint on the un-primed surface in a few years.

JL1 · 04-14-2009, 01:47 PM

Thanks Stefan--- I've seen some of the work this guy has done and it is quite good, so I was surprised by his advice to switch to paint over the stain.

NAV · 04-14-2009, 02:07 PM

you will never get 12 years out of an exterior paint job. stick with the stain.

If you decide to paint make sure he give you a 100% prime before applying 2 coats of finish.

StefanC · 04-14-2009, 02:24 PM

I agree, and the stain will look much better in its later years as it wears as opposed to the paint.

BMAN · 04-14-2009, 10:30 PM

its your choice, paint blisters, cracks and peals, needs to be scraped, sanded, primed and repainted two coats every 6-10 yrs. on the other hand stain wears off and needs to be washed and re-applied every eight years if applied in two coats each time. Staining a house is usually 30-40% cheaper than prepping and painting one, so I think this guy setting himself up for job security. I would take two coats of solid color stain on my house any day (provided it has always been stained).

deach · 04-15-2009, 12:18 AM

Like most here have said stick with the stain if that's what's always been applied.

Mr. Mike · 04-15-2009, 02:03 AM

This thread is all screwed up,

for one I'm sure he did not get 12 great years out of his solid color stain,
also paint is way better and will last longer than a solid color stain, and I see the solid color stain crack peel and pop way more than other acrylic paints.

Stain and solid color stain are two totally different animals I mean for one one of them is a paint.

BMAN · 04-15-2009, 02:15 AM

solid stain is not paint it can peal buy its rare and caused by idiot who dont apply properly (spray no backbrush) or cohesion issue with certain boards. similar but different, why are you trying to paint this guys house?

Mr. Mike · 04-15-2009, 02:40 AM

Quote:

solid stain is not paint

???

NAV · 04-15-2009, 09:36 AM

when stain peels badly its the wood failing (delamination) not the stain material. Reguardless stain is easier to maintain than paint.

who is getting 6-10 years out of a paint job?? well i guess it depends on where you live, in cleveland its 3 - 5 years max

410tip · 04-15-2009, 10:01 AM

Two points.
1. Solid Color stain is trash. Fades horribly and does not protect wood very well. I can't begin to express how many dried and damaged houses I've had to load up with peel bond, primer, and paint due to solid color stain. The stain fades horribly within 3 years, weathers the wood, and turns the siding into brittle and dry trash. It may be five bucks cheaper a gallon, but keeping siding healthy is worth that extra five bucks a gallon.
2. A good paint job over a solid color stain will last at least 10 years. I live in Seattle, alot of moisture, all of my jobs last at least 8 years. Exceptions, but for the most part true. To paint a solid color stain job that will last take these steps:
1. Power Wash
2.Caulk windows, but joins, cornerboards.
3.Scrape/Sand all bare wood
4. Prime the complete house w/oil primer
5. Apply one heavy coat(Most painters skimp their second coat)a dust coat usually occurs after brushing it in. A good painters first coat will almost always cover with a quick dust.
6.Use a top level trim paint

The painter is right when he wants to paint the house. Your siding will be protected and the paint will last longer. A cheap quick fix alternative would be to stain it again, but a long term investment to protect your siding would be to paint in according to the above instructions.

StefanC · 04-15-2009, 12:36 PM

^ If the contractor plans on doing all that, then yes it's the way to go if he's planning on spending the $. Problem is the OP doesn't even think the guy wants to prime.

On top of that the stain that is on there has lasted 12 years and still 'in fairly decent shape' so it can't be all that bad of an idea.

JL1 · 04-15-2009, 03:32 PM

Thanks everybody. I had another painter come by today who has done some work for me before and he recommended sticking with the solid color stain "especially on the rough cedar boards", and "especially since it has lasted so long" (waiting on his price). For the person who said I didn't get 12 years out of the stain, I've lived in the house for eleven and I've never restained.

As for the argument for paint, the protection value of paint and the fading of stain was exactly why the original painter wanted to switch to paint. I really think he just wants to stick with what he knows best and that is paint.

As of this moment, I'll probably stick with stain.

Thanks again.

BMAN · 04-15-2009, 06:44 PM

My argument is this, properly maintained stain applied in the correct mil thickness (two true coats) will cost less in the long run. Dont know why paint in Ohio doesnt last as long as it does in Rochester, I offer a five year touch up warranty on hundreds of houses and have only had to honor it 3-4 four times since I started offering it, 7 years ago. MIke I stand by what I said, Solid Stain is not the same as paint, hey have different wear characteristics.We couldargue symantics but lets not, two different products with a lot of the same chemicals, nuff said ok.
The Stain is designed to let rough sawn cedar keep its look, thus no build up over time. It wears down in powder form and if not applied proper will look like ***** inside two years. It is more important to maintain wet edge on solid and semi stain than even interior paint. Stain takes more discipline than paint and if applied improper looks terrible.

JL1 · 04-20-2009, 09:51 AM

Thanks again. Just a quick follow-up, his quote does say that he will prime and apply two coats of paint. With this said, I'm still leaning towards the stain. My worry is that he knows paint, not stain, and that is the reason he wants to paint, so I'm asking him to do something that is outside of his comfort zone. Knowing that he is going to prep and prime and apply two coats---does this change anyone's opinions?

Mr. Mike · 04-20-2009, 12:45 PM

I prefer paint over instead of the cheap solid color stain method, always have and know a ton about coating with them both.

vandyandsons · 04-20-2009, 06:01 PM

As long as the house is prepped properly and the material is properly applied, I don't care what you decide.

I will warn you though. Should you decide to go with paint. Use the best stuff you can afford.

I like and prefer SW Duration "Exterior" Flat for the house body.
I like and prefer SW Duration "Exterior" Satin for the trim

Expensive, but for a reason.

MakDeco · 04-26-2009, 10:12 AM

We are getting a solid 7 to 8 yrs on rough cedar lap here in the Chicago area with Solid Stain... I think it looks better for the rough cedar then a thick paint on it...

SWP-II · 04-26-2009, 12:52 PM

Paint on rough Cedar? It's not intended for it.

I would definitely go with the solid stain again.

If you ever do decide to paint, which you shouldn't, make sure you strip the old stain off first, otherwise you'd end up with a mess in a year or so or sooner.

Rough Cedar looks great stained, but I'm just playing favorites to stain on rough cedar, because I hate seeing flaked peeling paint chips everywhere.