Choosing The Right Interior Wood Stains

Now that you have the financing for remodeling or making renovations on your home, make sure you select the right wood stain for the inside job. Choosing the best interior wood stain can be confusing, but here are some guidelines.

First, whether it’s trim, doors, woodwork, floors or furniture, know your wood. Stain, unlike paint, soaks into the wood to give it its color. Stain shades vary based on the type of wood, and unfinished wood needs to be treated with filler and sealer before you stain it. And stain doesn't protect wood; you'll still need to seal the wood with a finish or topcoat.

Color is determined by four factors: the color of the stain you select, the nature of the wood and how porous it is, how long the stain is left on, and the extent of wiping when removing excess stain. Remember: different species of wood absorb stain differently. Test the color on a hidden section of the wood first.

Choosing an interior stain depends on your particular needs and the overall appearance you are after. A gel stain can produce both subtle and intense effects, and it is a good choice for vertical surfaces. A wiping stain can be applied much faster and is the best choice for production work, when a lot of trim or doors need to be stained. Wiping stain, available in oil-based or water-based formulations with many color options, is the most common interior stain used today. As the name suggests, this stain is applied and then wiped with a clean rag to remove the excess and even out the color.

Oil-based stains allow for maximum control of the color depth and intensity. Dry time is 24 hours before the finish (oil-based or water-based) can be applied. These stains clean up with mineral spirits. Use for previously stained or finished wood, furniture, or wood trim.
Water-based stains dry much faster—staining and finishing could happen the same day—but it is more difficult to control the color. Any clear finish can be applied after complete drying. Water-based stains have very little odor and clean up easily with soap and water. Use for floors, woodwork, tabletops, children’s furniture and toys.
Gel stain, which is oil-based, is easy to use and provides deep uniform color. Applied with a brush, gel means no drips or runs, making it an excellent choice for doors and any difficult-to-stain surfaces. It requires 12-24 hours before a clear finish can be applied. Use for woodwork, furniture with contoured parts, and vertical surfaces.

Tips

Look for a transparent or semitransparent stain if you want the wood's grain to be seen.
Choose an opaque stain if you want to hide the grain.
Applying heavy coats of stain tends to hide the wood grain pattern, while a light coat enhances the grain.
When refinishing, remember that you can apply an oil-based stain on a previously finished water-based stain, but not vice-versa.