Wood stains: choosing your wood stain

Explore our range of interior and exterior wood stains, available in coloured or clear versions, with matt, satin or gloss finishes depending on the product, to protect your wood panelling, beams, joinery, cladding and timber frames. These wooden features require suitable protection and treatment.

Whether oak, pine or teak, for example, wood is subject to wear over time, exposure to ambient humidity and, outdoors, weathering and UV rays. For lasting protection, wood stain is an excellent choice for both interior and exterior woodwork, provided you choose a formula suited to its exposure. It provides a clear or tinted finish in distinctive decorative colours while keeping the wood grain visible. Outdoors, choose a tinted wood stain for better UV protection. The natural charm of wood can then be enhanced or transformed to suit your creative decorating ideas.

EXTERIOR WOOD stains

Interior Wood Stains

What is a wood stain?

A finishing, protective and decorative product, wood stain protects wood from weather conditions and everyday household damage, such as water penetration and UV rays from the sun. It protects the wood while allowing it to breathe. Easily washable when used indoors, it makes it easy to remove stains and maintain the wood.

Wood stain can be used both indoors and outdoors on vertical surfaces such as wood panelling, beams, cladding and shutters. By choosing a formula suited to each application, it protects the wood while preserving its natural appearance. It can also be used to decorate wood thanks to the wide range of colours available and its matt, satin or gloss finish, depending on the product, while preserving the natural wood grain rather than covering it like paint.

What is the difference between a wood stain and a varnish?

For indoor use, there is a difference between wood stain and varnish. Wood varnish is a product that forms a protective film on the surface. It is transparent on wood and gives it a subtle colour tone. Its popularity comes from the attractive finish it provides. Varnish acts only on the surface of the wood.

Wood stain, on the other hand, penetrates the wood and protects it from within. The price per litre of wood stain differs from that of varnish. The amount of each product required to cover the same surface area also varies.

Why use a wood stain for interior wood?

Wooden surfaces are subject to daily wear and tear. They can be affected by ambient humidity, sunlight, insects and fungi.

Over time, these factors can alter the wood, weaken it and cause it to lose its colour. Wood stains help prevent these problems by providing a protective finish. This improves the wood's resistance while preserving its natural appearance.

The main advantages of our wood stains are:

• clear matt, satin or gloss finishes,
• a wide range of colours available for wood panelling,
• resistance to moisture and standing water,
• protection against everyday wear and damage,
• enhancement of the wood's natural appearance and grain,
• A+ indoor air quality rating,
• fast drying in 2 hours after application.

Wood stain is therefore an ideal product for protecting wood panelling, beams and timber frames.

Wood Stain for Exterior Wood

Exterior wood stain protects house cladding, pergolas, wooden shutters and gates against moisture and weather conditions. Tinted versions also help protect the wood from UV rays and reduce greying. While keeping the wood grain visible, wood stain enhances the natural appearance of the wood and provides a decorative finish. It is preferably used on vertical wooden surfaces.

For exterior wood, choose a wood stain suited to the exposure of the surface, with a water-repellent and microporous formula that limits water penetration while allowing water vapour to escape. Regular maintenance helps preserve its appearance and protection over time. For horizontal surfaces such as decking, tables and wooden garden furniture, it is generally recommended to use a wood saturator, which is suitable for these applications and easy to maintain thanks to its non-film-forming finish.

How to Apply Wood Stain?

The choice of your interior or exterior wood stain depends on the surface, its exposure and the desired finish. A range of different shades and colours is available to decorate and protect the wood while keeping its natural grain visible. Wood stain is easy to apply to clean, dry and properly prepared wood. Apply the product in the direction of the wood grain using a suitable brush or roller, following the recommended number of coats and drying times for the chosen wood stain.

Both interior and exterior wood require suitable protection. Indoors, wood is affected by time and ambient humidity. Outdoors, it is also exposed to rain and UV rays. Wood stains help preserve the wood's natural appearance while providing a decorative finish. Choose an interior wood stain for wood panelling and beams, and an exterior wood stain designed to withstand weather conditions for cladding, shutters and gates. Check that the product is compatible with the wood species and any existing finish, and carry out appropriate maintenance according to the level of exposure to ensure long-lasting protection.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Applying wood stain requires the right technique and precision to achieve a perfect finish. Discover the necessary tools, basic techniques and professional tips in our section on wood stain application techniques.

To protect and enhance the appearance of exterior wood, proper wood stain application is essential. Learn how to prepare the surface, choose the right wood stain and apply the product effectively in our complete guide to applying wood stain to exterior wood.

Choosing the right colour can transform the appearance of your wood. We help you understand the available shades and how to choose the best option for your project in our guide to choosing a wood stain colour.

Applying white wood stain to dark wood can be tricky. Our guide explains how to achieve the best whitewashed effect while ensuring an even finish in our guide to applying white wood stain.

Wood stain can dramatically transform the appearance of your wood. Browse our examples and discover the results you can expect before and after applying wood stain.

Bring aged wood back to life by following our recommendations for choosing and applying the right wood stain. Everything you need to know can be found in our guide to renovating wood with wood stain.

Applying wood stain over an existing finish requires specific preparation to ensure good adhesion and an attractive result. Discover the preparation and application steps in our complete guide to applying wood stain over an existing stain.

Transform your wooden furniture with wood stain for a refreshed appearance. Our tutorial explains the steps, tools required and useful tips to help you successfully stain your furniture.

Keep your brushes in good condition for longer by following our cleaning methods after applying wood stain. Discover simple and effective techniques in our guide to cleaning brushes after wood stain application.

Applying wood stain without sanding is possible under certain conditions. Find out when you can skip the sanding step and how to properly prepare the surface in our section on applying wood stain without sanding.

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