What is The Difference between Solid Stain and Paint?

If you look at paint and stain, they both look the same. For the most part, paint and solid stain are the same in appearance. Stain is composed of pigments and other ingredients that perform the same things as they do in paint. Both stain and paint are applied on a surface with a purpose to provide protection and add color.

However, if you check inside, there are so many differences between solid stain and paint. Stain is always thinner than paint and when stain is applied on a surface, it tends to soak into the surface. On the other hand, paint stays on the surface and creates a thin film.

What are Differences between Solid Stain and Paint?

Paint is more expensive and is more time consuming to apply on a surface. One should also apply paint over a primed surface in order to get the best result. If applied professionally, paints are likely to provide color uniformity and offer various degrees of sheens. Paint also provides a broader color range.

On the other hand, solid stain can be easily applied and recoated. With solid stain, you need minimum or no surface preparation and primers are not always required. Hence, solid stain is less time consuming to apply on a surface. Stains are also a cost-effective choice and they require very low maintenance cost. Solid stains are able to resist cracking, peeling, and blistering if applied according to the manufacturer’s instruction.

Stain v/s Paint:

There is a common misconception that stain doesn’t need re-doing. But this is simply not true. Stained surface often need to be re-coated just as you do as any of your painted surfaces. The chief advantage of stain v/s paint is that stain provides a natural look and usually will not peel and chip like a paint film. With stain, no priming job is required and it usually requires only one coat.

Unlike solid stain, paint has more color choices and is available in various sheens. Stain only comes in flat sheen and it cannot be applied over a painted surface. Nevertheless, paint can be applied on wood and many other surfaces like plastic and stucco. If you have a highly absorbent surface, it may require more stain than you planned on.

Does paint last longer than stain?

Paint that is applied according to the manufacturer’s direction will last longer than stain. However, solid stain will provide more protection to wood surface by letting the moisture escape.

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