Replies

1. 
   xMikeSmith | Mar 18, 2004 11:59pm | #1

   semi-transparent.... name your poison..

   if you want great protection and longevity.. go for a solid color 100% acrylic stain

   http://www.benjaminmoore.com/tds/1033/TDS067B.pdf

   Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

   
   

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   Edited 3/18/2004 5:01 pm ET by Mike Smith

2. 
   kestrel | Mar 19, 2004 03:42am | #2

   Hi pino,

   This was addressed to me, though I'm not a stain expert at all.  I have used semi-transparent several times on outbuildings and agree with Mike.  The ones I tried were not durable.

   Incidentally, we are using Hardishingle siding on parts of our house, and it is looking good.  It is fairly close to the shingle look.  I'm hoping it will be durable and the finish will have a long life.  We are staining it with Mason's Select stain.

   kestrel

1. 
   johnharkins | Mar 19, 2004 05:00am | #3

   Hey Sr. Pino   I have done at least four of the semi transparent siding jobs w /  shakes, shingles & bevel siding ( all clear western red cedar situations ). As I'm thinking of them it's is probably more like twice that.  Two of them were w/ Cabot  a bleaching stain and one w/ Cabot an oily look w/ whitener - two out of three were one coat  some spray in there w/ brush out and some dipping and dip and brush - some 25 yrs old and looks fantastic w/ favorable patina at most

   more shingle and bevel siding w / Olympic stains   beautiful array of colorations and fine quality -- usually 2 coats cuz we want it perfect and always before installation because semi transparent oil once there up is a difficult proposition - think of any stain where you have a porous surface and you have an abbreviated stroke from one 5" course to another ** we have always had beautiful results but it is incredibly labor intensiveIn my area of the PacNW one takes special care on the southwestern exposures

   I think the world of Mike Smith's work but when I hear solid color latex stain I just about puke  -  but his recommendation and the BennieMoore brand give it much credence -  if you go that route I'd be thinking hardiboard siding and looking into their shingles too   **8 and having spent the last couple days laying in 6" cedar bevel siding I'd look to the combination of hardiboard for your claps and cedar shingles

   salud  John

3. 
   Lateapex911 | Mar 19, 2004 10:06am | #4

   Well, semi transparent has its advantages, and its price. Great looks, suspect longevity.

   Check out Michigan Prestain.

   They use Sherwin Williams exclusivlely because they warrantee their product, and the S/W company is noted for their exterior coatings.My ordering experience with Mich Pre Stain was good, and they delivered ahead of schedule.

   Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

1. 
   pino | Mar 19, 2004 04:27pm | #6

   Michigan Prestain is actually one company we have spoken with and as we are in NW Indiana, they are relatively close.

   I realize that semi-transparent will require more frequent maintenance, but I really like the wood grain to show through the tint of the stain.

   Thanks all for your comments.

4. 
   ANDYBUILD | Mar 19, 2004 04:25pm | #5

   I used a semi transparent "bleaching" stain (grey) on a clapboard house I did over 8 years ago and it still looks great today.

   Just be sure the cedar is good and weathered before you stain.

   Be well

             andy

   "My life is my practice"

5. 
   WorkshopJon | Mar 19, 2004 04:38pm | #7

   "Which brand is best? Is there any real difference from brand to brand?"

   Pino,

   Not that this is really going to help too much, but over the past several years, increasing EPA regulations have been forcing paint and stain mfrs to reformulate their products to reduce VOC's.  I've purchased many a brand that was great in the past and is flat out awful now.

   My best luck was always with solvent (vs water) based stain.  Nowadays it's had to tell what it is from just reading the can.

   Jon

6. 
   DanH | Mar 19, 2004 04:38pm | #8

   You might consider Sikkens semi-transparent. I've never tried their siding stains, but their deck stains are highly regarded (and expen$ive).

1. 
   pino | Mar 19, 2004 04:55pm | #9

   My wife's cousin in Colorado uses Skken's on everything and swears by it. Most of the prestain companies will use it but there is an upcharge. I don't gave a problem with that so long as the quality is there.

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Mar 19, 2004 09:23pm | #10

   Sikkens is great stuff, but not user friendly  (depending on the line) and not cheap. I seriously considered it for a Mahogony deck, but went with Cuprinol, which was much more weather window and installer friendly. I have painted cars with Sikkens, though!

   I understand that the Sherwin Williams stuff has a unique base (urethane??) and is highly rated for UV.

   IMHO, pre dipped is such a better way to go. No mess, and a better job.

   I agree, red cedar is a great looking wood, and some house look great with the real grain showing.Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

7. 
   FrankB89 | Mar 20, 2004 02:11am | #11

   The best stain for WRC, IMO, is Penofin.  Get the Red Cedar Marine formulation if you want the best.  Price is about the same as Sikkens.

   Any alternative, with the exception, maybe, of Sikkens, is a mere stepsister. 

    

1. 
   pino | Mar 20, 2004 03:05am | #12

   But isn't Penofin a penetrating oil finish?

   We are looking to stain these a semi-transparent tan color. I am not trying to get the look of a Rocky Mountain getaway, as our home is in the heart of our city in an old but uneventful neighborhood. We don't want the house to look out of place. I guess we are trying to strike a balance between a pure cedar/redwood look and a painted clapboard look.

   See attached to get a feel for the colors to be used. The windows will be painted in a brick red, but the rest will be the colors in the photo.

   Can I get a look like this from Penofin?

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Mar 20, 2004 08:06am | #13

   I don't think you can.

   I KNOW I've seen that picture before..where is it from???Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

1. 
   pino | Mar 20, 2004 05:20pm | #15

   Thats from Michigan Prestain. W've alctually chosen colors a little different than the photo, but it represents the look we are striving for.

1. 
   Lateapex911 | Mar 21, 2004 01:41am | #17

   You can get S/W mixes, and Michigan Presatin will match. Go to  a local S/W retailer, make up some samples on some cedar stock that matches what you'll use, and keep the formulas.  Then just call MPS, and they will just go with your formula.

   This way you can get colors S/W doesn't have as standards.Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

2. 
   pino | Mar 21, 2004 02:31am | #18

   Excellent idea. Thank you again.

8. 
   BMan | Mar 20, 2004 01:58pm | #14

   Q.- BEST STAIN?

   A.- It depends. What color? What type (clear, semi-transparent, opaque)? What exposure (Sun is harsh)?For what it is worth, Consumer Reports has been conducting long term testing on different exterior stains. Solid stains significantly outperform semitransparents. CR is testing red, green and white stain colors. After the equivalent of nine years exposure, Behr Plus 10 is holding up well in red and green while Sherwin Williams is best in white (but poor in red and green). Olympic Premium is a good choice in any color. Somewhat surprising is that water based products are outlasting oil based. Check October 2002 and August 2003 issues for complete results.

1. 
   pino | Mar 20, 2004 05:21pm | #16

   Thanks much. I will get my hands on those issues.