Wood stains are still part of the category of paint.
It even still has the same formulation of binder, dye, and solvent.
However, these have a lesser amount of binder in it.
The idea of why these stains are invented is to allow paint to seep even through holes and pores of wood.
Unlike paint, it does not create a film covering the whole surface.
It assumes the form of the painted material thereby creating a more authentic look rather than a plain and homogeneous finish.
The varieties of stains differ in its viscosity.
They range from very thin to very thick.
The thicker variety is known as siding stains.
It is typically a paint that does not cover a surface by forming a film.
The advantages of using siding stains include: a.
Its design is aimed at penetrating the to-be painted material less effectively than paint.
b.
It protects the wood from the harsh UV rays of the sun thereby preserving and making it last longer.
c.
It stops water from seeping through the wood or any other material lessening its chance to disintegrate easily.
d.
It prevents the proliferation of mildew and fungi again making the wood last longer that expected.
e.
It slows downs the attack of termites and another wood-eating insects.
Now the question is what makes it different from lacquer or varnish? The only difference between the two is that stains have a pigment or a dye.
Varnishes do not have pigments, as it is colorless when applied.
However, these two come hand in hand when doing floor finishing and furniture.
The stain provides the color while the varnish add the gloss and the overall polished finish.
As a matter of fact, some products in the market combine varnishes and stains for easy use.
With this, you do not have to apply two materials on separate coatings.
It can be done with just one coating.
The degree of difficulty of using stains depends on the kind of wood to used.
Some woods are more porous than the others.
Aged wood stains well compared to green lumber wood.
Some may require a little more effort in staining while some do not.
Another factor to consider is the current weather conditions.
Some stains are really fast drying making it undesirable to use during hot and sunny climate.
The last factor is the type of stain to be used.
The viscosity of the stain is to be considered because only the right amount of viscosity would yield the perfect result to your wood.
Now back to the question if it is better than paint itself.
The answer is it all really depends.
There are construction works that would ideally require paint while others would call for the services of a stain.