How to Stain Wood

Staining is a great way to improve the natural appearance of wood that retains its original texture unlike painting. Wood can be stained in different colors and shades to match the home decor. Be it your old furniture, cabinets, doors or wooden flooring, staining wood can allow you to change the color to suit your home decor. Wood is often stained to imitate the darker and the more expensive varieties. So, how exactly do you go about staining wood? Here, in this article, we shall see how to stain wood furniture, cabinets, doors and even floors. The basic process for staining wood is almost the same for all of these. Have a look...

How to Apply Stain on Wood?
Staining wood can be a difficult task if the wood is already stained and you have to remove the old stain before applying the new one. However, if you have just bought the furniture, then applying a new stain is fairly simple. The best woods for staining are those with an even texture. Soft woods such as pine, birch, fir and maple, have an uneven grain pattern that can cause a blotchy look on staining. Let us see how to stain pine wood...

Before we begin with the actual process of staining pine wood, it is important to choose the type of wood stain. There are three different types of stains available: oil based stains, water based stains and gel based stains. The oil based stain is the best among all as it penetrates well and protects the wood from damage. However, it takes a long time to dry. You will have to apply polyurethane on the wood after the stain dries, no matter whichever stain you choose. This will give it a better finish. Now, follow these instructions on how to stain wood furniture.

Step 1
The first step is to clean the wood surface of any dirt or grease. This is done by sanding the wood, first using a coarse sandpaper and then by a fine one. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth after sanding.

Step 2
The next step is to condition the wood. This helps in eliminating the grain from rising and thus, promotes a uniform distribution of the stain. The conditioner used should match the wood stain color.

Step 3
You can stain wood by using a clean rag or a brush. Dip one corner of the rag into the stain and apply a light coat of stain on the wood. Spread the stain evenly on the surface of the wood using moderate pressure on the rag. Follow the same methods of application while using a brush. You can also use the spraying wood staining technique. However, this method requires specific skills and can be difficult for beginners.

Step 4
Once you are done with applying the stain on the wood, allow it to dry completely. Water based stains dry quickly whereas the oil based ones take more than 24 hours to dry. Do not forget to apply a coat of polyurethane on the dried stain.

This was all about how to stain wood furniture made of pine? Now, you must be wondering how to stain maple wood? Maple and pine are both soft woods and hence the procedure is the same for both. While staining wooden doors, make sure you remove the door from the hinges. Remove all the hardware attached to it and then start the process of staining. Put the door back only when the stain has dried completely. Follow the same procedure for staining kitchen cabinets. You will have to be a little careful while staining wood floors. Remove all the furniture and other things from the room and sweep the floor well. Start at a corner of the room farthest from the door and do not forget to allow the stain to dry overnight, before replacing the furniture.

Now, that you know the basic procedure for staining wood, I hope your questions 'how to stain wood floors', 'how to stain wood cabinets' and 'how to stain wood doors' are all answered. So get ready and give your home a new look!