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Selecting the right stain for your log home can be confusing and time consuming. Below you will find some helpful hints to guide you through the selection process.

1. Oil based stains typically penetrate into the wood and have a strong odor. Oil based stains can be used on logs, wood siding, decks, hand rails or roofing materials. Not all oil based stains are created the same.
2. Water based stains typically form a coating on the surface of the wood and have a low odor. They can be used on logs or wood siding but can present problems when used on decking surfaces. Not all water based stains are created the same.
3. Always test the stain on a wood sample from your home.
4. Clean your wood sample the same way your wood will be cleaned prior to the application of the stain.
5. This cleaning process can dramatically change the color of the stain material on your home and sample area.
6. Allow the stain sample area to dry for 24 hours.
7. Apply the same number of coats to your test sample area as you intend to apply to your log home.
8. Start at the top of your logs and work down when applying your log home stain.
9. Spraying the stain first is preferred but not absolutely necessary.
10. Always back brush your stain into the wood.
11. Oil based stains are typically easier to apply.
12. Water based stains can show lap marks and brush marks if you are not careful during the application of the products.
13. Water based stains clean up with soap and water.
14. Oil based stains clean up with solvents.
15. Water based stains can hide some of the grain of the wood.
16. Oil based stains typically allow more of your wood grain to show.
17. Some water based stains are prone to flake and peel on the surface of your wood. This is due to poor application of the stain material or it could be a bad water based stain product. A good water based stain will allow your wood to breath and expand and contract as your wood does thus preventing any flaking and peeling on the surface.
18. Some oil based stains fade very quickly and your wood is left with no protection. Once again, this can be attributed to poor stain application or it could be just a bad oil based stain product.
19. A good stain material should last 3-4 years on the southern exposure of your log home and 4-5 years on the other sides of your home. If you have found a stain product that outperforms these numbers then stick with it.
20. No stain will last the lifetime of your log home.
21. Stain technology has come a long ways in the last 20 years. There is a wider selection of good stains but there are still quite a few inferior stains on the market today.

For more information about chinking material, application tools or contractor referrals contact Mountain Home Building Products toll free at 800-490-3695.