EXTERIOR STAINING SERVICES

Fences and other vertical elements must be treated differently than horizontal elements. This is because although they are exposed to rain and snow, these do not lie on top of them for months at a time, as in the case of horizontal surfaces. While most products suitable for horizontal surfaces are also suitable for vertical surfaces, this isn't always the case. Trust A1 Stain to provide you with expert product recommendations for vertical surfaces.

Often fences are constructed and stained in the same summer. This provides the best protection. More often, however, fences are built with the intention to stain them 'later'. One to two years after construction is an ideal time to protect your fence with an attractive semi-transparent, semi-solid or solid stain.

Decks, stairs and other exposed horizontal wooden surfaces need extra special treatment. After all, they stand up to a lot: rain all year, often a heavy snow pack in winter, foot traffic and spills in summer,  and punishing exposure to harsh UV light -- one of the leading causes of exterior wood degradation. Because moisture sits on top of the surface, the coating or stain has to be specially formulated for these applications. Some products simply weather better than others -- rely on A1 Stain for professional product recommendations based on years of experience in Toronto. 

Horizontal surfaces require top-notch preparation for lasting results.  That's why A1 Stain uses a full range of wood conditioners and brighteners, gentle powerwashing, power and hand sanding, as well as dust removal by tack cloth and compressed air before staining. 

Pergolas, gazebos, built-in benches and free-standing furniture pieces all look better and last longer when properly stained. More complex geometries require more careful work than decks and fences -- to control drips and splatter and to ensure even coating. A1 Stain always uses quality drop cloths, taped-down plastic sheeting, painter's tape and water dampening to reliably prevent damage to the rest of your property.   

This is the most conventional and common form of stain: imparting a slight colour/tonality to the wood while allowing the full grain to shine through.  Available colours range from straw to mahogany, with a wide range of product formulations based on pigment, dye, natural and synthetic oils, and varnish. This type of stain can be either waterborne or oil-based, however the oil-based products are generally superior in appearance and durability. Ideal for new wood or wood in good condition. 

Semi-solid stains preserve some of the wood grain while solid stains completely obscure it. Semi-solid stain is underused and can lend an upscale design feel to ordinary backyards while providing some of the best protection in the industry. Solid stains can be either waterborne or oil-based. VOC regulations have caused many excellent older stain products to be discontinued or disallowed in Canada. Some waterborne solid stains essentially form a flexible barrier around the wood instead of soaking into it. This can be a good choice for older decks in poor condition when significant surface prep is cost prohibitive. Many effective products remain, however, both waterborne and oil-based, that penetrate deeply into the wood. These are our favourites. 

A1 Stain prefers to get up close and personal while applying stain. That's why we usually use brushes and rags instead of rollers and sprayers. The slight pressure of the brush or rag combined with the up-close working distance result in better penetration and more even application. Rollers on poles almost always leave lap marks as the working distance is too great for our level of quality control. Similarly, sprayers are an excellent and time-saving tool for commercial applications, but residential properties can be destroyed by improper or careless use of sprayers. That's why we avoid them.