Staining VS Sealing?

[Rob R.]

Are they the same just different lingo? Sorry for such newb question! I have always understand staining decks, but I often hear sealing as well and just not sure exactly what the difference is when referred to..

[Beth n Rod]

We explain it as a stain being a solid or semi solid (hide the wood grain), looks most like a paint but breathes unlike a paint. Sealers are semi-transparent and allow you to see the wood, while protecting it from UV. This is how we explain it and people tend to say "oh ok" and be comfortable with it since they can understand it. Hope this helps.

Beth

[RPetry]

I always thought "stain" was the actual pigment of the product while "sealer" is the property of moisture inhibition, ie: oil rejecting water penetration in wood, of the same product. Sealing out water and staining the wood with coloration, all in one product.

[Beth n Rod]

The reason we explain it this way, is many products have the word "SOLID" before the word stain on the label. (look at the Cabot's line for example) This has worked like a charm for us. When we get asked the question, it typically has to do with the look, not the function.

Beth

[Beth n Rod]

If one were to get down to the literal interpretation:
-Sealing is the application of an environmental barrier (this is also a function of a stain as well).
-Staining is the application of a colored sealant whether it be a 'toner', 'semi-transparent' or 'solid' all relative in terms of opacity. ie; any thing that alters the natural appearance of the surface.

Rod!~

[deach]

Originally Posted by Beth n Rod

If one were to get down to the literal interpretation:
-Sealing is the application of an environmental barrier (this is also a function of a stain as well).
-Staining is the application of a colored sealant whether it be a 'toner', 'semi-transparent' or 'solid' all relative in terms of opacity. ie; any thing that alters the natural appearance of the surface.

Rod!~

Wonderful explanation, probably the best I've heard in quite some time. That's pretty much what I tell them. They seem to understand that pretty well too.

[Rob R.]

I hate to ask "dumb" questions but I would rather know the answer.. After rods explanation thats pretty much spot on of what I assumed..

thanks rod and beth for the explanation

[MMI Enterprises]

For wood, staining is the act of applying a color or pigment at any level upto opaqueness without totally doing away with surface texture. Total opaqueness with thick film formation that covers texture is painting.

[Beth n Rod]

Originally Posted by MMI Enterprises

For wood, staining is the act of applying a color or pigment at any level upto opaqueness without totally doing away with surface texture. Total opaqueness with thick film formation that covers texture is painting.

There are plenty of solid "stains" that cover the grain - and they are not classified as paint. Some of that - is how well they breathe. Covering the grain is not all of it....

Beth

[MMI Enterprises]

Originally Posted by Beth n Rod

There are plenty of solid "stains" that cover the grain - and they are not classified as paint. Some of that - is how well they breathe. Covering the grain is not all of it....

Beth

Might want to rethink your reply, as saying "cover the grain" can be interprited as either visually, texturely, or both.
Show me a solid stain (opaque by definition) that also film forms to point of not presenting the wood texture and I'll show you a paint.
In generic sense a staining has pretty much always implied a coloration within something wthout regard to a top coat. Wood is no different really in that sense than say a shirt or a slab of concrete.
But do realize I meant staining as an act. Silly stain/paint manufactures can try to change things all they want and call product what they want. In the end it is either stain or it is paint.
Regardless, I consider my two statements accurate.

ps- Stain/paint or the act of staining/painting has never meant or stood for something that is breathable or sealed. Is but a result on ocassion depending on their makeup.

[Beth n Rod]

I'm not going to argue with you. Solid Stains for Exterior Surfaces | Cabot
Go read for yourself.
Solid stain covers grain.

Beth

[Beth n Rod]

Have another one..... Choosing Opacity | Cabot
About opacity.
Beth

[Beth n Rod]

Originally Posted by MMI Enterprises

For wood, staining is the act of applying a color or pigment at any level upto opaqueness without totally doing away with surface texture. Total opaqueness with thick film formation that covers texture is painting.

***AAAAANNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHHH*** [buzzer]
Paint is a different material all-together.
Paint is not permeable and does not breathe, Stains do.
The only characteristic that the two share is opacity.
Opacity is determined by the solid content. The higher the opacity the less one can see through it. The lower the opacity, the more one can see through it.
You must be feeling contrary today. Sorry, had to point out mis-information.
Le's not confuse things with what is your opinion here and not based upon fact and correct use of the term relatively.

Sorry...pet peeve alert! Painting is the application of a paint.
Staining is the application of a colored sealant.
The terms 'Stain' & 'Paint' are not interchangeable as the two do not have the same characteristics in performance or formulation.

Rod!~

[MMI Enterprises]

You, Beth, and Cabot, can all go fly kites together with Cabot facts..everybody knows the reference Beth would provide was gonna be by Cabot.. lol (edit-..opp, sorry, Cabot didn't really say any facts effecting our points)

Originally Posted by Beth n Rod

***AAAAANNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHHH*** WHat is this? some sort of obscure insult or a misapplied smiley?[buzzer]
Paint is a different material all-together. Untrue... a stain or a paint is not defined by a perticular ingredient.
Paint is not permeable and does not breathe, Stains do. Depends on what the paint or stain is made of or more recently what type of surface yer talking about. But yea paint has generally been impermeable in results. Natives painted their faces and body but I doubt they thought they would be impermeable but for the fear they instilled..
The only characteristic that the two share is opacity. Umm er yea, that is somewhat correct..cause one shows texture and the other don't.
Opacity is determined by the solid content. Untrue..is determined by the pigment content. The higher the opacity the less one can see through it. The lower the opacity, the more one can see through it. Really.. who could or would want to argue that?
You must be feeling contrary today. On the contrary I am somewhat supportive of yer first post even though it partially wrong in not recognizing the historical aspect of a stain not covering over natural texture. Sorry, had to point out mis-information. Call it what ya want..I'll just call yers misinformative with a bias towards changing history.
Le's not confuse things with what is your opinion here and not based upon fact and correct use of the term relatively. Never do except when it is accepted fact.
Since it is all opinion, your tag team should recognize and act as such. In other words, say yours, let others say theirs.

Sorry...pet peeve alert! Painting is the application of a paint. umm yea the term denotes an act in the way it is being worded. Do you have a point in saying such? Fail to see what yer pet peeve is about..
Staining is the application of a colored sealant.(by yer definition that be almost what some call a paint..lol).. I stain plenty of things without sealing them.

STAINING does not have to include a sealant...and it does not usually ever include covering over a surface texture. That is of course unless you buy into manufacture definition or marketing techniques and are from your camp.

The terms 'Stain' & 'Paint' are not interchangeable as the two do not have the same characteristics in performance or formulation. Missed where anyone said they were interchangeable...Hey Rod, an oil paint includes what and an oil stain includes what? neither strictly in their origins were meant to define impermiability or its absence. The solids may just happen to offer it by their main chore of coloring something.

Rod!~

Oh and hey.. Marriage is between a man and a woman and let's hope that meaning don't change too.

[MMI Enterprises]

Originally Posted by Beth n Rod

I'm not going to argue with you. Solid Stains for Exterior Surfaces | Cabot
Go read for yourself.
Solid stain covers grain.

Beth

Why argue then? .. but please do point to what ya want us to read as Cabot is not saying anything there about their solid OVT stain (which I use btw) doing away with a woods texture. Of course a solid covers grain visually.. Am talking about texture here. Or feel or 3D..ya know.