[Kelly Painting]

What do you think lasts longer...paint or stain?

I realize there are many variables...so lets say any type of paint
and any type of stain..on an exterior piece of wood..

I would say paint, when prepped and applied properly.

 

[ewingpainting.net]

Depends if it ext or int. ext. For the int stain with a lacquer top. On the ext. I would go with paint.

 

[PinnacleResidential]

Paint

 

[MAK-Deco]

Ext's On rough cedar I have had better luck with solid stain over "flat" paint

 

[pintex]

Stain hands down. Int:durablity is unmatched, my house has 5 kids 7 and under, painted trim would never survive. Ext: Stain may fade, but if applied correctly it will not fail (flake, peel, just plain fall off). My dads house stained 12 years ago and the stain adhers like the day put on. I just repainted house that was painted 10 years ago, half the paint was in the grass. :whistling2:

Now that being said, this new "cement" board siding I think will hold the paint better than your old cedar sided farm houses, but it will fade with time.:yes:

Just my two cents!:thumbsup:

 

[Kelly Painting]

Exterior...bare wood.

If paint...then prime first. with 2 coats top. (stain 2 coats also)

 

[DeanV]

I prefer stain on exteriors. If regular maintenance coats are done, there is limited prepwork since there is very little peeling to deal with.

Now, I do wonder if after several repaint cycles (3-4) that there are enough coats of acrylic stain that now it functions more like a flat paint and may start having issues with peeling in some areas. Paint may look better for a few years longer, but the prepwork is usually more critical and time consuming compared to stain.

 

[Kelly Painting]

I hear ya...but we are not talking the ease of prep...
We are saying which will outlast the other?

Same conditions for both

 

[Mantis]

I hear ya...but we are not talking the ease of prep...
We are saying which will outlast the other?

Same conditions for both

For new wood, I've had horrible luck with stain on smooth cedar, especially on horizontal surfaces. That being said, the stain outlasts 2 coats of ext latex on the same type of substrate.

For ext repaints we spot prime and 2 coat paint.

 

[DeanV]

even over stain

For new wood, I've had horrible luck with stain on smooth cedar, especially on horizontal surfaces. That being said, the stain outlasts 2 coats of ext latex on the same type of substrate.

For ext repaints we spot prime and 2 coat paint.

Even over stain?

On smooth cedar, I have heard everything will eventually peel if it is rough side in.

 

[Mantis]

Even over stain?

On smooth cedar, I have heard everything will eventually peel if it is rough side in.

Sorry, i should have been more clearerer.

We stain over stain. Spot prime and paint over paint. Not saying you cant put solid stain over paint, we just never have. Really the only time we use a solid stain is over unfinished cedar.

 

[slickshift]

I hear ya...but we are not talking the ease of prep...
We are saying which will outlast the other?

Same conditions for both

Out here (tough conditions...even 'inland' is out in the ocean, hot sun, sitting snow, cold winters, storms off-cape guys/gals only read about...figure every job is like a "salt water marina" type job, humidity like like you've never dreamed of, then inside dry-out with furnace or wood stove), stain will last longer....IF you are talking a raw substrate with proper prep and quality products

Of course, either one would benefit from a maint. coat after 3 years regardless
But a stain will get much longer (30%) before it's 'needed'
(nevermind that if caught in time, it'll need less prep)

 

[plainpainter]

If I re-shake my own house, it's a no brainer - oil solid stain the whole way. But I think you are comparing apples to oranges. When paint fails - it peels off, you have to scrape it, sand it - spot prime - etc. Not to mention you can't even feather sand latex like you can older oil based paint finishes.

If you want to reside your own home - you will be doing the siding yourself - you will be putting that benjamin obdyke material beneath the clapboards that allows the moisture to run out the bottom - you will be putting factory primed clapboard, then priming all the cuts. Then you will allow your siding to weather for over a year, then pressure wash clean, reprime your whole entire home with and oil based primer, caulk with the highest quality caulking, a coating of exterior 100% acrylic latex primer, then two coats of 100% acrylic finish paint. And you will be doing maintenance washings every year - keeping up with roof repairs - and you will be putting a coat of paint every 6-7 years. Then yeah I think the paint will be a really good option.

 

[vermontpainter]

I am a stain fan. I would rather watch something fade and lose color retention than peel and flake. I also only like the idea of stain on rough side shingle or siding. On smooth anything, I will take primer and paint. I am not in favor of smooth siding. Trim, yes, smooth and prime and paint everytime. Siding, depends.

That being said, and Plain this gets to your point, I re sided my own house seven years ago with red cedar clapboards. Preprimed with oil all sides before installation and primed the cuts. Topped it off with 2 coats Cabot's the Finish and have not had any sign of failure in seven years. I just need to wash it once in a while as it is white. Plain, your approach is very very thorough but perhaps a bit overthought! (And I mean this in the most good natured of ways, as I know that by nature you are very thorough!).

 

[jr.painting]

Paint can last longer.

 

[Safety Guy]

I will let you know in 5-7 years. I solid stained the house 8 years ago over stain and backprimed all new cedar. It has been 7-8 years and this summer we put a single coat of SW Durations over the house after proper prep.

 

[pintex]

Oil (paint) is paint trying to become stain. Excellent point about recoating stain when it fades rather than scraping, sanding, priming, painting and then praying (in some cases).:thumbsup:

 

[Nia]

[I prefer stain on exteriors. If regular maintenance coats are done, there is limited prepwork since there is very little peeling to deal with.]

I agree. Stain is so much easier, more durable and adds character.

Nia