Should You Paint or Stain Your Porch?

Over time, porches begin to look worn down and require repainting or staining. Which of the two should you choose? Porch and hail damage repair expert Colonial Remodeling LLC is here to help you make a decision.

Painting 101

Painting is a great option because you can choose from almost any color. But while paint is easy to maintain, not requiring refinishing for years, it does hide the characteristics of wood, potentially diminishing the charm of your porch. On the upside, painting will let you easily cover up any flaws you want to conceal.

Another important thing to note is that it’s easier to go from stain to paint than paint to stain. Once you start painting, it’s almost always a given that you’ll paint again because going from painting to staining is an expensive and time-consuming process.

Staining Basics

Like painting, staining will protect your porch from the elements. Unlike painting, however, it will enhance the natural beauty of wood, highlighting grains and other unique characteristics. Unfortunately, if you need storm damage repair, staining won’t hide nicks and cracks in the wood.

Stains are not as versatile from an aesthetic standpoint and not all types of wood hold stains very well. On average, porches need to be restained every other year, although using an oil-based, semi-transparent stain can extend required upkeep to three to five years.

Colonial Remodeling LLC draws on more than 20 years of industry experience to address your needs, providing quality home remodeling products and services to ensure you get the results you’re looking for. To learn more about what we can do for you, simply give us a call at (703) 534-0800 or fill out our contact form. Ask us for a FREE estimate today! We serve Northern VA and the surrounding communities.

Jon Hickox