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Paint or Stain: What’s Best for Your Project?
Paint and stain are both widely used for different home improvement projects. But should you give your porch that pop of color or let the wood’s natural beauty shine through? At Color Store, we specialize in Benjamin Moore paint, stain, and primer for interior and exterior surfaces. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each to help you gain a better idea of what will best suit your project.
When to Choose Paint
Painting is a cost-effective way to give an antique armoire or old bench swing a fresh look. It’s available in a rainbow of colors and is easy to apply with a brush, sprayer, or roller. Some of the most significant advantages of interior and exterior paint include:
- Opacity: Paint delivers complete coverage, so you need fewer coats.
- Versatility: You can paint over stains, but not the other way around.
- Finish: From matte to glossy or metallic, every vision has a paint finish.
- Refinish process: Repainting later requires scraping and sanding, adding time to your project.
Plus, paint formulas adhere to a wider variety of materials than stain formulas, such as
- Drywall
- Wood
- PVC
- Vinyl
- Cement
- Masonry
- Metal
Benjamin Moore paint is uniquely engineered for indoor and outdoor environments, from the cabinets in your kitchen to the siding on your house. If you need a surface that’s easy to clean or weather the elements, there’s a formula for every project.
When Selecting Wood Stain Is Better
Permeating and enhancing the surface, the stain highlights natural wood grains. It’s excellent for giving furniture, decks, fencing, and other pieces a warm, timeless finish and is often preferred for its strong weather-resistant properties. Here are some of the reasons stain may be better than paint:
- Opacity: Stain is transparent or semi-transparent, making it the optimal choice for projects that should look authentically natural.
- Time: Drying faster than paint stain shortens your timeline to completion.
- Resistance: Wood stains are less prone to chipping, blistering, and scuffs.
- Surface protection: Stain polishes and protects wood surfaces, enhancing its integrity.
Crafted for superior performance, Benjamin Moore exterior stain comes in several formulas to suit different projects. It’s designed for application to hard and soft woods and binds directly to the fibers. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common wood stains and how they differ:
- Oil-based stains tend to dry slower and penetrate deeper, yielding richer color.
- Gel stains are thicker, making it easier to lay down an even coat.
- Water-based stains dry fast and don’t penetrate as deep, creating a softer finish.
- Oil-based polyurethane creates a hard, durable coating.
Consult Your Local Benjamin Moore Dealer
Let us help you find the perfect Benjamin Moore stain or paint for your next project. Our expert color consultants know our products inside and out and can help you decide on specific colors, formulas, painting supplies, and more. Giving the best this brand offers, we serve customers in Des Moines, Waukee, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. For more information and project ideas, contact us today.
On-screen and printer color representations may vary from actual paint colors.