Exterior Wood Stain
Exterior wood stain is a translucent finish for outdoor wood. It colours the wood, protects it from water and weathering and, thanks to its pigments, from UV radiation too – but unlike opaque paint it lets the grain show through. Wood stains differ mainly in whether they soak into the wood (thin-film, oil-based and wax stains) or form a film on the surface (thick-film stains). This determines which surfaces they suit and how they are renewed.
Below you will find how to choose a stain according to what you are coating, how to pick a shade and how to maintain the finish. Choose a specific product by its technical data sheet: the manufacturer states which surfaces it is intended for.
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Types of wood stain
| Type | How it works | Suitable for | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thin-film | soaks into the wood, forms no film, lets the wood breathe | wood that moves: fences, cladding and façades, pergolas, garden sheds | recoat after cleaning, usually without sanding |
| Thick-film | forms a thin varnish-like film on the surface | dimensionally stable joinery: windows, doors | the film cracks and peels over time and is sanded before renewal |
| Oil-based | oil with pigments, soaks into the wood | vertical surfaces as specified by the manufacturer, some also decking and furniture | recoat with the same product, usually without sanding |
| Wax and cream | wax with pigments, soaks in and repels water | as specified by the manufacturer, often vertical surfaces only | recoat with the same product, usually without sanding |
Oil-based and wax stains are also thin-film stains: they form no film, so they do not peel. A thick-film stain protects the wood with a continuous layer, but that layer must stay intact.
Which stain for which surface
| What you are coating | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Fence, façade, cladding, wall boards | a thin-film, oil-based or wax stain for vertical surfaces. The wood moves and a film would crack on it. |
| Pergola, gazebo, garden shed | a thin-film or oil-based stain. On horizontal beams, small roofs and sills, use only a product the manufacturer also specifies for horizontal surfaces. |
| Decking, steps | only a product explicitly intended for decking, usually an oil or oil-based stain. A thick-film stain wears through on surfaces that are walked on. |
| Garden furniture | an oil or oil-based stain intended for furniture. Seats and table tops take similar wear to decking. |
| Windows, exterior doors | a thick-film stain, or a product the manufacturer explicitly specifies for windows and doors. |
Horizontal surfaces age faster than vertical ones: water sits on them, the sun beats down on them harder and people walk on them. They therefore need a more durable product and more frequent renewal.
Shade: more than just colour
- Pigment protects. Coloured pigments absorb UV radiation, and as a rule the deeper the shade, the longer it protects against greying.
- A clear stain protects the wood from water but offers little protection from the sun. In sunlight the wood will naturally turn grey over time. It suits places where greying does not matter, or less exposed spots.
- The final tone depends on the wood species and its preparation. A colour chart is only a guide, so always test the stain on a piece of the same wood.
- White, grey, brown and coloured shades are in the product listing below this description. Colour charts are in the category Wood Finishes Sample Charts.
Wood stains in our range
| Product | Type | Intended use according to the manufacturer | Shades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubio Monocoat WoodCream | wax cream, thin-film stain | vertical surfaces only: fences, cladding and façades, shutters, carports, garden sheds. Not for horizontal surfaces. | 27 in three collections (grey, traditional, Scandinavian); thinner: Softener |
| Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector | oil-based stain | vertical and horizontal surfaces: façades, fences, pergolas, decking, garden furniture, windows, doors. For decking, furniture and doors, use with 10% accelerator; the light White and Natural shades are not for horizontal surfaces. | 20: 12 wood tones and 8 POP colours |
Coverage, drying time and application instructions are on each product page.
Maintaining and renewing the finish
How long a finish lasts depends on the product, the shade, the wood species and which way it faces. South- and west-facing sides and horizontal surfaces need renewing sooner. The manufacturer states the interval in the technical data sheet.
- Once a year, ideally after winter, inspect the surface for faded colour, ingrained dirt and green growth, and water that no longer beads.
- Before renewing, clean the wood with an exterior wood cleaner, for example Rubio Exterior Wood Cleaner, and let it dry.
- Recoat thin-film, oil-based and wax stains with the same product, usually without sanding. With a thick-film stain, sand back the damaged film.
- Take care with a pressure washer: high pressure or a nozzle held too close will raise and tear the wood fibres.
You will find more products for exterior wood in the section Exterior wood finish.
Frequently asked questions about wood stains
What stain should I use on a fence?
A fence is vertical wood that moves, so a thin-film, oil-based or wax stain suits it: it forms no film and does not peel. In our range, both the Rubio Monocoat WoodCream wax cream and the Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector oil-based stain are suitable for fences.
Stain or oil for decking?
For decking, choose a product the manufacturer explicitly specifies for decking. This is usually an oil or oil-based stain, which soaks into the wood and does not peel. A stain intended only for vertical surfaces, or a thick-film stain, does not belong on a surface that is walked on. From our range, Hybrid Wood Protector with 10% accelerator is suitable for decking.
Thin-film or thick-film stain?
A thin-film stain soaks into the wood and forms no film. It suits wood that moves (fences, façades, pergolas) and is renewed without sanding. A thick-film stain forms a varnish-like film on the surface. It is intended mainly for windows and doors, but the film cracks over time and is sanded before renewal.
How often does a wood stain need renewing?
It depends on the product, the shade and how exposed the wood is to the weather. Horizontal surfaces such as decking and furniture need renewing more often than vertical ones. South- and west-facing sides suffer most. The manufacturer states the interval in the technical data sheet. In practice you can tell it is time when the colour fades and water stops beading.
Can I apply a different product over an old stain?
It depends on the condition of the old finish and on the new product. Usually you need to remove loose residue, sand the surface and clean it. Remove an old finish in poor condition completely, down to bare wood. Some products always require bare wood, so follow the technical data sheet.
Product sorting
List of products
Code: WC-TRANSPARENT/000030
Code: WC-TIMELESS-GREY/000030
Code: WC-SWEET-TOFFEE/000030
Code: WC-SALTED-CARAMEL/000030
Code: WC-RICH-ALMOND/000030
Code: WC-MOCHA-CREAM/000030
