Staining - Stains for logs
Although this is the third application step in the maintenance process, two homework
items should have been accomplished much earlier: researching compatibility of the
new stain to the existing stain on your home and to chinking and caulking, and color
testing liquid samples of the colors that you are considering on an inconspicuous
part of your home. You really don't want to stall your project now making these
decisions, especially once you have the logs clean, preserved and ready for stain.
The best way to address the compatibility issue is to call the manufacturer of the
stain you are considering and ask them for assistance. You will be asked to provide
the name of the stain, the color, and the manufacturer of the existing stain on
your home. Contrary to popular thought, not all oil-based stains for logs
are compatible with one another; the same is true of latex-based stains.
Color testing is extremely important! We cover this process in detail on our High
Sierra and Capture Log Stain color charts. By following the instructions we've provided,
you are eliminating the risk of staining your entire home with a color that you
don't like.
We offer two types of stain technology, the total water-based
Sashco's Capture/Cascade system and a water/oil emulsion product,
High Sierra Log Stain. Both products
have excellent field results on hundreds of log homes across the nation.
Sashco's Capture/Cascade is a two-part,
water-based staining system: An extremely effective, grain enhancing stain, Capture
Log Stain, followed by a protective, weather repellent topcoat, Cascade. This system
is an excellent choice for chink-style homes because maintenance coats using the
clear topcoat, Cascade, won't discolor chinking.
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- Spraying on Capture Log Stain -
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- Vigorously brushing into the logs -
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- After the Capture Log Stain has dried, Cascade is being sprayed over the Capture
Log Stain as a protective top-coat that also enhances the grain -
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- Brushing Cascade evenly over the Sashco's Capture stained logs -
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- Although Cascade goes on milky it dries to a clear soft sheen. Finished Capture
Log Stain / Cascade wall - |
High Sierra Log Stain is for those
of you who haven't yet reached a comfort level with total water-based stain technology.
The water/oil formulation has an open working time similar to total oil-based stains,
allowing more time to work with the product before it begins to dry at the surface.
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- Spraying on High Sierra -
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- Brushing High Sierra -
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Any stain can gather in knots or checks and then run down the log. Keep an eye out
for these areas and simply brush out the excess product with a brush.
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Different stain technologies have slightly different application techniques but
there are some commonalities:
- Always start with clean wood
- Moisture content should be no greater than 20%
- Wood temperature should be moderate, between 45-90° F
- Vigorous back brushing is recommended
- Work one wall at a time, starting at the top, and work horizontally to natural breaks
in the wall, i.e., windows, doors, butt joints
- If you have different batch numbers on the pails of stain, blend them together.
This is called "boxing."
- If it looks like you won't have enough stain, plan to finish an entire wall with
the product you have on hand. This will eliminate any possible slight color variations
that might occur between batches on a wall.
- Protect newly stained wood from rain until the coating is firmly set. Most stains
can tolerate a light rain after 24 hours.
- Carefully read and follow the stain manufacturers' instructions.
Capture Log Stain Data:Tec
Cascade Data:Tec
High Sierra Log Stain Data:Tec