Is it Better to Paint or Stain Wood?
Last Updated on June 20, 2023
Just as oiling or varnishing, painting or staining wood is an ongoing debate with both options having pros and cons. They are products with similar characteristics, both pigmenting or colouring the wood itself, but in a different finish and style. Apart from painting and staining, there are other ways to add colour to wooden surfaces, but both of these techniques are by far the most popular.
What is staining wood?
Staining is a process of adding a pigment to wooden surfaces while providing a more natural finish as it is absorbed by the wood itself while preserving its natural look, grain pattern and knots. Staining provides a semi-transparent to a transparent finish.
Advantages of staining wooden worktops
- Delivers a more natural finish and preserves the inherent beauty of the wood
- Easy-to-apply
- Protects the wood from moisture, while allowing it to breathe
Disadvantages of staining wooden worktops
- It can get cloudy over time, particularly if the surface does not have a top coat of hard-wax oil protection
- Unprotected stained surfaces are vulnerable to unwanted marks (i.e., water and acidity)
Why should you paint your wooden worktops?
Painting is a process of adding colour to a wooden surface, with the paint layer staying on the surface top and completely obscures the organic look of the wood. Paint isn’t confined to wooden surfaces alone, it also serves as a medium for painting walls, ceilings, and much more. With its wide range of hues, it imparts exceptional versatility to any project. It gives a very bold finish to a wooden surface.
Advantages of painting wooden surfaces
- Provides a strong, striking appearance to any wooden surface in a wide range of colour finishes
- Paint gives a very uniform covering due to its thick texture
- It can be applied to multiple surfaces, in addition to wood
- Provides good protection to wood as the paint layer sits on top of the surface
Disadvantages of painting wooden surfaces
- Painting can peel or crack
- Hard to make cosmetic retouches
- Relatively high price tag
- Bit more difficult to apply
- A painted surface cannot be stained, without stripping the paint itself.
Staining versus Painting wooden worktops
First of all, staining is more DIY-friendly than painting, as the wood surface simply has to be sanded prior to staining.
For a professional finish, we strongly recommend householders clean the surface of the wood with a damp, lint-free cloth to raise the wood grain before staining. Allow the surface to completely dry for a couple of hours, then sand the raised wood grain with the orbital sander or simply with sanding paper. This will remove the raised grain prior so that it does not surface afterwards after staining and will provide a more polished look to the finished surface.
Plus, painting is a more tedious process, which requires more attention. Also, small touch-ups are possible to be made if the butcher block is stained, while entirely with paint, the complete painted surfaces have to be stripped and then it has to be repainted.
What are the advantages of oil-based stains over water-based stains?
Oil-based stains are more DIY-suitable compared to water-based wood stains for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, they have a longer open time, which makes the stain application process easier, as you won’t be under time constraints and have more time to fully inspect the evenness of the application before it is absorbed.
Secondly, the coverage area of oil-based stains is larger than water-based ones, making it more economical to use.
With oil-based stains, the fibre of the wood grain tends not to rise as much, which makes the pigmenting process faster and easier, allowing you to skip the moisturising of the worktop surface.
Is wood stain stronger than paint?
Paint provides better protection overall, as it forms a film sitting on top of the wooden surface. However, both painted surface and stained surfaces are recommended to be covered with a top coat for a longer-lasting better look.
Stain is absorbed by the surface of the wood and the colour of the stain can be dissolved over time. However, with painted surfaces, the paint itself can start to peel. Of course, there might be various reasons for this; one of which may be poor pre-painting preparation, especially if the surface to be painted hasn’t been properly cleaned of dust. Exposure to moisture and water could be another reason for peeling. Poor adhesion between coats is yet another potential cause of such issues.
Paint is more laborious to be maintained when compared to staining; as with stains, small repairs are always possible. As a result, staining is a preferred choice for kitchen worktops, table tops and wood flooring – any surfaces that are exposed to high wear and tear. However, the stained surface is always recommended to be sealed with a hard wax oil or any other sealant that will protect the wood from unwanted marks.
Is wood stain cheaper than paint?
In general, stain is cheaper than paint, and does not require as many coats as painting. Besides, ahead of any decision-making, households should also consider the cost of a primer, as application of one coat of primer is always recommended – to provide better adhesion of the paint.
But, as mentioned earlier, stain is much more suitable for DIY than paint. The quality of your finish is determined to a large extent by the quality of your sanding, prior staining. If the surface is homogeneously sanded with the same sanding grit, then the stain will be equally well-absorbed by every part of your wooden worktop. Once dry, it will have a uniform finish.
What lasts longer: paint or stain?
On average, paint outlasts stains and offers superior UV protection thereby, safeguarding the integrity of the wood itself.
Stained surfaces, although generally less durable than painted ones are simpler to repair and are recommended for interior surfaces that undergo high levels of wear and tear… Such surfaces should be sealed with multiple top coats of hard wax oil – to provide additional water and wear protection. For instance, paint might be ideal for creating bold and contrasting colours on solid wood cabinet doors and frames in a kitchen. Whereas, staining can be used for adding pigment to wooden worktops, desks and flooring.
Can you paint over a stained worktop surface?
Yes, you can paint over stains, however, you cannot stain over paint. If you are going to paint over a stain a coat or two of primer, prior painting is recommended – to provide a ground of good adhesion of the paint with the wooden surface. Besides, a primer of a colour similar to the final paint finish which helps neutralise the existing colour of the wood and enables painting the wooden surface with more contrasting colours.
On the other hand, if we are supposed to stain over a painted finish, the painted surface has to be completely stripped off before applying any stain. This could be a very long and tedious experience.
Both staining and painting provide an excellent finish to any interior furniture, however, the question remains: what style are homeowners aiming to achieve? If they are looking to colour their butcher block worktops, while preserving their natural look, then staining would be the right choice. Instead, if they are looking for a contrasting and bold colour finish, then the right answer would be – paint. The functionality side of the project also has to be considered before making the final decision. DIY-friendliness, ease of maintenance and the ability to withstand wear and tear are just some of the aspects that must also be considered prior to picking the ultimate finishing style for any piece of wooden furniture.
Getting it Right
Both paint and stain have their pros and cons, with each method serving different aesthetic and functional goals. The choice between painting and staining is a blend of individual preferences, project demands, and specific needs. Ultimately, homeowners should consider the above factors before deciding on the perfect finish for their wooden furniture.
If you have any questions about anything worktop related, please do not hesitate to
get in touch with us!
You can find us at 01727260688 or [email protected]
https://houseofworktops.co.uk/
Enjoy your kitchen and wood worktops!
For additional topics please check the links below:
1) How to Oil Your Worktops with Osmo?
2) How to apply Danish Oil on your worktop?
3) How to repair a scratch on a Wooden Worktop?
4) A comprehensive comparison of all Wood Worktop Oils.
5) How to Clean Solid Wood Worktops?
7) How to Store Wood Worktops?
8) Pros and Cons of Wood Worktops
9) Care & Maintenance Guide for Wood Worktops