the siding is 14yrs old.we need to stain it this year.this would be 4th time.we have always used an oil base stain.we were wondering about using a acrylic latex stain.also black mildew what should we do about it before staing.mildews on north side of house.whaT ARE THE ADVANTAGES & DIS ADVANTAGE OF THE OIL & ACRYLIC STAINS.WHATS THE BEST WAY TO APPLY IT SO THAT IT IS UNIFORM.TAHNKS FOR ANY OF YOUR INPUT. BOB PALMER
Answer:
Hello Bob,
Finishing outdoor wood is the biggest painting-related challenge going. There are two keys to success: sanding all surfaces with an 80-grit abrasive in a random orbit sander; and choosing the right finishing product. My favourite is the Sikkens line -- either Cetol or DEK (for decks). According to an ongoing deck finish survey conducted over the last 4 years, DEK and Cabot's Decking Stain come out on top in terms of durability. Most other products in the original line up failed so badly they were pulled from the test. Even today, the sad fact is that most outdoor wood finishing products are destined to fail. The issue isn't so much about oil-based or water-based, but particular formulation and meticulous preparation.
