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Outdoors > More outdoor > How to Apply Exterior Stain

Learn how to apply water-based stain with four different tools and methods.

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When you apply stain to exterior trim or fencing, etc., you can select from four different application tools: brush, pad, roller, or paint spray gun. Personal preference is most likely to dictate which tool you use, although the size of the job may also affect your choice. You may use more than one tool on the same project. In addition, the manufacturer of the stain product you select may have recommendations on application methods. Consider the options and their pros and cons before starting your project.

Step by Step Instructions and Video

Assemble Tools, Materials, and Safety Equipment
Assemble your tools and materials. This demonstration was set up in the grass, but your project may require a drop cloth/plastic sheeting to protect plants, walkways, and lawn furniture at risk from stain spatters. If you use a ladder, be sure to follow safety precautions in placing and bracing it. If you plan to use a paint gun/spray gun, wear safety glasses and a mask to protect yourself from the chemical mist.

Use a Paintbrush as an Applicator
Use a brush for smaller exterior staining projects or recessed areas that require fine work. Be sure the brush fits your hand. Brushing is one of the more time-consuming methods of application. Choose the largest brush you can comfortably handle since it will allow you to cover an area more quickly. On the other hand, a brush that's too large or bulky may cause you to tire more rapidly. Note and follow any stain manufacturer recommendations for using a synthetic versus a natural bristle brush.

Pour the Right Amount of Stain into a Container
Pour a reasonable amount of stain into a container with tall sides, after mixing the material according to manufacturer directions. The amount depends on how much surface you will stain. Working directly from the can is possible with a brush, but using a separate container lets you keep the stain fresh in the can until you actually use it and helps to keep the can neat without dribbles down the side and a rim full of overflow that will dry to a sticky mess.

Work with the Wood Grain
Apply the stain with the grain of the wood, working on one section at a time. Do not allow the leading edge to dry as you progress from area to area.

Turn the Brush to Use the Broad Side or the Narrow Side to Coat the Surface
Work quickly, brushing back and forth to work the stain into the surface. Brushes are a good choice if your project has grooves, crevices, or a rough texture, because the bristles will force the stain into these areas. Turn the brush to accommodate coating the target surface, using its broad side for wide expanses or the narrow side for grooves and other small detail.

Use a Paint Pad for Small- to Medium-sized Projects
Use a pad for small to medium stain projects. The pad's width and ability to hold more paint make it faster than a brush. Its rectangular shape lets you reach surface edges and corners easily, but it is not usable for detail work. Typically, the pad handle can be held in your hand or screwed onto an auxiliary pole to help reach higher areas or to avoid stooping.

Pour the Stain into a Paint Pan
Pour the paint into a paint pan/roller pan to use with the pad. Do not decant more stain into the pan than you can use in your planned staining session and project. The material will dry even faster in a pan that in a steep-sided container, because more of it will be exposed to the air.

Saturate the Pad in Stain
Saturate the nap face of the pad in the stain.

Remove the Excess Stain from the Pad
Draw it back and forth across the ridges in the bottom of the paint pan to remove the excess stain.

Work the Pad Back and Forth Along the Grain
Apply the stain to the surface, working the pad back and forth along the grain and moving quickly to keep the leading edge of the area wet.

Return to the Paintbrush for Staining Groove and Crevices
Return to the brush for staining grooves, crevices, and tight places that the pad misses.

Use a Paint Roller for Large jobs
Use a roller for large jobs, because it holds a lot of stain and distributes it quickly. Select 3/8-inch, 1/2-inch, or 3/4-inch nap (the length of the fuzzy fibers on the roller) depending on the coarseness of the surface you are staining--longer nap reaches into cracks and crevices better. Hold the roller in your hand or thread it onto a pole/handle to extend your reach.

Saturate the Roller's Nap in Stain and Remove the Excess
Saturate the nap on the roller in stain poured into a paint pan. Roll it back and forth across the ridges in the bottom of the paint pan to remove the excess stain.

Coat the Surface in Sections and Keep the Leading Edge Wet
Roll the stain on in sections, quickly rolling back and forth to coat the surface and keep the leading edge wet.

Back Brush with a Paintbrush to Work the Stain into the Surface
Back brush with a paintbrush (after coating an area with the roller) to ensure you work the stain well into the surface. You will also need to brush in the details, filling grooves and crevices that are too deep to reach with the roller.

Use a Hand-held Airless Paint Sprayer
Use a hand-held airless paint gun/sprayer for large areas when you have access to an electric power source for your project. These airless paint guns have a self-contained motor/pump that sprays the paint without requiring a compressor and can easily handle water-based stain. Note that the pressure generated by a spray gun varies from model to model. Be sure to read and adhere to all safety precautions advocated by the manufacturer in order to avoid injury!

Fill the Paint Sprayer's Reservoir with Stain
Fill the reservoir provided with the paint gun, attach the spray nozzle, and the assembly that contains the pump, handle, and electrical cord, and then plug the unit into an electrical outlet. You will probably need an extension cord, so be sure to use one rated appropriately for the paint gun.

Hold the Spray Nozzle a Constant Distance from the Surface
Keep the spray gun's nozzle at a constant distance from your project's surface and keep moving. Work at a constant speed, progressing from top to bottom and using a back and forth motion across a section of the surface to ensure good coverage. Match your "stroke" to the width of the paint gun's spray pattern. The paint gun model in this demonstration has a 12-inch spray pattern.

Back Brush the Sprayed Surface with a Paintbrush
Back brush with a paintbrush to ensure you work the stain well into the surface and fill any crevices that you missed. Even with back brushing, the paint gun is the fastest application method for large areas and probably requires the least exertion from you. Clean up all tools as recommended by the tool and stain manufacturers, but be especially careful to clean all the parts of the spray gun to facilitate its future use.

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