What is the Difference Between Paint & Stain?

Some people get confused when using paint and stain options on their homes. You know that both of these things can be used to protect your home. They provide protection and make your home look nicer by giving it some color. What makes stain and paint different, though?

Read on to learn about the differences between paint and stain. You’ll learn about each of these options and what they can do for your home. Once you’ve read everything, you should have a proper understanding of what makes paint and stain unique. 

What is Paint?

Paint is a type of pigmented liquid or solid composition, and it can be applied to surfaces. You can use paint to add color to various surfaces. When compared to stain, paint is substantially thicker. This means that a job will require fewer coats of paint when compared to stains. 

When using stain, you might have to use a lot more to get the job done. This is especially true when you’re trying to stain absorbent surfaces. Paint has an easier time getting the job done without requiring as many coats. You can cover the surface uniformly using paint, but that isn’t as easy to do when using a stain. 

It’s also important to know that paint comes in more colors than stains. You can buy paint in a wide variety of colors. There are so many different paint colors that it’s possible to do some really neat things. Using stain only would be a bit limiting from an artistic perspective. 

You can also paint over surfaces that have been previously painted. It’s not possible to use stains on top of surfaces that have been painted. Paint is available in more sheens and finishes. Finally, paint can be applied to many surfaces beyond just wood. 

What is Stain?

Stain is different from paint and it’s used in different ways. Generally, buying stains is substantially less expensive than paint. One of the most appealing aspects of using stain is that it’s simple. Applying stain is very easy and you can re-coat surfaces as necessary. 

It doesn’t take as much time to apply a stain as it does to paint something. This is partly because you don’t need to use primer most of the time. Also, the things you would want to stain typically only need one coat. You use stains to enhance wooden surfaces instead of just covering them up. 

Many say that stains give off a more natural vibe than paint. The stain will start to fade over time, but you can just stain the object again. Paint will chip or peel over time, but that doesn’t happen with stain. 

Which Is Best?

This isn’t a situation where either paint or stain is better than the other. Both paint and stain are useful for different things. You will use paint for certain jobs and you’ll use stain to do other jobs. Sometimes it’ll be more practical to use stains on wooden surfaces such as decks or fences. 

You should choose whether to use paint or stain on a case-by-case basis. Consider the job that you’re doing and how you want things to look. This will lead you to the correct answer. 

Jeff Sommers

Jeff Sommers is a vibrant and experienced professional, having been at the helm of ESP Painting, Inc. for 27 remarkable years. As President, he has become an esteemed leader in the Commercial & Residential Construction industry in Oregon, United States. His experience has seen him gain valuable insight and knowledge, making him an invaluable asset to ESP Painting and its customers. With a bubbly personality and upbeat attitude, Jeff always looks ahead to the future as he continues his leadership journey toward success.