Behr Stain And Poly In One - StainMasterClub.com (2023)

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Stain And Poly In One

Behr Espresso B6212 Stain and Poly In One Review

There are pros and cons of using a stain and poly in one.

One advantage is that it saves time. Each coat of a stain and poly in one adds color and a layer of protection to the wood.

But that time savings comes at a price. If you look closely, sometimes it can appear that the color is floating on the surface of the wood. This is especially true when a stain and poly in one is applied over an existing finish. It looks like its floating on the surface because it is. Remember if we use a stain and poly separately, the stain soaks into the wood and the poly sits on top to protect the wood.

But a stain and poly in one sits on the surface of the wood. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. But to the trained eye, having the color sit on the surface can make the piece look a bit off. Its just something to be aware of when choosing a finish for your project.

That said, I was thoroughly impressed with the look of the All-in-One. To me, it didnt look like the color was floating on the surface of the wood. Instead, I thought it had the look of stain and poly that was applied separately.

What Is The Best Way To Apply All

All-in-One Stain & Finish can be applied with a brush, pad, or clean cloth.

These samples were done on pine. The samples were sanded with 120 grit sandpaper. The samples were treated with Vermont Natural Coatings Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner.

On a large project, I would use this brush, but for this small piece, I applied the All-in-One with a small artist brush. The All-in-One on the second sample was applied with a clean piece of an old t-shirt. I used All-in-One in the color Westfield Walnut for these samples.

I didnt see any noticeable difference between applying the All-in-One with a brush or a cloth.

Which Stain Is Right For You

Before you buy, ask yourself these questions.

What’s the wood coated with now?

If it’s bare, chose whichever stain you want. But if it has a film finish, it’s easiest to stick with that penetrating stains can’t go over a film. Also, water-based stains will cover oil-based ones, but not the other way around.

What kind of wood do you have?

Soft woods, like pine and cedar, easily accept any penetrating stain. But only certain kinds of seed oils, such as tung or linseed, will soak into ultradense hardwoods like ipe and mahogany. Always test these woods first to make sure the finish will penetrate and dry.

How worn is it?

On older decks, unless you can sand off the top layer you’ll get the best protection from a penetrating finish: a clear toner, a semitransparent, or a semisolid. Solid-color stains are best on new wood.

How much grain do you want to see?

The less pigment a stain has, the more grain you’ll see, as shown on the stack of blocks at left. But the more pigment, the longer you can go before recoating.

Where is it located?

Stain on horizontal or south-facing surfaces gets more punishing UV rays than on vertical surfaces or shady north sides. To minimize maintenance, consider stains with more pigment.

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All About Exterior Stain

This Old House decodes the differences between the various types of stain so that you can get the look you want.

Spring heralds the arrival of weather warm enough for us to finally get outside and start undoing the damage winter has wrought on woodwork. Refreshing the finish on decks, fences, and siding tops the to-do list because without renewed protection against Mother Nature, wood will start to decay.

In a one-two punch, sunlight breaks down the lignin that holds wood fibers together, leaving a gray surface that cant hold a finish. Then water gets in, rotting boards and shingles and, worse, potentially compromising the structures that lie beneath them.

You can safeguard wood in one of two ways: either with paint, which seals it under an opaque film, or, perhaps better, with exterior stain. The beauty of stain is that its easy to apply, resistant to peeling, and brings out woods texture or grain. But stain comes in a bewildering number of types. Some are as clear as bourbon others are as milky as paint. Some form a film on top of the wood others leave behind nothing but a hint of surface color.

The Four Major Types Of Stain

Semisolid

Has less pigment than a solid-color stain, so it only partially obscures the wood’s grain. Leaves no surface film can’t peel. Recoat every 2 to 4 years.

Clear Toner

Finely ground iron pigments called transoxides block the sun without obscuring the wood’s grain and impart a warm tint. Leaves no surface film can’t peel. Recoat annually.

Solid Color

Looks like a flat paint hides the wood’s grain but not its texture. Forms a film that can peel if not properly applied. Recoat every 5 to 7 years.

Semitransparent

Contains enough pigment to change the wood’s color but not enough to obscure its grain. Leaves no surface film can’t peel. Recoat every 2 to 3 years.

Bare Wood

Destined to turn gray and rot unless you cover it with stain.

Shown: Cabot solid color, semisolid, and semitransparent in New Redwood Clear Solution Wood Toner in Cedar cabot.com

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How To Refinish Hardwood Floors

It takes some elbow grease to refinish hardwood floors, but it’s worth it.

Minwax Polycrylic is an example of a fortified water-based polyurethane that can stand up a bit better to rough conditions. It also can go over oil-based finishes and can be applied using synthetic-bristle brushes, a foam roller or a rag, as can other water-based polyurethanes. Water-based oil-modified polyurethane is a relatively new product that combines the durability of an oil base with the cleanup of a water base. This product can actually be used on wooden floors.

Throwing Out Wood Stains And Finishes That Have Gone Bad

If youve determined your stain or finish has bit the dust, Ive got bad news. Not only is your product worthless, but its also going to be difficult to throw away.

Wood stains and finishes are considered hazardous materials. If youre throwing away product thats still good, its not that hard to dispose of. Paint the stain or finish onto some cardboard, let it dry, and then its no longer considered hazardous.

But if your wood stain or finish has gone bad, then it probably wont dry either. And in a liquid state, stains and finishes are hazardous materials, and cannot simply be thrown in the trash.

Instead, they have to be disposed of at hazardous waste disposal centers. Sometimes this costs money, sometimes its free it all depends on your local municipality.

So, in order to throw away bad wood stains and finishes, youll need to research your local hazardous waste disposal center, and find out their policies.

Check your citys website as well Ive lived in places that have semi-annual hazardous waste drop-off days, which make disposing of hazardous waste at least a little easier.

Also Check: Removing Water Stains From Hardwood Floors

Can You Apply All

Yes, All-in-One can be used over previously finished wood. First, the surface should be lightly sanded with 220 grit sandpaper. Sanding improves the adhesion between the old finish and the All-in-One.

Next, use a ShopVac to remove the majority of the sanding dust. Follow up with a clean damp cloth to remove any remaining sanding dust. Then, begin with Step 2 of the .

What’s The Difference Between Polyurethane Varnish Shellac And Lacquer

BEHR Stain & Sealer In One – DIY Table Top Refinishing

These terms for a finish or top coat are often used interchangeably, but there is a big difference. Learn when and where to use the correct one.

The ravages of time and use can be limited by a durable top or finish coat on your furniture. While the terms varnish, polyurethane, lacquer and shellac are commonly used to reference a final finish in general, these products are not the same, nor is it recommended that they be used interchangeably.

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How Much Stain Do You Mix With Polyurethane

Theres no standard volume for mixing polyurethane and wood stains. However, the most accepted ratio is 50 percent stain to 50 percent polyurethane.

Still, your mixture can contain as little as 25 percent stain and 75 percent polyurethane, depending on the color and consistency you want.

The wood stain will act as a thinner for polyurethane. So, the more the stain in the mixture, the thinner it is likely to be. A mixture with more stain than polyurethane may have a thicker consistency resulting in a glossier surface when applied.

With this detail out of the way, the next logical question is how to mix the two products. Let us look at the mixing procedure below.

Behr Deck Stain Home Depot

Where To Buy: Home DepotCost: $39.99 per Gallon, $199.99 per 5 Gallon PailStain Type: Premium Semi-Transparent Water BasedAvailable Colors: 60 custom colorsApplication Temperature: 40-90 FCoverage Per Gallon: 125-150 sq. ft in field testsApplication Tools: Sprayer, Pad, Brush, RollerDry Time: 1-2 HoursVOC Compliant: 250 Compliant in all States

Test Deck Stats:

Cedar Porch 300 Square FeetUV Exposure: Full sunHow Many Years Tested: 2 YearsStain Color Used: Cedar

*All products tested and results are from our hands-on experience. We offer no guarantee of similar results. Take into consideration that results may differ widely due to different wood types, exposure to UV radiation, and natural weathering.

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How Consumer Reports Tests Wood Stains

To test wood stains, CRs engineers apply two coats to pine boards, then place them on the roof of our headquarters in Yonkers, N.Y. They face the boards south and angled down, like a roof, to intensify the effects of the sun and weather for up to three years.

One year of testing tells you how a stain will do after a year on your deck or about three years of weathering on vertical surfaces .

For more information on the best ways to assess and apply wood stains, see our wood stain buying guide.

Below, CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of some of the best wood stains weve tested. Youll find additional details and options in our comprehensive wood stain ratings.

Mix Them Up Until The Color Is Even

The next step is to gently stir the mixture until it achieves an even color and consistency. Remember, polyurethane is usually thicker than wood stain. Therefore, mixing them will result in a thinner solution, so you need to mix them until you achieve a uniform consistency.

If you mix only a small amount of polyurethane and wood stain in a large bucket, consider tipping the bucket to the side to allow for better mixing.

Theres no standard way to measure when the mixture is ready, so eyeball it and use your better judgment to tell when it has mixed well. You may have to stir gently and patiently for a few minutes to ensure it is well mixed.

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How To Find The Shelf Life Of Your Specific Wood Stain Or Finish

The recommended shelf life of wood stain and finishing products can typically be found on the Technical Data Sheet for the product. I recommend starting here for determining if your wood stain or finish is still good, although it shouldnt be the only thing you consider!

Manufacturers Varathane and General Finishes both post the TDS on their website for every product they sell.

Heres where you can find that on Varathanes product page:

General Finishes has a single page that links all of the TDS pages. You can find that page here.

While I can find the Safety Data Sheets for Minwaxs products on their website, that is unfortunately not the same as the TDS. I dont believe they have the TDS posted, and therefore, I couldnt pull shelf life estimates for Minwaxs products.

If possible, I recommend pulling the TDS for the product youre specifically looking for information on. While a 3 year shelf life is standard for most wood stains and finishes, some products have different recommendations.

Also note that the recommended shelf life is only one piece of the is this product bad? puzzle. Dont throw your product away just because its more than 3 years old! Often times, stains and finishes last well over the manufacturers predicted shelf life.

Behr Wood Stain Smells Like 5 Test Finishes

HomeShop Blog 14

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Maybe its the fumes going to my head, but I cant place the smell of Behr wood stain.

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About One Step Stain & Polyurethane

Varathane Interior Poly+ Stain provides a fast and simple solution to stain and protect wood in just one step. Stain and polyurethane is a time-saver that provides a rich color and polyurethane in one product allowing projects to be finished quickly. Using a high quality synthetic bristle brush, apply in thin coats until uniform coverage is achieved. At least two coats recommended, customize color or achieve a darker color by adding additional coats.

• Perfect for adding color and protection to interior wood finishing projects such as furniture, trim, cabinets, doors and paneling
• Covers 125 sq. ft., recoat in 2 hours adding additional coats to achieve deeper color
• Creates rich color and features a polyurethane finish to provide a soft shine on surfaces
• Provides long lasting protection for all interior wood projects
• Low odor, durable, scratch-resistant formula is fast drying allowing for quick projects
• Able to apply over existing wood finishes without stripping, lightly sand prior to application
• Dries to the touch in 1 hour and can be handled in 4 hours
• Easily cleans up with mineral spirits

Extending The Life Of Your Wood Stains And Finishes

Behr Premium Stain and Polyurethane review

Air is the primary enemy of every wood finishing product. In addition to oxygen, which dries out many products, air brings bacteria and moisture, which can make wood stains and finishes go bad.

Additionally, extreme temperatures can freeze or vaporize product, which leads to it separating or otherwise changing texture. This also causes the wood stain or finish to go bad.

Obviously, if you want to make your woods stains and finishes last longer, we need to avoid air and extreme temperatures. Here are a few ideas:

Get Rid Of The Air

Now, woodworkers have invented some very fancy products for eliminating air in opened cans of stain or finish. Bloxygen is an inert air that is added to your can of finish in order to block oxygen from reaching the finish.

Bloxygen is cool and all, but honestly? It just seems complicated. How do I keep air from entering the can as Im adding the Bloxygen? Maybe Im over thinking this.

But theres an easier solution anyway, so Im happy to pass on the Bloxygen.

Grab some marbles. Dust them off if they somehow mysteriously became covered in sawdust. Drop them in your finish, until the finish reaches the top of the can.

Now theres no room for air in the can. Magic.

Be sure to fully seal your can lid, or else all your marble work will have gone to waste.

Store Stains and Finishes in a Temperature Controlled Location

Wood stains and finishes shouldnt be stored in garages, because most garages arent temperature-controlled locations.

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Where To Use Stain: Fences

Semitransparent stains emphasize a fence’s design, while clear toners show off its wood grain. Apply either type with a pump sprayer, the ideal tool for coating the long runs and numerous nooks and crannies of a fence. Wolman DuraStain Semi-Transparent in Chestnut Brown, similar to shown wolman.com

How Many Coats Of All

The instructions say to apply one coat but for a deeper tone, you can apply a second coat. The manager of the hardware stores paint department where I bought the All-in-One suggested that I may only want to apply one coat because sometimes two coats can be too dark.

These samples were done on pine. The samples were sanded with 120 grit sandpaper. The samples were treated with Vermont Natural Coatings Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner.

On a large project, I would use this brush, but for this small piece, I applied the All-in-One with a small artist brush. I used All-in-One in the color Backroad Brown for these samples.

NOTE: After I made these samples, I tried a sample with this Purdy brush that I normally use for my projects. The Purdy brush applied more product than the artist brush.

One coat with the Purdy brush looked like two coats applied with the artist brush. Two coats applied with the Purdy brush began to obscure the wood grain and the sample almost looked like it had been painted.

This proves that its important to do sample pieces. And depending on what brush is used, I would agree with the paint department manager, that one coat is usually enough to get the color you want.

Based on these tests I decided to only apply one coat of All-in-One to this DIY paper towel holder.

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Wood Finish Shelf Life: Can Stains And Finishes Go Bad

Last summer, I helped clean out my great aunts garage. My grandfather was a woodworker, and apparently stashed some supplies back there before he passed away a decade or so ago. I found the treasures, but then had to wonder: do wood stains and finishes go bad?

Turns out, manufacturers publish Technical Data Sheets for each type of stain or finish, which lists the shelf life of the product. I pulled this information for each type of stain or finish. Heres a summary of what I found:

Manufacturers typically suggest a 3 year shelf life for wood stains and finishes. However, that time frame is simply an estimate when stored in a temperature-regulated environment and air in the can is minimized, wood stains and finishes can last much longer.

Lets chat a little about where those numbers came from, as well as what other features you should be taking into consideration to determine if your wood finishing products are still good to use!

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