Staining & Polyurethane

The brief

Stain is a more honest finish than paint. It penetrates the wood instead of sitting on top of it, allowing the grain to remain visible and the surface to weather and patina rather than crack and peel. But a stain finish is also less forgiving — the preparation has to be right, the timing has to suit the weather, and the product has to match the species and exposure.

We offer a full range of staining and clear-finish services for exterior decks and fences, interior hardwood floors, stair treads and risers, feature millwork, and outbuildings. Every project begins with a careful look at the substrate to determine whether a penetrating stain, a semi-transparent stain, a solid-colour stain or a clear waterborne polyurethane is the right answer.

Decks and fences

Exterior horizontal surfaces — deck boards in particular — take the most punishing exposure of any wood on a residential property. We strip, sand and clean the boards back to a fresh accepting surface, then apply a penetrating oil-based or hybrid stain (Benjamin Moore Arborcoat, Sansin, or Sikkens depending on the brief). Vertical surfaces — fences, deck skirting — generally accept a semi-transparent stain that lasts longer than the horizontal product.

Interior hardwood & stairs

For interior hardwood floors, stair treads and feature millwork we typically sand back to bare wood, apply the stain colour of your choice, allow proper dry time, and finish with two to three coats of waterborne polyurethane — Bona Traffic HD for floors and stairs, General Finishes High Performance for trim and millwork. Waterborne urethanes do not amber, dry quickly, and produce a finish that rivals oil-based products in durability without the strong solvent smell.

Process notes

Exterior stain projects are weather-dependent. We will not apply stain in conditions that compromise the finish — including high humidity, direct strong sun on a hot day, or imminent rain. We monitor the forecast closely and may push a project by a day or two to wait for the right window. We always explain why.

Interior floor and stair refinishing involves displacement: the room is unusable for the duration of the project (typically two to four days for a full sand-and-refinish). We discuss this carefully on the consultation and time the work to minimize disruption.

Warranty

Interior clear-finish work is backed by a written two-year workmanship warranty. Exterior staining is backed by a written one-year workmanship warranty in addition to the product manufacturer's warranty.