Using ARBORCOAT to Refresh Your Space

With the summer heating up, now is the time to look at refreshing your outdoor space with a fresh coat of stain. No matter the temperatures that mother nature in Virginia throws at us, you want a stain that will endure and look great for years to come. Luckily, ARBORCOAT stains by Benjamin Moore do just that, protecting wood from harsh UV rays and water damage. ARBORCOAT isn’t like an ordinary stain: there are many different options you can choose depending on your style and the look you want for your space.

How does ARBORCOAT stain hold up?

Your ARBORCOAT stain will provide a strong finish with the proper application and maintenance. The key to a long-lasting finish is preparing your surface correctly. You may consider a few other products to use before applying stains, such as REMOVE to remove clear finishes and oil stains, RESTORE to help old weathered wood, BRIGHTEN to remove tannin, and rust stains, and CLEAN to take off mold and mildew. Depending on your project, these prep materials can help give a strong foundation.

When applying your stain, you will want to ensure you are not using it in direct sunlight, as it will dry out a little quicker. Apply your even coat, and maintain a wet edge for your brush.

You will also want to ensure leaves and debris do not build up – you can also use Ben Moore’s multi-purpose cleaner to remove dirt!

How do I pick the stain for my project?

The first step to picking a stain is determining what type of opacity you want for your project. Your opacity determines how much of the wood grain you want to appear when you apply your stain. There are four primary categories when picking Arborcoat:

Translucent stains offer protection while allowing the grain pattern and texture to show through with the slightest tone. This is great for hardwoods and has six ready-mix wood-inspired colors: Natural, Redwood, Teak, Cedar, Mahogany, and Silver Gray.

Semi-Transparent and Semi-Solid stains provide the best of both worlds, offering either a transparent or solid finish, depending on preference. Both options have 75 colors available and are ideal for softwoods such as cedar and fir. These are great options to show the woodgrain with a tint of color.

Solid stains provide the most shielding and color while covering any imperfections. Great for all wood types and available in thousands of colors, we can also match a particular color. This is great for decks but can also be used on outdoor walls, barns, and other structures.

Start your ARBORCOAT Project with Cardinal

No matter what you are trying to paint, let Cardinal help! Select stains are available in pints, gallons, or 5 gallons, so we have the perfect size for your needs. Learn more about ARBORCOAT and our other Benjamin Moore products available at all three locations, or start a paint quote!