Typically, there are three kinds of wood finishes, also referred to as stains. These finishes have different life spans, depending on types.

• Water Base can last between 17 to 20 years if maintained properly
• Solvent Base can last between 20-25 years if maintained properly
• Waterborne can last up to thirty years if maintained properly.

Nonetheless, it is important to take note that the longevity of the wood stain is also dependent in large part to the manner of preparations made before the application is actually used. This accounts for 75% of the actual stain longevity whereas the type of stain used takes up only 25% of the chance of longevity. You need to look out for signs of weather cracks or any signs that the wood has been caulked or filled. The roof size should also be considered, as well as the stain application methods used, such as sprayed applications or brushed on applications.

The growth of fungus and mildew on the wood can affect its quality and may pose some problems when you are preparing the wood for staining. In fact, it is possible not to actually see fungus growth, but they are oftentimes present, and will reproduce alarmingly under certain conditions. If you don’t want to keep reapplying the stain on the wood, it is best to use a mildew cleanser, so as to prepare the wood for staining carefully and thoroughly.

One of the greatest concerns of a majority of homeowners is how to beautify the interiors of their homes. Some of them are even willing to shell out a huge investment just to make their home interiors beautiful. Unfortunately, considering the financial crunch the whole of US and practically the entire world is facing right now, expensive home improvements seem to be rather impractical.

Then again, it should please you to know that you can have other options of beautifying your home without having to break the bank. By interior painting, for instance, you can easily change the look of your home without spending so much. You can pain a room in solid color and then add some trims to it, or you can have a mural painted on the entire wall.

Indeed, interior painting does not cost an arm and a leg. However, in order to ensure a professional finish and high quality of work, it needs to be done by someone who is skilled in this kind of thing. Because of this you may need to spend just a bit more, but it’s going to be worth it anyway. Besides, hiring a painting contractor also makes things easier for you. Imagine the potential risks if you have to do it all by yourself!

The durability of wood finishes is dependent on more than a few factors, however as long as the builder, contractor, architect and the owner of the house work hand in hand in maintaining them, doing so effectively is never a problem.

First of all the architect needs to understand which design actually demands more maintenance in the long run. Certain designs like an extended roofline and trusses look very beautiful however they can require too much effort for successful maintenance. As for the builder, he needs to know which protection works best in eliminating mildew, fungus, and heat damage to the wood. This is essential so that the building contractor will be spared of additional expenses in treating the wood. As for the home owner, he should recognize the importance of keeping the finish on a continuous basis, which is typically three or five years for transparent stains. For semi-transparent stains, the maintenance span can be between four to six years. Finally, semi-solid stains need well-maintained finishes which can last from six to ten years, even longer.

Most wood finishes require different measures of maintenance, so you have to make sure that you are applying the right sanding and cleaning techniques or stain application measures. Also, more often than not, a solvent base will need a primer.