Why prefinished wood is better

Ordering prefinished wood eliminates the task of having to handle wood products multiple times and finding the space to finish it yourself.

If you don’t buy prefinished pieces, you might have to handle every piece up to three times.

You’ll also need to find a spot that has great conditions if you decide to finish your wood. That means not doing it in winter—unless you have a heated spot with humidity levels that are ideal (see our blog post about moisture content).

You’ll also want to be sure it’s not windy; dirt, sand, wind and bugs can make saving some money suddenly look like a bad idea.

The savings by doing it yourself generally doesn’t offset your inconvenience by not choosing prefinished wood. That is why most contractors go for prefinished.

Prefinished wood will give you the highest quality and adhesion especially when it comes to exterior wood projects since it is done in a controlled environment.

Almost all stain companies recommend staining the entire board —even the back of every piece.

Wood does move. It will move. If you don’t stain the entire piece, you’ll see little white lines where the pieces fit together and the only way to get rid of those is by staining again.

Those little white lines will take away from the look you are trying to achieve.

Having your wood professionally prefinished in a controlled environment will save time and frustration. It also will reduce the risk of anything we’ve mentioned here actually happening.

Think about prefinished wood in the long run. It should be part of your long-term planning. Think about the next 40 years; in 10 years, you’ll be glad you did.

We recommend you consider at least the first coat, possibly a second coat and a final coat of clear. The final clear coat will protect the color of your stain.

We can help guide you as you decide what to do about the exterior walls that are sun-facing areas of your home, outbuilding, deck or porch. They’ll fade faster and will need special attention over time.
Doing it the best way right out of the gate will give you the best results.