Brothers cabin staining and Painting
Licensed and Bonded
FORMER Projects
These are some of the pictures of projects we have finished this year. This isn't all of out pictures but just a sample of the different types of stains and finishes we can use.
The first cabin was done with McCloskey stain in a cedar color. It is a "flat finish" simi-transparent stain which means it isn't made to shine or look glossy. It adds color and seals the wood for protection from the sun and other elements. It is easy to work with, has nice color, and lasts just as long as the more expensive brands.
The second was done in a solid color latex wood stain using Olympic stain from Lowe's. I don't remember the color we used but it gives you an idea of the results you can expect with a solid color latex stain. We mostly use a solid when the cabin has gone so long since it was last cleaned that there is no chance of making it look good any other way. Solid colors cover up the flaws that can't be fixed by other means or that would be way to costly to fix. Things like excessive wood damage caused by animals or bugs. We fill the holes but if you were to put a simi-transparent on and not a solid then all of the patches would show up and make the cabin look worse. Also, if you wait to long to get your cabin cleaned then the mildew may be to far into the wood to be cleaned, the wood would either have to be replaced or we would use a solid color stain.
The third picture was using Sikkens 1 and Sikkens 2/3 on a cabin that has been maintained regularly. As you can see it cleaned up nice and has a very high gloss. It only looks this good because the owner has it done on time every time, he does not let it get to over grown with mildew or let the wood dry out from to much sun damage. If you let your cabin get really black or dried out then this look is nearly impossible to achieve. It could be done but would cost way more than it would if you just maintain it at regular times. We suggest your cabin be re-stained every 3-5 years. Some cabins get a lot of sun on one side or another and need to be done sooner.
The final set of pictures was a fix from some former painters mess up. The middle section has older wood and a different color than the top and bottom sections. When wood is different in age and color it is really hard to get everything to match up perfectly. What we did was to clean all the wood and made the middle section as clean as it would get. We then used a darker color stain on the entire exterior. We used Sikkens in a Teak color. It looks a lot better now than it did before we started but you can still see the differences. What we suggested to the owner was to have the top and bottom sections done again next year to help it blend and match more. It isn't needed for protection but for cosmetic reasons it is.
All cabins take stain differently. It really all depends on how long it has been since it was last done, how much mildew is on it, and how much sun damage is has. The more damage it has the higher the cost is to fix it (depending on what type of look you hope to achieve). If you want a high gloss shine like those in the 3rd set but have a lot of mildew and dry wood then expect the price to be high ... if it can even be done at all. If your cabin is in pretty good condition then it will be much cheaper and look better. The second option would be McCloskey, its a good stain and lasts a pretty long time. If you have a lot of dry wood this is the best choice. It adds color and protection without making everything look darker like sikkens does. McCloskey is a light stain and sikkens is a heavy stain. Heavy stain on dry wood makes the wood look a lot darker and doesn't give you the color you want. The lighter stain lets you get the color you want and protection. The only problem is you have to get it done sooner ... but its also cheaper so that isn't really a big deal. The final option would be a solid color. We use a solid either by request or we suggest it when we believe the other two options would be a very bad idea. Once you get past a point and there is just to much damage then you would need to use a solid or be prepared for an expensive and lengthy repair.
The first cabin was done with McCloskey stain in a cedar color. It is a "flat finish" simi-transparent stain which means it isn't made to shine or look glossy. It adds color and seals the wood for protection from the sun and other elements. It is easy to work with, has nice color, and lasts just as long as the more expensive brands.
The second was done in a solid color latex wood stain using Olympic stain from Lowe's. I don't remember the color we used but it gives you an idea of the results you can expect with a solid color latex stain. We mostly use a solid when the cabin has gone so long since it was last cleaned that there is no chance of making it look good any other way. Solid colors cover up the flaws that can't be fixed by other means or that would be way to costly to fix. Things like excessive wood damage caused by animals or bugs. We fill the holes but if you were to put a simi-transparent on and not a solid then all of the patches would show up and make the cabin look worse. Also, if you wait to long to get your cabin cleaned then the mildew may be to far into the wood to be cleaned, the wood would either have to be replaced or we would use a solid color stain.
The third picture was using Sikkens 1 and Sikkens 2/3 on a cabin that has been maintained regularly. As you can see it cleaned up nice and has a very high gloss. It only looks this good because the owner has it done on time every time, he does not let it get to over grown with mildew or let the wood dry out from to much sun damage. If you let your cabin get really black or dried out then this look is nearly impossible to achieve. It could be done but would cost way more than it would if you just maintain it at regular times. We suggest your cabin be re-stained every 3-5 years. Some cabins get a lot of sun on one side or another and need to be done sooner.
The final set of pictures was a fix from some former painters mess up. The middle section has older wood and a different color than the top and bottom sections. When wood is different in age and color it is really hard to get everything to match up perfectly. What we did was to clean all the wood and made the middle section as clean as it would get. We then used a darker color stain on the entire exterior. We used Sikkens in a Teak color. It looks a lot better now than it did before we started but you can still see the differences. What we suggested to the owner was to have the top and bottom sections done again next year to help it blend and match more. It isn't needed for protection but for cosmetic reasons it is.
All cabins take stain differently. It really all depends on how long it has been since it was last done, how much mildew is on it, and how much sun damage is has. The more damage it has the higher the cost is to fix it (depending on what type of look you hope to achieve). If you want a high gloss shine like those in the 3rd set but have a lot of mildew and dry wood then expect the price to be high ... if it can even be done at all. If your cabin is in pretty good condition then it will be much cheaper and look better. The second option would be McCloskey, its a good stain and lasts a pretty long time. If you have a lot of dry wood this is the best choice. It adds color and protection without making everything look darker like sikkens does. McCloskey is a light stain and sikkens is a heavy stain. Heavy stain on dry wood makes the wood look a lot darker and doesn't give you the color you want. The lighter stain lets you get the color you want and protection. The only problem is you have to get it done sooner ... but its also cheaper so that isn't really a big deal. The final option would be a solid color. We use a solid either by request or we suggest it when we believe the other two options would be a very bad idea. Once you get past a point and there is just to much damage then you would need to use a solid or be prepared for an expensive and lengthy repair.
