Water-borne latex paints have been available for decades and have become much more widely used than solvent/oil-based paints for both interior and exterior applications. As oil-based paints have become more and more unavailable, water-borne transparent stains have become more and more popular due to their evolving technology, ease of application, appearance, durability and longevity. Northwest Log Home Care has taken advantage of the 35+ years of experience of Perma-Chink Systems and their formulation of these products specifically designed for the unique needs of the log home and cedar siding industry. The finishing system we use (stain followed by clearcoat finish) has outperformed everything we’ve compared it to, regardless of whether the other finishes have been oil-based or latex-based. The benefits of our stains are as follows:
Two Step System: This stain and clearcoat process offers you the enormous protection against sun, water and other elements of nature with it’s unparalled UV Protection / Color Retention by using highly specialized pigments. While the pigments in the stain offer the necessary UV protection for the surface of the wood, the clearcoat (Lifeline Advance) further protects the stain and increases it’s color retention.
Semi-Transparent: Allows the natural grain of the wood to show through.
Highly Breathable: Allows moisture in your logs to breath outward at a controlled rate and not be trapped inside where premature damage can occur, which can happen when using oil based stains.
Water Repellent: Helps keep the logs from absorbing moisture which will extend their life and help prevent rot.
Mildew Resistant: Formulated to help resist the formation & spreading of mildew and mold.
Fast Drying: Because these products dry so much quicker than other stains, a second coat of stain, if desired, and the clearcoat finish can often all be applied he same day, allowing us to complete your project more quickly.
Low Maintenance: Simple washing of the logs annually will help keep them aesthetically appealing.
Environmentally Friendly: No concern of the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) requirements imposed on other stain manufacturers with less environmentally friendly products.
One of the features of our Lifeline finish systems is their ability to breathe. But what exactly does this mean? To understand it takes a little bit of chemistry and physics but the concept is fairly simple. Technically, the scientific term is vapor permeability, the ability of water vapor to permeate through a film. Polymer films are composed of long chains of molecules that are bound together in a three dimensional matrix. This matrix in films like polyurethane and alkyd coatings is quite dense and there is not much space between the polymer chains which prevents small water vapor molecules from making their way through the film. On the other hand, Perma-Chink System’s Lifeline finishes form a less dense matrix with room enough for water vapor molecules to penetrate through the film but not enough space to allow liquid water to make its way into or through the film.
What differentiates a high quality log home finish system from an inexpensive stain? Log homes present a unique set of dynamics to an exterior finish system. As opposed to dimensional lumber, logs experience much more expansion and contraction, typically retain more moisture and on round logs while the upper surfaces weather more rapidly than the lower ones due to increased ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Low cost, general purpose exterior wood finishes often are unable to cope with the parameters presented by log homes.
A quality log home finish must prevent liquid water from entering the wood and breathe in order to allow water vapor to escape from the wood. This is especially important if the logs are somewhat green or checks have developed that have allowed water entry into the wood. They need to be flexible in order to stretch and contract without cracking as well as prevent the formation of unsightly mold on the surface. A high quality stain needs to protect the underlying wood from degrading due to ultraviolet (UV) light, withstand temperatures ranging from arctic cold to tropical heat, be durable enough to withstand abrasion from wind, rain, snow, ice, etc. and be easy to apply. In closing, your chosen stain should look beautiful and maintain its appearance for many years. Another factor to consider in this day and age is that any and all products should be kind to our environment, which the Perma-Chink products are.
Lifeline Advance Clearcoat Finish
Exterior Satin or Gloss Lifeline Advance exterior clearcoat finish forms a thin, elastomeric, breathable film forming clear finish which can easily be maintained every several years. Due to the smooth surface it creates, this helps prevent dust, pollen and dirt buildup over years which allow your logs to be washed much easier as its less time consuming (with better results) to rinse these contaminants off the surface of the clearcoat than to scrub them out of the fibers of the wood. This high performance clearcoat finish not only enhances the color of your newly stained home, it will keep the logs drier (helping eliminate the growth of mildew) and extends the life of the pigments in the stain. It dries as quickly as the Lifeline stains we apply, have no odors and is environmentally friendly. It is available in a gloss or lower sheen satin formula.
Of course, these stains and clearcoat finishes are also used on your wood siding, window & door trim, fascia boards and railings.
Interior Staining
We also provide assistance with your interior logs, ceiling, railings and other wood surfaces with Perma-Chink’s interior grade stain and clear acrylic gloss or satin products. Like the other products we utilize, this interior stain/clearcoat is very quick drying with no lingering odors, often left by other laquer type products. Not only will it enhance the color and grain of your logs, it offers light reflection characteristics and allows your logs to stay MUCH cleaner. When it comes time to dust or wipe clean, this task is much less challenging due to the smooth, hardened surface the clearcoat protector creates.
Perma-Chink System’s stain and clearcoats are water clean up so no solvent based cleaners are needed.
Please refer to our video link to view my instructional video on the proper techniques of staining.