What is a good brand of cabin stain/oil/sealer? Mine needs it this summer. The cabin is made of logs, but they have been run through a machine, and they interlock, leaving a bumpy surface with horizontal lines similar to a real log cabin. Most of the area is open wood, with just a little around the windows and doors that would have to be masked.
Would what you recommend run through an airless, or would it be better to roll on? Other suggestions on a way to apply, such as pressurized feed roller? Two stories high, approx 1200 sf footprint.
I used Thompson's oil stain on my garage. The garage siding is just plain 1/2" plywood, with a 1x2 nailed over the joints. I painted that garage in 2003. It held up well, and repels water. I used the semi-clear stain, but applied 2 coats. If I did it again, I'd use the solid stain, because one coat of the semi-clear did not cover the imperfections in the wood real well, and 2 coats looked more like paint. In 2011 I noticed a few spots were getting bare, mostly at ground level, from water running off the roof. I touched up those spots, but later decided to just give the whole garage another coat, because the touchup was noticable, due to color fading, and probably the color is not exactly the same as the original. I figured the extra coat would protect the wood better anyhow.
I applied it with a 4 inch paintbrush, and trim brush along the edges. I suppose a roller would be faster, but I like to work it into all the cracks and dents in the wood, which a roller dont do as well. Besides looking nice, I want to keep moisture out of the wood to prevent decay, especially since the siding is untreated plywood.
Last year (2012) I built a small addition on this garage, and used treated plywood on this part. This treated plywood had words stamped on the sheets, and took 3 coats to cover them. I was not pleased about the words on them....
Anyhow, I think the Thompsons is a decent product, and it's not overly priced. However, I only use the OIL type. They also sell a latex product, but I want the stuff to penetrate and seal the wood. Latex paint just covers the surface.
In my time spent on internet DIY Q&A forums, I've found that more people like Cabot when it comes to choosing a deck stain than any other manufacturer.
I expect there wouldn't be a lot of difference between the wood stain/sealer Cabot makes for decks and the one they make for any exposed lumber outdoors.
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