Stain FAQ's

UV Guard® Exterior Wood Finish – 3-4 years, depending on exposure
UV Guard® II Exterior Wood Finish– 4-5 years, depending on exposure
SuSTAIN® Wood Finish- 4-5 years, depending on exposure

An independent lab test conducted by Earlham College in Indiana compared the the top twenty-five stains in the country and found our stain products to be among the highest performing. View Log Home Stain Comparison Chart for more info.

For new construction, sand, media blast, pressure wash or chemically clean all areas that have been soiled by the construction process. (Note: It is extremely important to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using chemical cleaners.) These include lifting chain or cable marks, construction traffic marks, etc. Sand all log ends. When using a pressure washer care must be taken not to hold the end of the washer so close to the logs that it raises the grain. Bear in mind that the thoroughness of this work will greatly determine the quality of the resultant finish. Wash the log surfaces with water, making sure to remove any cleaning chemicals and allow to thoroughly dry to 18% or less surface moisture content. Verify that all cleaning chemicals have been removed by checking the wood surface for a neutral pH reading of 6-8.

For untreated aged wood or wood that has been previously coated or stained with products other than LOG GUARD® Interior Clear Coat, UV GUARD® or UV GUARD® II Exterior Wood Finish, the wood surfaces must be completely cleaned by removing untreated damaged wood fibers and/or the existing stain coating. This can be accomplished by pressure washing, using chemical strippers/cleaners, corn blasting, or sanding. Verify the wood moisture content and pH per the above paragraph.

Yes, waterborne borate treatments must be allowed to dry 48-72 hours and be at a maximum 18% surface moisture content before applying UV GUARD or UV GUARD II Exterior Wood Finish. If glycol is used as the carrier for the borate, the logs will need to dry 3-4 weeks for the glycol to evaporate from the logs. If rain occurs after the borate treatment has been applied and before the UV GUARD or UV GUARD II Exterior Wood Finish is applied, small white crystals may appear on the surface of the logs. These are borate crystals leaching out of the wood with the evaporation of the carrier. They must be removed prior to staining by lightly sanding the log surfaces with sandpaper or with a stiff bristle scrub brush. Do not use water as this would just cause more leaching.

Yes, UV Guard® Exterior Wood Finish, UV Guard® II Exterior Wood Finish and SuSTAIN all contain an effective mildewcide. However, for certain geographical areas where there is a lot of mold or mildew potential, we offer a mildewcide booster to add to the stain before application as part of the first coat.

Yes, we offer Bug Juice, a very effective, EPA approved pesticide. It can be added directly to the UV GUARD® and UV GUARD® II Exterior Wood Finish prior to application. It should be added to the stain when applying the last coat of finish. (Note: The finish to which Bug Juice is added needs to be used within 3 hours. Otherwise, the insecticide in the coating will become ineffective.)

Yes, we offer NBS-30 which is considered an insect repellent. It is an environmentally friendly treatment that works well. Additionally, we would recommend treating the holes with Sevin Dust, Malathion spray, or other EPA approved chemicals that will kill the larva then seal off the holes with wooden dowels, caulking, or putty. If you can locate the nest, sprinkle Sevin Dust on the nest to eliminate the insects.

Yes, we recommend SuSTAIN. It is virtually compatible with all oil based stain products that do not include any parafins, waxes or non-drying oils.

We recommend the use of a pump style garden sprayer, airless sprayer or brush application to apply LOG GUARD® Interior Clear Coat, UV GUARD®, UV GUARD® II Exterior Wood Finish or SuSTAIN® on the wood surface followed immediately, while the surface is wet, with back brushing to work the stain into the pores of the wood and remove runs and overlap marks. It is a good idea to have a pail of water handy for the back brush. This keeps the stain from building up on the brush and gumming it up. A gummed up brush will actually lift the stain off the logs. Shake the excess water out of the brush prior to each use.

Work small areas horizontally across the logs until a natural break point is reached. Do not stop in the middle of logs or boards to minimize overlap marks. Apply the second coat in the small area while the first coat is still wet or tacky. Work in the shade not on a hot wall. Work early in the morning around the sun. This allows both coats to penetrate the wood effectively.

On new homes the two coats of colored stain should be applied immediately after the roof is on, the windows have been installed and the logs cleaned prior to any chinking, if it is a chink style home, to prevent coloring the chinking. The clear top coat and subsequent clear maintenance coats can be applied later.

This will depend on exposure to the elements. South facing and, depending on location, east and/or west facing walls will require a clear maintenance coat every 2-3 years. These maintenance intervals can be significantly increased by incorporating large to full “over the deck” roof overhangs to minimize UV exposure, rain gutters to keep rain splash off of the walls, and shrubs and trees to shade the walls.

Yes, UV GUARD, UV GUARD II Exterior Wood Finish, SuSTAIN and LOG GUARD Interior Clear Coat should be applied in ambient temperatures between 40° F. and 90° F. Where possible, work on the cooler walls out of the direct sunlight. Do not attempt application during freezing temperatures or when rain or freezing temperatures are expected before the material is completely dry (24-48 hours depending on ambient conditions) unless the walls are tented and heated.

Yes but we do not recommend it. Our clear UV GUARD, UV GUARD II Exterior Wood Finish and SuSTAIN which are the basis of all of the colored versions of these products, have specific chemical UV blockers and stabilizers, but all logs will age/darken under any non-film forming stain and this will be more noticeable under a clear/transparent stain. Additionally the pigments act as additional sun blockers/reflectors giving a longer life to the finish.

30 minutes to 1 hour to surface dry and 24-48 hours to completely dry depending on ambient conditions.

UV GUARD, UV GUARD II Exterior Wood Finish and LOG GUARD Interior Clear Coat can be applied wet on wet or wet on dry.

UV Guard Exterior Wood Finish- two coats of stain and one coat of clear
UV Guard II Exterior Wood Finish- one coat of stain and one coat of clear
SuSTAIN- one coat of stain
Log Guard- two to three coats depending on your preference

Coverage will depend on the type and porosity of the wood. As a general rule, use 200-300 sq. ft./gal. for the first coat and 400-500 sq. ft./gal. for subsequent coats.

Use soap and water for clean up. Clean spray equipment immediately after use following any manufacturer’s instructions and being sure to flush all hoses and nozzles to remove any residue. Some painters prime their equipment with diesel fuel and then store it.

Yes.

Generally, no. The higher oil content and wood density prevent our stains from adequately penetrating the wood surface to provide good protection.

No. The mildewcide booster should be used, where required, in the first coat to prevent fungal growth in the surface of the wood and the insecticide booster should be used, where required, in the second and/or third coats to prevent insects from landing on the wood surfaces.

Treat with a mild citric acid and thoroughly rinse. (We do not recommend the use of oxalic acid because of its high toxicity, especially related to skin absorption.)

If our stains have been subjected to a mild freeze/thaw there really is no practical way to determine it. Since they contain certain freeze/thaw stabilizers, they are probably acceptable for use. If the stain has been subjected to a hard freeze or repeated freeze/thaw cycles, it will be thicker in viscosity than normal and may appear curdled like cottage cheese and have an offensive odor. It would also be difficult or impossible to spray or brush on properly.

We recommend LOG GUARD Interior Clear Coat which is specifically designed for interior use. This product is available in a clear finish only. If a color is desired, you may apply one coat of UV GUARD or UV GUARD II before applying the LOG GUARD Interior Clear Coat. If used by itself, the first coat of LOG GUARD Interior Clear Coat will raise the grain slightly. A light sanding between coats will provide an easily cleanable surface. Each additional coat will bring out a higher shine and more durable, urethane-like finish.

Yes. You must use Universal waterborne tints.

They can be purchased from a nationwide network of dealers and distributors, or directly from Weatherall Company, Inc.