Upon reviewing Armstrong Clark Stain tests show this high solids pigmented finish contains both heavy and light bodied oils. The heavy oils offer water shedding properties while the light bodied oils combined with solvents penetrate deep into the wood pores for maximum protection and conditioning. Armstrong Clark Stain can be used on old or new pressure treated wood surfaces such as shakes, siding, decks, fences, and log cabins. Basically, anywhere water repellency, color retention, and wood rejuvenation is desired Armstrong Clark Stain can help. Offered in 10 different colors, Armstrong Clark semi-transparent stain will naturally highlight the wood grain while enhancing its natural beauty.

In a recent Armstrong Clark Hardwood Stain review it was proven that such exotic hardwoods like IPE are extremely dense and difficult to penetrate. The special formula of Armstrong Clark Hardwood Stain has light bodied oils and solvents that allow deep absorption rates into hard to penetrate woods like IPE and other Brazilian hardwoods. This allows for better color retention and water repellency.

In addition to weather protection, Armstrong Clark Hardwood Stain utilizes drying and non drying oils. The non drying oils break apart for the drying side of the formula to penetrate into the wood fibers and replace the natural lost oils. This helps rejuvenate and condition the cellular structure of the wood to bring back flexibility. Moreover, the drying oils stay on top of the surface and cure to lock in the conditioning oils and form a barrier of protection from UV and water damage. This unique blend of oils is an innovative break through backed by five generations of oil based coatings experience.

We are pleased to announce 3 new colors for the Armstrong Clark Wood Stain?

• Natural Oak Semi-Transparent. A medium to lighter brown tone for your softwoods like cedar, pine and redwood.
• Chestnut Semi-Transparent for Softwoods. This color is designed to give softwoods like cedar and pine a rich reddish brown color, similar to IPE wood.
• Black Walnut Semi-Transparent for Exotic Hardwood, IPE and all softwoods.

There are two main differences between wood stains, those that penetrate the wood and those that form a protective film on top of the wood. Film forming wood stains have a reputation of not holding up as well as penetrating stains. They are prone to peeling and flaking and are traditionally more difficult to maintain. Penetrating wood stains protect by diving below the surface and into the wood pores so there is no film atop the surface. Penetrating wood stains repel water and reflect UV rays before the can do damage. In addition, they are not prone to peeling, they simply fade and wear off before needing recoated and are much easier to maintain in this sense.

Wood stains perform an excellent purpose of protecting your wood surfaces from harmful elements. Without wood stain preserving these surfaces they would suffer greatly from UV and water damage as well as fungal infiltration and wood rot. The bottom line is exterior wood surfaces would not last half as long as they do costing homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs and replacements. Looking at it this way may help to justify the somewhat high cost of wood stains. With all of the oils, ingredients and additives that go into making a quality wood stain, prices are driven up. As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for”.

Regular maintenance is a large part of owning a log cabin. These beautiful homes fit right in with nature but the weather can take its toll if they are not preserved. In general a log cabin will need to be cleaned and stained every few years to stay protected and looking good. Logs exposed to the elements can be harmed from moisture and sun exposure. The logs also become aged and start losing their own natural oils and may begin cracking and splitting.

On a log cabin where color retention, water repellency and wood conditioning are a concern, Armstrong Clark siding wood stain is the best Armstrong stain for log cabins. This oil based formula is specially designed to replace lost natural oils to rejuvenate the wood.