Buying douglas wood stain

What is best to look out for when you want to buy a good Douglas fir stain? We would like to help you choose by answering some frequently asked questions. 

What is the best stain for Douglas fir?

Your beautiful Douglas fir wood deserves the best protection. So you start looking for a strong, high-quality exterior stain for your Douglas fir. But which stain exactly do you need? What is the best Douglas fir stain?

Douglas wood naturally contains a lot of resin, especially in the first years after sawing. With new Douglas wood, resin may therefore still come out. Therefore, a transparent solvent-based stain is an excellent choice:

• It penetrates deep into the wood and can therefore better deal with the natural resins that can 'bleed' out of the wood;
  
• It provides durable protection against moisture and UV radiation;
  
• Douglas wood is known for its warm, orangey hue. Transparent stain retains this colour best;
  
• If resin does come out, those spots are less noticeable with a transparent stain than with an opaque stain;
  

Want to know more? Then be sure to read our paint guide, which tells you which stain to choose for your type of wood.

Why stain Douglas fir wood?

Douglas wood may be known as a durable wood species, but staining is still a smart move.

• Douglas wood ages relatively quickly due to exposure to UV rays and weathering. A good stain with UV blockers slows down this process considerably and helps to preserve the warm, orangey hue of the wood for longer.
• Douglas wood contains resin and natural oils that provide some protection, but without additional treatment, moisture can still penetrate. Stain forms a breathable layer that keeps moisture out, while allowing the wood to 'breathe'. This reduces the risk of cracks, warping or mould.
  
• Douglas wood left untreated is more likely to attract dirt, algae and mould, especially in damp areas. A protective layer of stain makes the wood easier to clean and prevents dirt from penetrating deep into the wood.
  

How long does stained Douglas last?

If you protect your Douglas fir well and maintain it regularly, it can last quite a long time! A lifespan of 10 to 15 years for stained Douglas fir is quite feasible. 

By regular maintenance, we don't just mean refreshing the transparent stain every two to three years. Regular cleaning (think green deposit removal) also extends the lifespan considerably.

There are also some other factors that may play a role. Sheltered wood (such as under a roof) lasts longer. Wood that is constantly in full sun or rain requires more frequent maintenance. For Douglas fir that is heavily exposed to the weather, you can apply an extra layer of stain (three instead of two) to protect it even better.

How do you preserve the colour of Douglas fir?

Many transparent stains can be mixed in a colour of your choice. You can then choose a colour that closely matches the original colour of your Douglas fir. Thanks to the protective properties of the stain and the pigments in it, you protect your wood against ageing and weathering. 

You can also make it very easy on yourself with Xyladecor Tuinhuis. In this, there is a variant in Douglas colour, so you don't have to pick the colour yourself!

What colour stain on Douglas fir?

What colour you put on your Douglas fir depends entirely on what you want:

• Douglas fir colour: have you specifically chosen Douglas fir because you are a big fan of its warm colour? Then of course you want to keep that colour. How to do that, you can read above.
  
• A different wood colour: you might want to change the colour of the wood a little, but still keep the wood look. In that case, you can choose a transparent stain in a different wood colour.
  
• An opaque colour: if you don't (anymore) like that Douglas fir colour anyway, you can also have an opaque stain mixed in a colour of your choice. This is an especially good idea for older Douglas fir. You can see why above.