How to Apply Exterior Wood Stain to Previously Painted Wood

by DoItYourself Staff

what you'll need

Stain
Brush
Paint scraper
Paint stripper
Rags
Drop cloth
Rubbing alcohol
Polyethylene
Electric sander

Applying external wood stain to something that has been painted is a task that can several days to complete. Putting a new face on the wooden piece can refresh an otherwise old and worn object. Unfortunately, when you want to do this, you have to be willing and ready to take on this rather tedious project. Unfortunately, you can't stain wood that has been painted without first removing the paint.

Step 1 - Paint Stripper Solution

There are several kinds of paint strippers on the market that you can use with much success. The one that you will actually choose will be determined by the type of paint that was used on the wood. If you don't know the type of paint you're removing, there's a trick that you can use to find out. There are two kinds of paint: latex and oil. Pour some rubbing alcohol into a container. Dip the rag in the rubbing alcohol and then rub it on a patch of the wood that is to be stained. Let the paint stripper set before rubbing the patch with a cloth. If the paint comes off, you're dealing with latex paint. You can now buy a paint stripper made for latex paint.

Step 2 - Stripping the Paint

Paint strippers are either liquid or viscous. There are some paint strippers that come in spray cans to make it easier for you. Which paint stripper you choose to use is determined by the amount of paint layers that you have to remove. Liquid paint stripper is thin, easily applied and can be spread pretty much anywhere you can think of. Liquid paint stripper should only be used if you have 1 or 2 layers of paint. Viscous paint stripper, on the other hand, requires a brush to apply and is best suited to remove between 3 and 10 layers of paint. Spread a layer of paint stripper over the wood to be stripped and stained. Wait a day or two and wipe the stripper away with either a damp rag or paint scraper. You'll know when the paint is ready to be removed when it becomes soft.

Step 3 - Staining the Wood

When you get to this stage, you're at the easy part of the project. If you want to create a porous surface on the wood you can do so by going over it lightly with sandpaper. Buff the wood with rubbing alcohol. Pour some stain in a stainless steel cup and insert the brush. Let the wood stain drip off the brush before applying it to the wood. This will prevent streaks of stain or drips from showing on the finished wood. Apply the exterior wood stain using a wide brush for maximum coverage. Allow the first layer to dry prior to adding a second coat (if you deem it needed). Seal the wood with two layers of polyethylene.