Choosing a Stain for Your Custom Log Home
ZAR Platinum PRO takes the guesswork out of the equation as log or timber homeowners and professional contractors choose the fresh, vibrant look they want to achieve inside and out while blending in the best available durability characteristics, protection, and resistance to harsh weather. Jeff Brooks and the UGL team have seen some products reach heights of popularity among professionals and do-it-yourself homeowners and then just fade away through the years.
Take these tips to heart. UGL offers sound advice for choosing a stain for those building new homes or seeking the best outcome for improvements.
Choose wisely:
- Assess the log or timber home’s current conditions; new construction versus existing stain will influence the decision for the best option based on compatibility standards.
- Explore preferences fully and consider subtle differences such as deep penetrating oils versus surface stains. Both options can offer similar aesthetics at the time of application; however, the functionality will vary in terms of durability.
- Choose a stain/finish composed of inorganic pigments rather than organic pigments. ZAR Platinum PRO contains inorganic pigments, which are preferred for long-lasting products to preserve colors during exposure to sunlight, chemicals, or extreme weather conditions.
- Take notice of the position and location of your log or timber home. How much sun exposure do you receive? How shaded is the area where your log or timber home sits? Answers to these questions can help determine the attributes most important to you in purchasing the appropriate stain/finish.
- Prep…prep…prep. A clean, dull, and dry surface with low moisture content in the wood substrate is important for the stain/finish application’s success.
- Remember versatility. Take advantage of a stain/finish that can be used not only on the exterior but also on interior logs and timber as well to provide a natural look on the interior of your log or timber home.
- Choose a stain and/or finish that offers ready-mixed colors. This will help ensure color uniformity when using multiple containers of the same product.
Choosing a Stain: Platinum PRO Performs
Practical experience counts, and ZAR Platinum PRO delivers. The product provides excellent adhesion on new construction as well as over existing coatings that are in acceptable condition…clean, dull, and dry. Remember, the topcoat will be only as effective as what’s underneath.
Platinum PRO is a surface stain with strong inhibitors of the sun’s harmful UV rays along with excellent fade resistance. Platinum PRO incorporates all inorganic pigments in its finish for outstanding color retention; it’s not simply a stain, but a finish as well, a protective finish that is more impervious to mold or mildew growth than penetrating stains, allowing the finish to maintain its natural beauty over a longer period of time.
Platinum PRO is a fast-drying finish with a low odor that provides the professionals who use it with larger windows of opportunity to complete jobs. This is a real enhancement considering the importance of available work time during periods of frequent wet weather conditions. Oils need a much longer block of dry weather in order to cure properly.
The finish provides a natural look on the interior as well as exterior surfaces, and Platinum PRO is available in 10 ready-mixed colors and two sheen levels (low-lustre and rich- lustre), eliminating the need for tinting to maintain color uniformity.
“Conquering the ‘sag factor’ has been a great achievement,” Brooks advised. “It won’t run down the surface like other spray or brush products with lower viscosity. So, it provides more margin for error than thinner products that you have to build up with more coats.
With Platinum PRO, you don’t have to do that. This product is the consistency of honey, and one of the first bits of feedback we received simply said that Platinum PRO was smooth, not messy when rolling out a ceiling, and it won’t run off your brush. That’s one of the things people love about the product.”
With a single coat spray application, a gallon of Platinum PRO covers a generous amount of surface, drying in 15 to 30 minutes. It’s ideal for use with various surfaces, including wood, faux wood, engineered wood/composites, fiber cement, vinyl, fiberglass, metal, hardboard, veneer, and plastic/PVC. The product is recommended for vertical surfaces rather than horizontals that are subject to foot traffic and abrasion, such as flooring or decking.
Value and Versatility
Professionals choose Platinum PRO time after time. Since its introduction, the product has proven itself through ease of application, the right balance of viscosity and color retention, indoor and outdoor usage, and the best return on investment among finishes in the industry.
UGL, along with its tradition of excellence, its dedicated research and development process through testing and affirmation, and then in long-lasting service, stands behind Platinum PRO with a robust warranty. Experience the best value in high- quality finish in today’s marketplace.
Choose with confidence. Choose ZAR Platinum PRO.
