back yard wood pergola - re-staining project - 7/10 roof side sections
Consumed all of gallon three of stain. Now using gallon four.
About 70% of the pergola roof top and sides have been re-stained.
Working on the project every day after work has been a good change. Wish I had thought of doing so sooner!
It is my hope that once the pergola roof has been completely re-stained on all surfaces, the rest of the project will go more quickly.
***
Gaining experience in staining as I go. Feel like I have learned a lot. I am using water-based stain, so the below only apply to using water-based stain.
Soak roller frame + roller in a container of water between sessions
Have learned the roller "brush" themselves last a long time if, after done staining for the day, the roller frame + roller are kept submerged in a small container of water. I use a plastic tray that has a lid, to keep the water from evaporating.
Keep the container out of direct sunlight.
Before starting a new staining session, simply remove the roller frame + roller from the container of water, go to the lawn, and strongly swing the roller frame + roller while holding on to the handle. The excess water will fling off, leaving it wet/damp, and ready to dip into stain to resume staining. The first few applications of stain will be dilute, but after that, per usual.
After the dilute sections have dried, just go back and reapply stain to those areas.
With the adoption of using this "soak" method, I only actually have to wash the roller frame + roller with soap when a project is complete.
Thinning the stain with a cup of water makes for less goopy results
As soon as the stain has been applied from a full gallon can so that a measuring cup of water can be added, do so. Then slowly mix with a stirring stick for a few minutes, again slowly to avoid splash, until the water has incorporated.
The thinned stain applies thinner coats into the wood, and seems less prone to becoming goopy on the wood or roller brush.
Keep stirring the stain during a session
I use a stirring stick at the beginning of a session to mix, as the stain tends to separate even overnight. But I have learned to also keep the stirring stick in the gallon can of stain for the entire staining session, and keep regularly stirring.
Before dipping the roller into the stain, I'll slowly stir with the stick for about ten clockwise or counter clockwise rotations, with the stick bottom touching where the sides and bottom of the can meet. The stir speed I use is 360deg per second. So ten circular stirs takes 10seconds. Then touch the roller to the top of the stain. Apply. Loop. Repeat.
Doing so keeps the stain mixed and consistent until the entire contents are consumed.
Apply stain slowly
Slowly roll or brush the stain. From trial-and-error it seems about one inch per second works well. It allows the roller to have longer contact with the wood, and seems to allow the stain to begin to soak in. Also prevents creating flung droplets, or missed voids in the wood where the stain didn't made enough contact on the surface.
After applying 2 to 3inches of linear stain with a roller, I'll go back to the middle of that interval, touch the roller down then continue to roll, so there is overlap. I only apply stain in one direction. Seems to help with creating an even layer of stain on the wood, and the overlap helps with rougher wood surface, and trying to get a good coating on rough areas.
Keep stain out of direct sun, do not apply if surface in direct sun
It seems the stain reacts in direct sunlight, and starts to become a solid film quickly. If the can of stain is in the sun, it forms a skin on the surface, like a cup of hot chocolate made with milk does. It is bad.
Instead, keep the can of stain in the shade. Also only apply stain to surfaces that are not in direct sunlight.
For doing the pergola roof, was fortunate that those days were overcast. So was able to apply to a surface that normally is in direct sun the entire day. If not overcast, would have had to try to only apply near sunrise or sunset, or at night using work lights.