{"id":2192,"date":"2021-07-24T17:34:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-24T21:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=2192"},"modified":"2024-02-28T16:29:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-28T21:29:07","slug":"sealing-wood-after-staining","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/sealing-wood-after-staining\/","title":{"rendered":"Staining Wood: Here’s What Happens If You Don’t Seal It (With Pictures!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just stained your beautiful wood furniture, wood fence, or hardwood floors and wondering if you have to seal it? Well, look no further because I have your answer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After staining wood, you should seal it. Failing to seal the wood after staining leaves it vulnerable to water damage and scratches\/gouges. Many sealers also add vibrancy to the color of stained wood and make it appear shinier. To protect stained wood for years, apply 2-3 coats of high-quality sealer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, sealing stained wood is not hard. This guide explains everything you need to know about sealing your stained wood and why you should do it. It also dives into some specific tips about using sealers. That way, you can get the most beauty out of your wood furniture and flooring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Quick Navigation: Sealing Wood After Staining<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. What Happens If You Don’t Seal Stained Wood?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. What Are The Benefits Of Sealing Wood?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What Are The Downsides Of Sealing Wood?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Other FAQs About Sealing Wood After Staining It<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Happens If You Don’t Seal Stained Wood?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Sealing your stained wood prevents numerous things that you don’t want to happen from happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For one, clear coat sealers are the shield between your stained wood and Mother Nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Rain and moisture seep into unsealed wood, causing it to warp and rot over time<\/strong>. And the sun’s UV rays can dramatically dull the color of woods that aren’t stained and sealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As a result, you should almost always seal your wood furniture or wood fence that’s outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seal your interior hardwood floors and furniture too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Unsealed wood is more susceptible to physical damage<\/strong> from sharp objects, pets’ claws, and heavy foot traffic. Without sealer, the damage will typically be more apparent and likely to cause visible chipping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, over time, stained wood without sealer will degrade faster<\/strong>. Wood that isn’t sealed loses color quality and stain uniformity much more quickly due to direct air and light exposure. It also warps and cracks faster.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Sun and water damage destroy unsealed wood.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Are the Benefits of Sealing Wood?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you know what happens if you don’t <\/em>seal stained wood, you might wonder what exactly the benefits of sealer are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here’s a brief rundown of the pros of wood sealer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n