Welcome to the SICO® ProLuxe® wood stains and finishes frequently asked questions page! Here, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about staining wood. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced DIYer, we hope this information will be helpful as you plan and execute your staining projects.
We hope you find this resource useful, and if you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you achieve the best possible results for your staining projects.
Product Questions:
Q:I have an exterior door that has been coated with 1 Primary Coat RE. I want to put an acrylic/urethane coating as a top coat. Is there a problem with that?
Q: I want to fill the nail holes on the outside of my house. I bought filler and would like to know if I can fill the holes with a mix of Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish and wood filler.
Q:I have sprayed SRD RE Wood Finish on my siding. I have overspray on the windows and field stone. What should I do?
Q:I like the look of the Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish 1 Primary Coat RE and 23 Top Coat RE products. I would like to use this on my picnic table. What can I use?
Q:Can an insecticide be added to the 23 Top Coat RE Wood Finish?
Q:I have some teak garden furniture and want to protect it. What is the best product to use?
Q:When should I apply the caulking when using the 1 Primary Coat RE and 23 Top Coat RE system or Log & Siding Wood Finish on my log home?
Q:What Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish products can be applied on a fiberglass door?
Q:How do you remove excess product from glass?
Q:We are building a new log home in the late fall. We will probably only have time to apply one or two coats. We were thinking of putting on one coat of 1 Primary Coat RE and one coat of 23 Top Coat RE. The following spring we will apply the final coat. Is this acceptable?
Q:Is it OK to add pigment and/or other products to Sico ProLuxe wood stains and finishes?
Q:Is it OK to apply two coats of SRD RE Wood Finish to my home?
Q:We have a new western red cedar fence and would like to use the Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish SRD RE Wood Finish. Would this be the recommended system?
Q:How often do you recommend I maintain the SRD RE Wood Finish system?
Q:Our house was coated with one coat of an oil base stain about 1 ½ years ago. It is developing a lot of mould and mildew, and in some of the exposed areas it has weathered off. I want to use a Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish translucent product on my house. What do I have to do?
Other Questions:
Q:I don’t want to rent a power washer for the cleaning procedure. Is a garden hose OK to use?
Q:What’s the difference between translucent and solid stains and finishes?
Product Answers:
Q:I have an exterior door that has been coated with 1 Primary Coat RE. I want to put an acrylic/urethane coating as a top coat. Is there a problem with that?
A:We do not recommend that type of product because it loses its flexibility and does not offer the durability and protection of Door and Window or 23 Top Coat RE wood finishes.
Q: I want to fill the nail holes on the outside of my house. I bought filler and would like to know if I can fill the holes with a mix of Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish and wood filler.
A:Without extensive testing we cannot tell whether the filler powder and Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish are compatible with each other. For this reason, we recommend to fill all joints, cracks, and nail holes with a good quality polyurethane or acrylic filler prior to coating application. Areas where caulking is smeared over the wood surface can be sanded after drying with 80-grit sandpaper to remove the caulking residue. It is important to remove caulking smears because the pigments in the translucent finishes won’t penetrate and will appear lighter in colour.
Q:I have sprayed SRD RE Wood Finish on my siding. I have overspray on the windows and field stone. What should I do?
A:If the overspray is still wet, wet a rag with mineral spirits to wipe off the coating. If the overspray is dry, it will be difficult to remove and will require the use of a paint stripper/remover or careful scraping with a razor blade. Safe use of any paint remover is important. You should consult with the manufacturer of any paint stripper you use. Contact your Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish supplier for more information.
Q:I like the look of the Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish 1 Primary Coat RE and 23 Top Coat RE products. I would like to use this on my picnic table. What can I use?
A:The Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish system recommended for picnic tables, wood lawn furniture, etc. is two coats of 1 Primary Coat RE Wood Finish. This is the best system to use on unique applications. The maintenance on this system should be done every 1-2 years with 1 Primary Coat RE Wood Finish.
Q:Can an insecticide be added to the 23 Top Coat RE Wood Finish?
A:Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish does not recommend adding any insecticide or additives to their products.
Q:I have some teak garden furniture and want to protect it. What is the best product to use?
A:We recommend two coats of 1 Primary Coat RE Wood Finish on garden furniture.
Q:When should I apply the caulking when using the 1 Primary Coat RE and 23 Top Coat RE system or Log & Siding Wood Finish on my log home?
A:The best way to apply the caulk is to put it on between the first and second coats, making sure the first coat is completely dry and the caulk is completely dry and completely cured before applying the second coat. However, it is possible to put the caulk on bare wood first and coat after, or coat and apply the caulk last.
Q:What Sico ProLuxe products can be applied on a fiberglass door?
A:Sico ProLuxe Door & Window Wood Finish can be used on a fiberglass door. Consult the Technical Data Sheet for specific instructions.
Q:How do you remove excess product from glass?
A:If the product is wet, it can be removed by wiping it off with a rag soaked in mineral spirits. If product is dry, it will have to be scraped off with a single edge razor blade.
Q:We are building a new log home in the late fall. We will probably only have time to apply one or two coats. We were thinking of putting on one coat of 1 Primary Coat RE and one coat of 23 Top Coat RE. The following spring we will apply the final coat. Is this acceptable?
A:No, we do not recommend just two coats for an extended period of time. The entire three coat system should be finished within one month.
Q:Is it OK to add pigment and/or other products to Sico ProLuxe wood stains and finishes?
A:No, we do not recommend adding anything to our translucent products. No other additives should be used with any Sico ProLuxe wood stain and finish products, as they could possibly slow down drying time, change gloss levels and affect product performance.
Q:Is it OK to apply two coats of SRD RE Wood Finish to my home?
A:No, SRD RE Wood Finish is a single coat product.
Q:We have a new western red cedar fence and would like to use the Sico ProLuxe SRD RE Wood Finish. Would this be the recommended system
A:Yes, one coat of SRD RE can be used on fences after proper surface preparation. The SRD RE Wood Finish can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on. If sprayed or rolled, however, the application should be back brushed.
Q:How often do you recommend I maintain the SRD RE Wood Finish system?
A:SRD RE should be weathered before recoating. Visually inspect the coating and when it appears faded spray the surface with water. If the water penetrates and the wood turns dark due to the moisture, this is an indication that it’s time to remove the previous coat and reapply SRD RE. However if it still repels water, a light cleaning with oxalic acid cleaner and brightener will restore the look of the deck. When reapplying SRD RE, the surface should be back to bare wood; otherwise the wood may look dark, blotchy, or shiny.
Q: Our house was coated with one coat of an oil base stain about 1 ½ years ago. It is developing a lot of mould and mildew, and in some of the exposed areas it has weathered off. I want to use a Sico ProLuxe translucent wood stain and finish product on my house. What do I have to do?
A: In order to use any of the Sico ProLuxe translucent finishes on your home, all previous finishes must be removed. Please refer to the “Previously Coated Wood” section in the Technical Data Sheets or contact Sico ProLuxe Advice Center at 1-800-463-7426.
Other Answers:
Q:I don’t want to rent a power washer for the cleaning procedure. Is a garden hose OK to use?
A: No. The use of a garden hose, even with a nozzle, will not properly remove the mill glaze, dirt, pollution, old coatings, etc. that may be found on the surface. We have found that using a cleaning solution of 4 ounces of TSP, 1 quart of outdoor bleach and 3 quarts of fresh water, followed by a power washing at 500-800 PSI is an effective way to clean wood without having to hand scrub or sand the entire surface.
Q:What’s the difference between translucent and solid stains and finishes?
A:Translucent finishes refer to translucent and semi-transparent products that enhance the natural appearance of exterior wood surfaces. Premium Solid stains offer superb adhesion and colour retention in an opaque coating.