Frequently Asked Wood Stain and Finishes Questions
Turn here for answers to common questions about finishing with PPG ProluxeTM wood finishing products.
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Low VOC Siding
Q: I live in California and have a new cedar-sided house. I was told that we are in a low VOC area. What PPG ProLuxe TM product do you recommend?
A: The following PPG ProLuxe products are VOC-compliant throughout California:
- PPG Proluxe 1 Primary Coat RE Wood Finish
- PPG Proluxe SRD Semi-Transparent Wood Finish
- PPG Proluxe Premium Solid Stain Wood Finish
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Cedar Fences
Q: We have a new western red cedar fence and would like to use a PPG ProluxeTM stain. Which stain should we use?
A: One coat of PPG Proluxe® SRD Semi-Transparent Wood Finish can be used on fences after proper surface preparation. It can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed on. If sprayed or rolled, however, the application should be back brushed.
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Proper Cleaning Procedure
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 (trisodium phosphate), 1 quart of outdoor bleach and 3 quarts of fresh water, followed by power washing at 500-800 PSI, is an effective way to clean wood without having to hand scrub or sand the entire surface.
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Exterior Doors
Q: I have an exterior door that has been coated with PPG Proluxe® 1 Primary Coat RE Wood Finish (formerly Cetol 1 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 PPG Proluxe Door & Window Wood Finish or PPG Proluxe 23 Top Coat RE Wood Finish.
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Filling Nail Holes
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 PPG ProLuxeTM and wood filler.
A: Without extensive testing we cannot tell whether the filler powder and PPG ProLuxe 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 finishes won’t penetrate and will appear lighter in color.
See PPG PROLUXE Log & Siding Wood Finish
Staining Outdoor Furniture
Q: I would like to paint my picnic table. What PPG ProLuxeTM product would you recommend?
A: If you are looking for a painted appearance to the picnic table, we recommend PPG Proluxe Premium Solid Stain Wood Finish.
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Fiberglass Doors
Q: What PPG ProLuxeTM products can be applied on a fiberglass door?
A: Both PPG Proluxe Premium Solid Stain Wood Finish and PPG Proluxe Door & Window Wood Finish can be used on a fiberglass door.
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Adding Pigment or Other Products
Q: Is it OK to add pigment and/or other products to PPG ProLuxeTM finishes?
A: No, we do not recommend adding anything to our transparent products. The PPG Proluxe Premium Solid Stain Wood Finish and PPG Proluxe SRD Semi-Transparent Wood Finish can be tinted in store using universal tints available at PPG ProLuxe suppliers.
No other additives should be used with any PPG ProLuxe products, as they could possibly slow down drying time, change gloss levels and affect product performance.
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