Is it worth paying for Solignum Architectural woodstain?

Callie22

Hi, I just wondered if there were any experienced fence painters who could tell me if it's worth paying for Solignum Architectural woodstain

I've got a biggish fence that needs painting - I've calculated that it's about 25 square metres in total. I want to use a coloured fence treatment and I'm trying to work out how much I need. Cuprinol Garden shades seem to cover 4-5 square metres per litre so for two coats and a bit spare I'm estimating that I'll need to buy 15 litres, and an online search suggests that this is going to cost in the region of £100 (I know 15 litres is too much but I've got more fences to paint eventually so it won't be wasted!)

A few online searches suggest that the solvent-based Solignum Architectural woodstain is a much better product, but it's harder to work out how much I'll need. For sawn timber it says that coverage is 5-14 square meters per litre. Going off the lower end, that suggests for two coats I'll also need 15 litres of this at an approximate cost of £270 (again with some left over).

I know that they're very different products but that is quite a big difference in price! However, I'm keen to use a decent product as my garden is a bit challenging in terms of direction and weather - this fence will face south-east, it gets a lot of sun and my garden is windy, so I want something that will last. Is it worth paying nearly three times as much for the Solignum woodstain? If not, are there any other coloured fence treatments that you can recommend?

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Private_Church

I've been recommending Architectural Solignum (Solvent based) for years. I've used it a lot over the years on National Trust and church work. Water based products don't soak into the timber and just dry on the surface and don't last more than a year or two whereas AS soaks in and doesn't peel like many stains do and my fence was treated 3yrs ago and no signs of it breaking down. The only thing I will say is the timber fence you intend to treat needs to be very dry so now is the best time of year to treat it.. AS also comes in a water based product but I would steer clear purely on the basis that it doesn't soak in the grain.

As the old saying goes "buy cheap buy twice"..............

I've used so many different products over the years and still rate AS as one of the best for windows,doors and fences. They also quite a few different colours too.

You should be able to get AS cheaper than you were quoted:

http://www.decoratingdirect.co.uk/viewprod/t/TORSOLASB/

Callie22

Thanks Private Church, that's really helpful. My house is a long way from a National Trust property but if paying a bit more now saves me some time then that's good enough for me!