Remember back in November when I made a confession?
I told you that I kinda, sorta, maybe, sometimes ignore the outside of my house.
Well, a couple weeks ago it seemed as if spring was finally arriving here (it was a trick though!). It was sunny, it was nearly 70 degrees and the kid was at preschool (thank heaven).
I certainly did not want to coop myself up in front of this computer all day. I thought it was a good time to spruce-up the porch a bit – seeing as how I have not touched it since its makeover nearly three years ago. And when I did do the makeover, I got pregnant half-way through and failed to touch the lattice on account of being tired all the time.
At least that’s the excuse I’m giving.
So, on that beautiful day a couple weeks ago, I figured out how to stain wood the easy way and gave my lattice a much needed refresh.
How to Stain Wood the Easy Way
Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with Thompson’s WaterSeal. However, all opinions and witty remarks are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Seriously y’all, excluding drying time, this whole project took less than an hour.
I have no idea when the last time was that this lattice had been touched.
I hadn’t touched it since we bought the foreclosure and the house had sat vacant for a year before we got it. I know that the previous owner did not build the porch onto the front of the house, so I’m not sure if they ever spruced up the lattice or not.
Either way, the lattice definitely needed a facelift.
Ok, so let’s be real for a moment. Who really wants to stain lattice by hand? Do you see all those criss-crosses, nooks, and crannies? It would have taken forever for me to do this by hand. Like two days worth of preschool and ain’t nobody got time for that. The kid only goes to preschool two days a week and I need every second of that time to accomplish multiple projects.
I had a trick up my sleeve, though. Remember when I did that mailbox makeover last year? I turned once more to Thompson’s WaterSeal Traditional Brown Wood Stain Spray.
Yep, its just like spray paint, except its stain.
To do the lattice, I didn’t tape anything off. I just took a piece of cardboard and held it up against the top of the lattice to keep the stain from getting on the painted wood. There were some places where the stain got on the painted wood, but it just wipes right off while wet or its an easy touch-up. Please excuse the fact that there is no picture showing me staining the lattice. I was all alone and I figured the roofers next door wouldn’t take time out of their work day to help a sister out.
Here is a during photo though. The lattice on the left had just gotten the first coat and was still wet.
Seriously y’all, I’m a little embarrassed to show you that photo. I don’t think I realized how bad the lattice was until I saw that huge difference.
I did two coats total and it took about three cans for all of the lattice.
Grunt Labor was quite impressed that I took some outdoor initiative when he got home. I didn’t tell him how easy it was. I just said I had worked all day and couldn’t possibly cook supper. hehehehe
There you have it, how to stain wood the easy way.
You can find Thompson’s WaterSeal spray stain at Wal-Mart and on Amazon.
Now, I no longer have an excuse to neglect the outdoors. But please, don’t tell Grunt Labor about my secret weapon!
More outdoor projects you might just want to see…
Staining Pressure Treated Wood –No Waiting Required!
DIY Cedar Planter Box – so pretty and a great way to display your house numbers as well!
Mailbox Makeover– took less than an hour and such a big impact!
How to Clean Your Sidewalk – had no idea mine was so dirty!
You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.
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See what I mean? Now, those mums are the bee’s knees, Grunt Labor is an excellent gardener, but the mailbox needed a facelift.
This was my first rodeo with a spray stain. It worked just like a regular canned stain, except of course its a spray. But, just like with regular stain, you can wipe off any excess stain you don’t want depending on how dark you want the stain. I wanted my post pretty brown, so I didn’t wipe off any stain and I gave it two coats.
