Key Takeaways
- Lifeline exterior stains, Lifeline Prelude Clear Primer, and Lifeline Advance Topcoat repel liquid water and help keep the underlying wood dry.
- Lifeline stains are water-based, film-forming, breathable finishes that add color while allowing the wood grain to remain visible.
- Lifeline Advance protects the pigmented finish from weather, sunlight, and dirt.
- Lifeline Advance should be applied over an existing finish, not bare wood.
“Which of your products should I use to seal my log home?” is a question we get often from prospective customers. Why do so many people refer to “sealing” a log home rather than staining or finishing? Nobody talks about sealing siding or trim. They are either stained or painted, yet sealing is the term used by many log homeowners. As it relates to log homes, the term “sealing” dates back to the early 1900s.
Historically, many log homes were built with a high proportion of heartwood from old-growth timber and were left bare.
Heartwood from naturally durable species can resist decay better than sapwood, although resistance varies. Building practices that kept logs dry, including roof overhangs and protected log ends, also helped extend their service life.
Sealers
As old-growth timber became less available, builders increasingly used younger timber containing more sapwood. Changes in construction practices also left some log walls more exposed to moisture, insects, and decay.
So, are any of our Lifeline™ exterior finishes sealers? As the term relates to keeping liquid water from entering the wood, they all are. All of our Lifeline stains (Ultra-7, Ultra-2, Exterior, and Accents), as well as Prelude™ Clear Primer and Advance™ Topcoat, all act as water repellents to keep the underlying wood dry.
There is a misconception that our pigmented finishes alone do not act as water repellents and that it’s the Advance Topcoat that seals the surface. That’s why many people call our Advance Topcoat a sealer, but that’s not an accurate description of the product. All of our stains are excellent water repellents. They may not bead water, but they provide a polymer-film barrier that prevents liquid water from penetrating into the wood.
Stains
Calling our pigmented finishes “stains” can also be a bit confusing. The term itself implies that the wood fibers are “stained” with the colorants contained in the products. However, in the case of film-forming, water-based finishes, the wood fibers are not impregnated with the colorants like they are when penetrating oil stains are used.
Instead, Lifeline stains form a protective film on the wood while adding semi-transparent color that allows the grain and texture to remain visible.
Topcoats
Topcoats are clear finishes applied over the pigmented finish. One of the most frequently asked questions we receive about our Advance Topcoats is why they aren’t included in the stain. Advance serves a different function: it protects the color coat from weather, sunlight, and dirt.
Like the clear coat on an automotive finish, Advance protects the pigmented layer beneath it. It is designed for application over an existing finish, not bare wood.
Lifeline Advance also repels water and makes exterior walls easier to keep clean.
Sealers, Stains, and Topcoats FAQs
Is log home stain the same as a sealer?
Lifeline exterior stains repel liquid water, but they also add semi-transparent color. Calling them stains helps distinguish their role from a clear topcoat such as Lifeline Advance.
Does Lifeline stain need a topcoat?
Perma-Chink Systems’ exterior Lifeline finish systems pair a pigmented color coat with Lifeline Advance clear topcoat to protect the finish from weather, sunlight, and dirt.
Can Lifeline Advance be applied directly to bare wood?
No. Lifeline Advance is designed for application over an existing finish and should not be applied directly to bare wood.
Are Lifeline stains penetrating oil stains?
No. Lifeline stains are water-based, film-forming breathable finishes. They form a protective film rather than impregnating wood fibers like penetrating oil stains.
Choose a Log Home Finish System
Explore Perma-Chink Systems’ exterior stains and finishes to compare Lifeline options for your log or timber home. Review the Stains & Finishes Application Guide before application, or call Perma-Chink Systems at 1-800-548-3554 for product guidance.
