Things You'll Need
Wood cleaner or pressure washer
Wood brightener
Brush, roller or sprayer
T111 siding is an attractive and relatively inexpensive siding material. With the proper finish and maintenance, your T111 siding can continue to look good and protect your house for a long time. The process of staining T111 siding is not greatly different from that of staining other types of wood siding, but there are a few tricks and tips that will help you achieve a lasting, attractive finish.
Preparation
Step 1
Thoroughly clean the siding. Use a quality wood cleaner, or, if you have access to one, a pressure washer. If you're using a pressure washer, be careful not to damage the wood. Don't go any higher than 1500 psi, and use either a 25 or a 40 degree tip. If the grain starts to lift, or if the siding starts to look furred, you're getting too close. Back off a little and, if possible, turn down the pressure.
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Step 2
If the wood darkens up after the cleaning process, hit it with a quality wood brightener. These products neutralize tannins that may rise to the surface of the wood and darken it. If the T111 looks fine after cleaning, you can skip this step.
Step 3
Allow the wood to dry for at least 24 hours prior to staining.
Application
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Step 1
Stain can be applied to T111 by using either a brush, roller or sprayer. Whichever application method you choose, make sure to apply it in the same direction as the wood grain, and maintain a wet edge as you go.
Step 2
Apply as much as the wood will absorb. This type of siding is absorbent. In order to really saturate the wood and maintain full protection from the sun's damaging ultra-violet (UV) rays, you will find you have to apply a lot of stain. In some cases the spread rates for stain on T111 will be only half of what is listed on the can.
Step 3
Apply additional coats as needed. Most penetrating stains, on most types of wood, are single coat applications. With T111 you may find you have to apply 2, or sometimes even 3 coats in order to get the full color and seal you are after.
Step 4
Remove excess stain. While it's tough to do, it's not impossible to over-apply stain to your T111 siding. Keep in mind that the stain should penetrate completely into the wood. If, 15 minutes after application, there is still stain sitting on the surface of the wood, remove it with a dry paint brush.
Tip
UV protection in stain comes from the pigments. As a result, darker stains will tend to hold up longer than lighter stains. If you're concerned about longevity, select as dark a stain as you can stand.