Our front patio.

This weekend I was very productive and got our shingles above the garage stained.

I resolved to do it in the spring but the weather was almost 70 degrees so I figured it might be my last chance to get it done before it got too cold.

I learned a lot about the application process of sealing wood shingles.  I went to buy some paint but when the guy asked me what I was painting he stopped me in my tracks and recommended stain instead.  Being completely ignorant he gave me a good education.  Staining is absorbed by the wood and is meant to age better than paint.  Although you may think of paint as being absorbed by the wood as well it’s really just a film that lies on top of the surface and can flake off easily over time.  One of the great things about stain is that it can be tinted.