James had purchased the cabin two years prior as a short-term rental and had been watching the stain deteriorate since the first summer. The south elevation was showing severe UV breakdown: peeling in sheets, blotchy fading to gray, and surface checks opening up along the grain. The original stain had been applied over a dirty surface; the bond was never right.
The fix required going back to bare wood. We ran a media blast across the full exterior, which removed all failing stain, surface oxidation, and mill glaze, revealing the original honey tone of the Engelmann spruce underneath. Surface checks were filled with an elastomeric sealant before staining to prevent moisture intrusion.
The two-coat amber stain went on over two days, with a full dry between coats. James arrived on day seven for the walkthrough and was visibly surprised. Within the following booking season, three separate Airbnb guests mentioned the exterior in their five-star reviews.
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