Answer.
The shade cards and colour labels are only a general guide to the shade which will be achieved. The following factors all affect the final colour:

• The natural colour of the wood, and any existing coating,
• The texture and absorption of the surface,
• The way the products are applied.

Answer.
Using a coating with no colour and expecting it to work well is like using sunglasses with no shading. In order to protect timber from the effects of sunlight (and ultra violet light in particular), it is necessary to reduce the amount of light reaching the surface.

In order to do this, the coating must contain a pigment/colour, which by nature will alter the appearance of the timber. In addition, clear finishes have less protection for themselves from sunlight, and may become brittle, peel and crack, leading to extra work at redecoration.

 

Answer.
In order to highlight the natural features of timber, wood stains are translucent (i.e. semi-transparent). The final shade achieved is a combination of the colour of the surface to which they are applied, and their own pigmentation. A light coloured wood stain onto a dark surface will therefore always allow the dark colour to be seen, and thus the finish remains dark.

To achieve a lighter shade requires either stripping of the existing finish and re-coating, or the application of an opaque, paint-like coating like Sadolin Superdec.