Once your project is built, staining is what keeps it looking good and holding up over time.
At Cedar Shoppe, we carry Sansin, a Canadian-made line built to handle real winters — freeze-thaw, UV, and moisture.
Every colour is tinted in-house, so you're not limited to a stock swatch — from a natural, clear coat to a custom tone, we mix it on site.
Stop by Cedar Shoppe or give us a call — we'll help you figure out the right stain and sheen for the wood you're working with.
A two-coat penetrating finish built specifically for deck surfaces.
Works on pressure-treated wood, cedar, or pine, and resists cracking and peeling through repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Our most versatile option — suited for siding, fences, decks, and log work.
Penetrates into the wood instead of coating the surface, keeping it breathable and helping prevent trapped moisture and rot.
A higher-lustre finish, often applied as a topcoat over DEC or SDF for extra protection.
Also works well on its own if you want more sheen, with lustre levels ranging from low to gloss.
Sansin stains work differently than most exterior finishes. Instead of sitting on top of the wood like a film, they penetrate into the grain and bond there — so the finish won't crack, peel, or blister the way surface coatings can.
That means less scraping and stripping down the road; a light re-coat every few years keeps things protected. The formula is also breathable, so moisture trapped in the wood can still escape, which matters through an Ontario winter.
Clear sealers keep water out, but they don't stop UV — and sun exposure is actually the bigger threat to how cedar looks and holds up over time.
Pigment is what protects against that. We carry Sansin in a range of pigment levels, from barely-there transparents to fully solid finishes, depending on how much of the natural grain you want to keep visible versus how long you want the finish to last.
Determine the right amount of stain needed for your project. Consider wood porosity, age, and preparation quality.
Boost your home's curb appeal and protect it from the elements with this guide to staining siding and shingles.
Watch a video tutorial to learn how to protect and refinish your deck using environmentally friendly Sansin stains.
Not every project calls for a stock shade.
Our in-house tint machine lets us custom match colour on the spot — whether you're trying to match an existing deck, blend new boards into an older fence, or land on something entirely your own. Bring a sample, a photo, or just an idea of the tone you're after, and we'll help you dial it in before you buy.
