"mm" wrote in message
...

This stain never peels or chips, but can't they make latex paint like
that too?

The theory is that
stain penetrates the surface of the wood, while
paint forms an impermeable surface over the
wood: it is not designed to penetrate the wood
which is why paint often requires a primer while
stain does not.

The practical difference is that (outdoors) it is much
easier to touch up a coat of stain in spots, while
exterior paints usually require overall coverage in
order to appear uniform.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)