Which stain is preferable, water based or oil based?

Stain and preference depend on various factors like wood type: It’s critical to choose a suitable stain base before applying a stain to your wood.
In the debate between oil-based stains and water-based stains, a water-based stain is the best option if you’re covering a wood that has a natural resilience to rotting. Cedar, cypress, and redwood are examples of this type of wood.

Previous Stain/Paint: If the wood you want to stain already has a coat of paint or stain on it, you’ll need to take some extra steps to get a new, even layer of protectant. Although identifying the previous coating may be challenging, it will aid in your decision between oil-based and water-based stains. A water-based stain will stick better to an oil-based previous coating and should be applied.

Exposure to Elements: The weather that the wood will be subjected to will also influence which stain base is appropriate for your project. If the wood will be exposed to the elements such as wind, rain, and sunshine, an oil-based stain is the best option.

This is because it is more lasting than water-based and gives a more comprehensive protection layer against these elements.