A client in Austin said my stain looked like it was floating on top, not soaking in. Changed my whole prep routine. | Furniture Finishers - Opinions Matter
Oh man, that's such a gut punch. I watched my uncle try to stain a whole deck without sanding it first, and it just sat there like a weird shiny coat. He had to rent a floor sander and start all over, it was a mess. That client probably saved you from a way bigger headache down the line.
Tell me about it... that shiny coat is the worst. Did your uncle at least try to wash it off with a stripper first, or did he just go straight to sanding? I've seen people waste days trying to fix that kind of thing.