The wood is nice, lightweight yet sturdy, and requires very little sanding to accept any stain. While they are significantly less expensive than the plastic/fake wood-type chairs, you will pay that back in your time and effort relative to staining (I do 2 coats, 24-hours in-between, with a little light sanding before 2nd coat) and I presume maintenance later on with Wisconsin weather being a bit extreme. But if you don't mind that, which I do not, then these are for you.