Gel stains are thick stain that you apply to a wood surface. Unlike traditional stains that soak into the wood creating a new color, gel stains are applied to the surface of wood and can be built up similar to a paint. Unlike paint, gel stains still allow you to feel the underlying texture of the wood. Gel stains have relatively good hiding strengths in that they will mask the underlying color of a previously stained or painted wood project. Additionally due to their thickness they do not run as much making them well suited for vertical surfaces as well as easy to apply for novice finishers.