Do You Stain Cedar Siding

Cedar is known to age gracefully to a soft silver grey patina but it s wise to keep the rich tones of your cedar siding lasting longer.

Do you stain cedar siding.

After that the color will rapidly change from red to gray. If the house is exposed to excessive sunlight heat and ultraviolet light choose a durable stain that won t fade. Most cedar treatments are much like house paint in that they are composed of pigments and solids. The fastest and most thorough method to apply stain to cedar siding is with a thick natural bristle brush.

The stain should be matched to the needs of the siding. Paint or stain dimensional cedar wood siding having cedar lumber wood siding such as 1 x 6 1 x 8 1 x 12 or two inch thickness can be painted with a solid paint stain not requiring primer but still not recommended painting cedar if you can help it. But stain is not just for siding and trim. Today sherwin williams makes a full line of stains for just about every surface.

Most importantly pick the highest quality stain even if it costs more. Transparent stains contain no pigment but have water repellent features that will help to retain natural tones and slow down the natural colour change process. This will allow you to coat all sides and edges with no obstacles before hammering up the siding to your home. Applying deck stain to cedar vertical siding is not required could be cost prohibitive and not needed but could very well be done lasting much longer.

Stain the cedar siding before hanging it if possible. A good house stain not only beautifies your home s exterior it preserves and protects exterior wood from nature s harshest elements. As mentioned this paint stain or solid body stain can be applied to new or previously paint stained cedar wood and siding. There is one thing you must do however to hold onto that warm wood glow and that s restaining when your siding starts to look dull.

If dampness rain or snow is a concern choose a stain that will seal well and be resistant to moisture. According to paul mackie at the western red cedar lumber association wrcla red cedar siding that has been finished on all six sides with a stain blocking primer and top coated with 100 percent exterior acrylic latex paint has the longest expected service life of any coating system. Apply the stain front to back top to bottom and on all the edges because any areas of wood left exposed will be susceptible to water damage and chemical bleeding. After installing your exterior cedar you have about a two week grace period until the wood starts to discolor.

Restaining your cedar siding involves removing the old protective coating and applying a new layer of wood stain in the color of your choice then applying more protective coating.