Does Cedar Siding Need To Be Stained

With plenty of colors of stain and paint to choose from you have a ton of new options for decorating the exterior of your home.

Does cedar siding need to be stained.

In refinishing painted or solid color stained siding and trim removal of the old coating may be required. To preserve the style as it is installed and first stained you will need to re stain or re paint on a semi annual basis. Cedar must be regularly stained and sealed at significant expense to protect it from moisture penetration and possible rot mold and warping cedar not properly cared for will become susceptible to insects an issue not found with fiber cement and vinyl woodpeckers occasionally bore into cedar siding. As mentioned this paint stain or solid body stain can be applied to new or previously paint stained cedar wood and siding.

The sooner you treat your cedar the better. Apply a semi transparent stain to show off your cedar s best assets. Semi transparent stains are your best bet when you want the real look of slightly weathered cedar with protection. 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.

Consider sealing your new cedar siding to keep it looking like new for longer. Cedar siding is very durable against the elements but still requires regular maintenance and depending on the climate should be restained every few years. Although cedar is naturally resistant to rot and decay staining your siding promptly will help in the preventing of deterioration. Any exposed wood is susceptible to the elements that cause mildew swelling splitting and cracking.

However with semi transparent stains you will need to take care with the application. Staining cedar with a semi transparent stain. Siding requires restaining and regular maintenance. Semi transparent stains allow some of the wood grain to show through.

Exterior western red cedar surfaces only need to be refinished when the old coating has worn thin and no longer affords the wood protection. Use multiple coats of seal if you live in a wet climate. The few solid particles in this mix will not significantly obscure cedar s wood grain. Wood stains are toxic to inhale and can harm your skin so wear a respirator mask and gloves and apply stain an area with proper ventilation.

Prepare your cedar siding by washing it with soapy water to remove any dirt or dust if any has accumulated. This is necessary if for example the old finish is severely cracked or is peeling. This is something to consider when choosing cedar shingles or siding. Wash wait for it to dry.

For those who like the stained look cedar requires more maintenance than many other woods.