While many homeowners prefer to showcase western red cedar s beautiful texture and color with a.
Finish for cedar siding.
The sooner you treat your cedar the better.
That said no finish lasts forever.
Once you ve decided on your finish it s best to get to work quickly.
Western red cedar has a reputation for holding finish exceptionally well and for good reason too.
Do not use a gel or water based stain as they will not penetrate the wood deeply enough and could result in rapid color fading and damage to the wood.
Rinse the surface with a second damp cloth and pat the siding dry with a dry cloth.
Good surface preparation practices are essential to achieve a durable long lasting.
Clean the siding with a mixture of 1 part bleach and 4 parts water.
First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding.
Wash the entire surface with a dampened cloth removing any traces of dirt and revealing the wood finish.
Choosing a finish for western red cedar siding choosing the right finish.
Wash wait for it to dry.
Before applying your sealer it s best to wipe out some glue splotches using mineral spirits.
Although cedar is naturally resistant to rot and decay staining your siding promptly will help in the preventing of deterioration.
If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation.
Sanding is essential to achieve a smooth clear finish for your cedar pieces.
You can do it until at least 220grit or even go up to a maximum of 600.
How to finish western red cedar siding preparing siding before finishing.
Sand the project up through the grits covering the hard to reach parts for easier assembly.
Curb appeal starts with cedar siding.
After all real cedar is pitch and resin free which means there s nothing to interfere with the bonding of your finish.
Applying paint and solid color stains.
Wood that is unseasoned is often called green and it must be allowed to dry for 30 days prior to finishing and installation.
Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks.
Exterior western red cedar surfaces only need to be refinished when the old.
There are so many different grades and profiles to.
The sooner you treat your cedar the better.
For cedar which is a dense softwood you want to make sure that you use an oil based stain that is designed to deeply penetrate the wood fibers.