Staining New Cedar Siding

A good house stain not only beautifies your home s exterior it preserves and protects exterior wood from nature s harshest elements.

Staining new cedar siding.

Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks. Decide on a texture cedar siding can be specified in one of three surface finishes smooth rough and saw textured. 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. The upside is that solid color stains will block most damaging ultraviolet light.

First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding. Solid color stains have solid particles but not nearly as many as paint. Since western red cedar naturally lacks pitch and resin it allows for countless staining options and will accept stain very well if applied correctly. From cedar siding to redwood deck wood offers a rich warm welcome to any home.

If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation. Rough sawn surfaces can add a rustic weathered look to your home. Staining new cedar requires a transparent semi transparent or semi solid stain if your intention is to still see the natural beauty of the wood s grain after completing the staining process. Thus solid color stains let some of the cedar s grain show through but none of the color.

Staining cedar with a solid color stain. The brush bristles distribute the stain evenly into the wood grain reaching into the small undulations on the surface of the cedar planking. Staining the cedar is the absolute best way to ensure this especially in areas that have four season climates. Exterior cedar stain is exactly what it implies either in an oil based or water.

Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes. 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. Once it was dry it did not have an odor or feel tacky to the touch. Smooth surfaces show the grain patterns and variations more than other textures when you apply a clear or semi transparent finish.

In our tests we put on two coats and let it set for the recommended drying time. Saw textured cedar is milled in such a way that it shows the markings made by. It is a deep penetrating oil based stain that went on smoothly. The fastest and most thorough method to apply stain to cedar siding is with a thick natural bristle brush.

Stain the cedar siding before hanging it if possible. This exterior stain was found to be extremely effective at staining cedar. What you get is a very uniform opaque color.