Refinishing Cedar Siding

That said no finish lasts forever.

Refinishing cedar siding.

Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes. Cedar maintenance you don t have to do much to cedar shingle siding if you prefer its weathered gray look other than clean and coat it with a clear water resistant preservative and inspect it for rot and damage periodically. So when it comes to choosing a finish for your real cedar project it s good to know the expected lifespan of your product. Step 5 apply caulk some areas of the cedar siding such as around openings or fixtures may need caulking again.

Exterior western red cedar surfaces only need to be refinished when the old coating has worn thin and no longer affords the wood protection. Rinse the surface with a second damp cloth and pat the siding dry with a dry cloth. Wash the entire surface with a dampened cloth removing any traces of dirt and revealing the wood finish. Apply the wood cleaner to the cedar siding using a paint brush or roller.

First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding. After all real cedar is pitch and resin free which means there s nothing to interfere with the bonding of your finish. In refinishing painted or solid color stained siding and trim removal of the old coating may be required. If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation.

Compared to other finishes paint offers the greatest protection for western red cedar siding against the elements. And while cedar siding accepts holds and showcases all types of paints beautifully your best choice is a 100 acrylic latex formula. They outperform other types of paints in all types of weather. Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks.

Clean the siding with a mixture of 1 part bleach and 4 parts water. Give the cedar siding a thorough coat as this will greatly help to protect it from the elements. Allow the primer to dry for three days or as instructed by the manufacturer. But if this is no longer the desired effect you can usually get your siding back to its original color with wood brighteners cleaners and restorers.

This is necessary if for example the old finish is severely cracked or is peeling. But first you have to sand off the top layer of skin. Reach the high areas or apply cleaner to the less dirty areas using a roller with an extension pole which doesn t allow you to apply as much pressure or elbow grease as a paint brush. Real cedar in its raw form untreated siding will eventually turn a beautiful silvery grey.