How To Stain Cedar Siding Shakes

Staining cedar with a semi transparent stain.

How to stain cedar siding shakes.

Cedar shake siding is prized for its clean rustic look longevity and easy maintenance. Semi transparent stains are your best bet when you want the real look of slightly weathered cedar with protection. Staining helps keep wood protected and looking beautiful. But weather and sunlight take their toll and not everyone is fond of the.

First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding. If you apply oil stain to cedar siding with a roller or a spray unit be sure to backbrush it while it is still quite wet to help it penetrate the wood more effectively. Hiring a professional to paint or stain cedar siding will cost 2 500 to 4 000 or more depending on your home s size and the labor required. If cedar planks shingles or shakes are left untreated the wood fades over time.

Although some people enjoy this weathered look the chances of wood rotting rises after just a few years. Department of agriculture s forest services laboratory recommends cleaning cedar shingles with an oxidizing bleach as opposed to a household bleach to avoid damaging the wood while you can use household bleach to kill mold and algae it tends to make the cedar shingle s surface. The brush bristles distribute the stain evenly into the wood grain reaching into the small undulations on the surface of the cedar planking. If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation.

However with semi transparent stains you will need to take care with the application. Why stain cedar siding. Cedar shingles contain extractives that bleed to the surface when the wood becomes wet and then darken as the wood dries. The few solid particles in this mix will not significantly obscure cedar s wood grain.

A stain or clear coating needs one or two finish coats depending on the cedar shake grade and whether you re applying a solid or semi transparent product. Cedar shingles can also grow moss and algae or develop iron staining which requires periodic cleaning. How to stain cedar shake siding. Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks.

Cedar siding shingles provide beauty for any home but they must be properly coated to ensure a long life. Those who want a more rustic appearance often lean toward a transparent or.