How To Treat Cedar Wood Siding

Cover cedar siding with primer to keep any tannic acid or natural red coloring from.

How to treat cedar wood siding.

Along with protecting your cedar shingles against decay and other coastal contamination this treatment will also give them the weathered silvery gray look that many homeowners prefer. With an oiled surface clean the wood with a pressure washer apply a coat of wood bleach let it stand per the manufacturer s instructions and pressure wash again. At this point you can apply a fresh coat of oil or oil stain. Inspect the flashing the seal between the roof and chimney for signs of water leakage or damage.

Sand it to remove the loose surface particles. For smooth planed flat grained cedar some surface preparation may be desirable. Surface preparation is not necessary for textured cedar. Most cedar treatments are much like house paint in that they are composed of pigments and solids.

After that the color will rapidly change from red to gray. Then take a strip of masking tape taping across the newly painted surface. Allowing it to dry as directed. If the wood is wet when you apply the coating it may not work well.

Take a brush or roller applying the paint on the cedar surface approximately 6 x 6. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles. Spraying the cedar siding with water will make problem areas easier to see. Likewise dirt or grime on the wood surface makes it impossible to get a good finish.

On flat grained wood the surface should be scuff sanded with 50 60 grit sandpaper. To protect the finish when it starts to look dull clean it with a homemade wood cleaner consisting of 1. The cedar bureau recommends using a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Apply the sealant or stain to clean dry cedar.

After installing your exterior cedar you have about a two week grace period until the wood starts to discolor. Your oiled siding will look so good that you won t believe you did it yourself. Apply it with a pump sprayerlet it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with with a garden hose. Wash the wood first.

If you do decide to color your wood there are several options. The paint test on cedar is like this. Cleaning away the age is the first step in caring for cedar shingles. Prep the cedar siding by cleaning it with a bleach and solution.

Inspect all caulking and repair or replace any that is damaged cracking peeling or missing. Treatments for cedar siding maintenance some cedar siding shingles are treated with bleaching oil which is a treatment made with linseed oil and bleach crystals. This procedure will greatly increase the coatings performance but will not detract from a smooth finish.