How To Stain Cedar Siding Like a Professional

Adorning the exterior of a home with stained cedar siding is great for achieving a natural and rustic look. However, to maintain the look, you must know how to stain cedar siding. Staining will not only preserve the value of the home but also prevent the siding from becoming unsightly with signs of visible damage such as splintering, flaking, and fading. As these occur, the fresh wood underneath will be exposed to the outside conditions, and it can begin to decay as well. Luckily, Bear Mountain Custom Painting is here to help you prevent this from happening by providing professional tips on how to stain cedar siding.

Frequency
According to Networx, “wood siding should be repainted every 3-7 years, or stained approximately every 4 years.” How often you’ll need to restain or repaint will depend on your region’s weather conditions as well as how often your home suffers damage. Cedar wood itself deteriorates slowly over time due to its concentration of protective natural oils. However, that protection begins to decay as soon as the wood is exposed to the elements.

Splintering, flaking, and a light gray color on the surface of the siding are all visible signs of damage. As these occur, the fresh wood underneath will be exposed to the outside conditions, and it’ll begin to decay as well.

Cleaning the Siding

If you’re taking on the task of painting or staining cedar siding a different color, you should first make sure it’s clean and dry. If your siding has already suffered damage, you may need to sand away the damaged areas to a smooth finish first. Taking these steps will ensure the stain will apply smoothly, stick to the wood, and fully absorb into it.

Applying New Stain or Paint

Before you even pick up a paint brush, you should consider the local weather, as it could affect how well the stain will stick to the siding. Once you decide on the perfect day to do the job, think about the effects you want the treatment to have. When you’re treating cedar, in particular, you’ll want to know how much of the real wood you’d like to cover up and how much stain you’ll have to use to achieve the desired color.

If you’re staining your cedar siding for the first time, keep in mind that cedar will start to discolor about two weeks after it’s installed. To prevent this discoloration, you’ll want to stain or paint the wood as soon as possible. If your main goal is to protect the cedar, the best option is to paint over it, as the solids in paint ward off light and can postpone the deterioration process.

Learning how to stain cedar siding can be intimidating, so don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Bear Mountain Custom Painting will work with you to help with any of your home painting needs in Atlanta.