Refinishing Rough Cedar Siding

How to clean stained cedar siding.

Refinishing rough cedar siding. Sand the wood until all the finish coating is removed and the natural grain is fully revealed. Rough sawn surfaces can add a rustic weathered look to your home. That said no finish lasts forever. Finishing rough cut cedar siding involves preparing the surface properly selecting the right type of finish and performing regular maintenance.

So when it comes to choosing a finish for your real cedar project it s good to know the expected lifespan of your product. It is not all about protection. The black coloring or darkening of the cedar siding is caused by mold growth. After all real cedar is pitch and resin free which means there s nothing to interfere with the bonding of your finish.

The surface of the cedar should be smooth to the touch. Stop to stir the stain every 10 to 15 minutes or the tannins will settle near the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket. Don t use polyurethane on rough cedar as the wood s coarse nature will prevent the sealer from bonding properly. Surface preparation to prepare the surface of rough cut cedar siding wash the siding down with a good wood cleaner and follow that up with an application of wood brightener.

Smooth surfaces show the grain patterns and variations more than other textures when you apply a clear or semi transparent finish. Remove the existing finish with a power sander and 220 grit sandpaper. These are all valid considerations and the reality is that western red cedar siding and decking can have a long service life without a finish coating in many environments as long as good design installation and maintenance practices are followed. Choose the correct type of paint for the cedar.

What you do before the finish goes on makes the most differenc. Work in small circular motions to remove the protective finish. Cedar siding though durable and able to maintain a good finish for a long period of time does sometimes get damaged and it is certainly not completely immune to rot no matter how well it has been treated and maintained. Decide on a texture cedar siding can be specified in one of three surface finishes smooth rough and saw textured.

Refinish the rough cedar every year or two. A concern about the environmental impact of applying a finish on your western red cedar. Exterior grade acrylic latex paint is the most dependable finish in terms of protecting cedar. Semi transparent water proof oil based stain will adequately seal.

Watch this quick tutorial on what you need to do to prepare wood house siding for refinishing. Oil stains that are. Saw textured cedar is milled in such a way that it shows the markings made by. Over time cedar siding can become discolored and the surface degraded due to weather dirt and various other wear and tear.