Leaving new construction cedar siding unstained?
#1
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Leaving new construction cedar siding unstained?
Hello, New construction in marine environment. Have 2 bids. Bid from local builder says clear stain on cedar siding. Bid from out of area contractor claims it best to leave natural. I don't mind natural graying, even if it's uneven, but I want the siding to last as long as possible and am concerned about water issues w/ sideways rain during gales. Suggestions please? Thanks
#2
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Welcome to the forums!
Personally I think the siding looks better with a stain but I am a painter
Cedar is one of the woods that will hold up without maintenance but a coating will prevent it from absorbing moisture and should allow it to last longer
Clear sealers like Thompson's Water Seal have a short life and do little to prevent the wood from turning gray. I'd suggest using a toner or translucent stain. It will color the wood slightly and prevent it from turning grey. A semi-transparent stain will last longer than a toner and still allow the wood grain to show.
Personally I think the siding looks better with a stain but I am a painter
Cedar is one of the woods that will hold up without maintenance but a coating will prevent it from absorbing moisture and should allow it to last longer
Clear sealers like Thompson's Water Seal have a short life and do little to prevent the wood from turning gray. I'd suggest using a toner or translucent stain. It will color the wood slightly and prevent it from turning grey. A semi-transparent stain will last longer than a toner and still allow the wood grain to show.
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Thank you for the advice
I was cautioned about hiring a contractor from out of the area, but the locals who do excellent work were already booked for next 2 yrs and this contractor does excellent work in other parts of the state but the siding treatment was not included in his bid so I wondered. Sounds like it's worth adding in.
#4
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Between the cupping splitting, black spots, high cost to buy and install, boring bees loving it, cedar siding is the last thing I would want installed on my own home.
If I have to do it on a customers property we treat it with boron and hot water to prevent the insects from eating it. Then we dip each piece in tinted wood preserver so it's coated on all sides to reduce cupping.
Far better to use something like Cedar Impression siding for almost 0 future maintance.
If I have to do it on a customers property we treat it with boron and hot water to prevent the insects from eating it. Then we dip each piece in tinted wood preserver so it's coated on all sides to reduce cupping.
Far better to use something like Cedar Impression siding for almost 0 future maintance.