How To Paint Cedar Siding Shakes

Choose a paint and primer the best choice of paint to use for cedar wood is urethane acrylic house paint.

How to paint cedar siding shakes. You will need approximately 1 gallon of each paint and primer for every 400 square feet. Remove as much of the old paint as possible as the more prep work you do. Remove the shake and hold it over the bucket while wiping off the excess with a paint brush. Next dip each shake into the paint leaving only an inch or two not painted at the top where it is being held.

Scrape any peeling paint chips off the shakes with a scraper. How to prepare old cedar shakes for repainting. Pour the paint into a five gallon bucket. Alkyd oil primers are recommended but one may choose a high quality latex primer as long as it contains stain blockers.

Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes. Choose your primer based on what the paint manufacturer recommends to use. For best results fresh siding should be pre primed on all six sides with a stain blocking primer and top coated with 100 percent acrylic latex paint. Prime the cedar before you paint it.

Remove as much of the old paint as possible as the more prep work you do the better your home will look. If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation. Powerwash the siding to remove any excess dirt or paint with a low pressure pressure washer. Allow the house to dry completely for one to two weeks.

First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding.