How To Paint New Cedar Siding

Cedar siding painting will only be successful if you have a clean slate.

How to paint new cedar siding. What you get is a very uniform opaque color. Gymschu gave you the consummate advice for painting new cedar siding. Once done let the wood dry completely for approximately two weeks. Brand new cedar wood and cedar siding freshly milled could have a moisture content too high accepting much of the product coatings your attempting to use.

With new cedar wood siding starting from scratch as in an artisan s canvas this surface area should be cleaned and dried. Staining cedar with a solid color stain. Step 4 let the cleaner sit on the cedar siding for 15 to 30 minutes. Mildew must be killed and removed before western red cedar is refinished or the mildew will grow through the new paint coat or solid color stain.

Sand the bare wood and any remaining finish to feather the edges smooth with the bare wood. Do not however use a power washer because cedar can t withstand the pressure. Apply one even thorough coat of water repellant preservative to the cedar siding with a paint brush or roller. Thus solid color stains let some of the cedar s grain show through but none of the color.

Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes. Make sure that you wait no more than 12 weeks. Using a stiff bristled brush scrub the siding. Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks.

The upside is that solid color stains will block most damaging ultraviolet light. Choose the optimal window of time for painting cedar it is recommended that you paint within two weeks of installing the cedar. Reach the high areas or apply cleaner to the less dirty areas using a roller with an extension pole which doesn t allow you to apply as much pressure or elbow grease as a paint brush. Solid color stains have solid particles but not nearly as many as paint.

Choose a paint and primer. To refinish the old surface first scrape away all loose cracked or peeling finish. If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation. Do prime the exposed wood whether new or previously painted with oil primer.

Apply the wood cleaner to the cedar siding using a paint brush or roller. Remove pollutants and remove failing paint. Do not allow peeling paint to remain on the cedar siding before painting. Then apply 2 coats of quality acrylic finish and you re good to go for many years.

First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding. When painting or staining new cedar.