Painting Weathered Cedar Siding

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Painting weathered cedar siding.

Some people find this weathered look rustic and. Cedar siding shingles provide beauty for any home but they must be properly coated to ensure a long life. The first application of primer was absorbed immediately into the wood but the second application of primer did a fantastic job of covering the weathered siding. Wood that is gray or weathered will not hold paint.

But over time the elements have taken their toll and the finish is starting to look weathered. Cedar is a popular material for shingles and siding because natural oils in its heartwood the dark red wood at the center of the tree make it resistant to the weather and hungry insects. Even then the paint is not expected to last long. Be careful when painting very old cedar siding.

Loosened photodegraded surface fibers and. The key to a successful application of paint is surface preparation. Those extractives can even bleed through many types of paint. Surface preparation is the key to success when dealing with weathered wood.

Sand down to fresh wood. 7 tips painting or staining cedar wood siding walking into a paint store can be overwhelming trying to decide which paint or stain coating you wish to provide your exterior cedar wood and siding as there are many varieties. Most cedar especially wood from the center or heart of the cedar tree stands up to any weather yet it naturally grays over time. Your freshly painted cedar siding looked so good after it was completed.

Certain areas are peeling and lifting and the color has faded. Uncoated weathered western red cedar siding or trim can often be restored to its original color by applying commercial products called cleaners brighteners or restorers. So it s good to apply the primer to your weathered siding before you paint them. Although intended primarily for restoring horizontal wood surfaces such as decks these products generally work almost as well on vertical surfaces.

Sunlight degrades the unfinished wood surface thus it will never hold paint as well as fresh wood. Unfinished siding exposed to several weeks of sunlight before painting needs to be sanded. The two applications of primer were followed with two coats of high quality exterior latex paint for a clean smooth finish. Cedar shingles contain extractives that bleed to the surface when the wood becomes wet and then darken as the wood dries.

While extremely old cedar can be painted it requires heavy preparation. Once the surface is clean and primed you can start applying the paint. In case you have the underlying paint that is dark in color it s essential to choose the primer that matches your paint color for better coverage. The following outline is intended to prepare you before buying any such products knowing exactly which type fits your final outcome.