Staining cedar siding is a pretty straight forward process. It’s not complicated and doesn’t need to be done too often. However you don’t want to go for several years without doing it.
What are the benefits of staining cedar siding you may ask?
- The primary benefit of staining cedar siding is keeping it looking good. The look of your home can improve greatly with the right color choice. If you have a red cedar home and want to make it look like an old barn, then a grey or brown tone could work perfectly! However if you want to keep things traditional then you may prefer something lighter colored, such as beige or even white.
- In many cases stain can protect the wood against damage and sun exposure . This protection will prolong the life of your wood siding which saves you money in repairs down the road.
- If you are planning on selling your house then staining will also ensure that it sells faster because potential buyers want to see homes where extra beauty has been taken care of. People always want their homes to look good and keeping your cedar siding looking new is definitely one way you can do that!
- So how often should you stain cedar siding? That’s an easy question to answer, you just need to take a look at the manufacturer’s instructions. They will usually tell you what kind of weather the wood has had and suggest how often it needs to be stained. There are basically two ways in which manufacturers say stains should be applied; every year or every two years. Stains typically last between two and five years depending on whether they have water protection additives added into them as well as how much direct sun exposure they get.
- The basic facts are that cedar wood expands when it gets wet and contracts when it dries out, and this movement causes damaging cracks in the wood over time if all of the joints aren’t sealed with a regular application of either paint or stain. This will eventually lead to rot but will take at least 5-10 years before happening so if your home has been well built then you could probably wait 10 years between staining, but 5 years is more realistic.
- Applying a stain helps resist the damage that occurs with regular weathering by providing a barrier against sun exposure and the compounding effects of rainfall and wind which will cause your cedar siding to get dull over time without a good coat of paint or stain on it. Not only does it protect from the elements, it also adds an aesthetic value to your home in addition to giving you peace of mind that your cedar siding won’t be damaged when you have guests over!
- Another great benefit, is that most stains do not only improve the look of the wood it also allows you to revive the color of older cedar siding. By adding a new coat of paint or stain every few years you can maintain that natural look without having to repaint your entire home just for maintenance! Why not take advantage of this and keep with the aesthetics of the area where you live?
- In addition, staining cedar siding will help brighten up the traditional colors that are associated with cedar which are browns, reds and golds. When these colors fade they can become dull and drab but by applying a new layer they can be brought back to life again. Therefore if you go with this type of style then staining is definitely worth considering as part of regular home maintenance.
- And finally, applying a new coat of stain is also good for the environment as the wood veneer on natural cedar siding can be produced in a more sustainable manner than synthetic veneers. However, if your concerned with the chemicals used in staining and painting consult an expert before making your decision to apply or not to apply any paint or stain. Also take into consideration that paint does contain some harmful chemicals so do look into water based products if you are worried about this aspect.
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