Finishing Western Red Cedar Siding

A concern about the environmental impact of applying a finish on your western red cedar.

Finishing western red cedar siding.

This species dimensional stability and natural decay resistance make it the top choice for siding applications. Opaque stains in contrasting colors thoroughly hide the grain and natural tones of cedar but retain the wood s surface texture. Western red cedar siding page. Western red cedar s freedom from pitch and resin provide a good base for a range of finishes from paints solid color stains to water repellent preservatives and semi transparent stains.

For optimum performance the wrcla recommends that western red cedar is pre primed or pre finished prior to job site delivery. The natural oils called thujaplicins in red cedar give it its slightly spicy scent as they guard the wood grain against deterioration. Finishing western red cedar among all the softwood species western red cedar is considered to have the very best finish retention features. To add a rich long lasting opaque color there s ppg s 100 acrylic stain which protects against sun and water damage.

Exterior finishes for siding and trim factory finishing priming. Choosing the right finishing type. The longer a sealer protects wood s interior grain the better it is. Factory priming as the name implies is performed in an industrial setting where a machine coating process applies a coating to all six sides of each board.

The best sealer finish for western red cedar siding you could ask for are those which does not turn gray discoloring allowing moisture into wood s grain over time. The flood pro series by ppg paints comes in a wide range of exterior stains that are ideal for western red cedar products. These are all valid considerations and the reality is that western red cedar siding and decking can have a long service life without a finish coating in many environments as long as good design installation and maintenance practices are followed. Although it s a flexible type of wood it still needs primary care and protection.

Western red cedar siding will last much longer resisting insect infestation mold mildew cracking and rotting when it is properly finished prior to installation. Why finish western red cedar siding. Western red cedar does contain extractives that make it resistant to insects and decay but they are not resinous or sap like. Indeed cedar is an excellent pick for both indoor and outdoor furniture.

Western red cedar does not contain any sap or resins that can migrate to the surface. Doing just what the name implies sealing out moisture. And to slightly tint your siding with color pigmentation uv5 penetrating wood finish is a sound choice. Everyone knows that western red cedar is an ideal building material for the outdoors.