Cedar siding is one of the best construction materials for the exterior part of your home. Cedar is considered as the long-lasting softwoods, offering exceptional noise moderation, insulation, and longevity. The siding made of cedar can make your home look warm as well as rustic. Cedar siding comes in different types of shades & the best thing about cedar siding is that it goes exceptionally well with paint & stain due to the lack of pitch & resin. Cedarwood withstands water, fungi, and insects due to the reason of its naturally occurring compounds known as thujaplicins. If in case you want to paint the cedar siding, then, first of all, you need to make it clean rigorously & eliminate all the dust & dirt particles present on the cedar siding. You will also need to seal as well as prime the wood to come up with a surface that increases paint adhesion.
Step By Step Instructions Of Painting A Cedar Siding
Cedar siding is a kind of material that can withstand weather and resist paint chipping and fading. In addition to making your home look beautiful & attractive, painting your cedar siding will help protect it from rot, too. Also, well-painted siding pushes mold and mildew back which will make it easier to wash off any dirt or grime.
Things You Will Need
- Household Bleach
- Stiff-Bristled Brush
- Several Gallons Of Primer
- A Ladder, Safety Gear & Bucket
- Several Gallons Of Urethane-Acrylic House Paint
- Paint Spray And 4-Inch Paint Brushes
- Paint Scraper
Steps
- Remove Old Paints And Caulking: For those types of siding that are already stained, painted, or treated with a water repellent, you need to remove any of the coatings before you start painting over it. With the help of a paint scraper, you can easily get rid of any peelings or coatings, so that the paint will stick to the surface of the cedar with ease. Pull out any old caulking, as well, before replacing it with new caulking. Make sure not to apply extra caulking over old caulking, otherwise, it won’t seal properly. If in case any of the boards are break or chop, repair them before proceeding to the next step.
- Prepare The Wood: After eliminating the old coating, it is important to clean the wood in a thorough manner. Take a bucket & mix household bleach with water in a 3-to-1 ratio. With the help of a stiff-bristled brush, scrub the siding. However, make sure not to use a power washer, due to the reason that cedar can’t withstand the pressure. As soon as you are done with scrubbing the siding, allow the wood to dry thoroughly, at least for two weeks. Warning: When you use any caustic chemical including bleach, be extra cautious by wearing safety gear such as a face mask & gloves in order to prevent the bleach from getting on your skin.
- Choose A Paint And Primer: Now, you need to select the best type of paint to use for cedarwood & the strongly recommended type of paint is urethane-acrylic house paint. Select your primer based on what the paint manufacturer has recommended for use. You will need roughly 1 gallon of each, paint as well as a primer, for every 400 square feet.
- Paint And Prime: After selecting paint & primer, apply them in accordance with the directions on the packaging. For an even coating, use a paint sprayer before going back over the wood with the help of a 4-inch brush. The paint will adhere best if it dries slowly, at a temperature of nearly 70 degrees F on a cloudy day.
- Maintain The Paint: As soon as you have painted and primed your cedar siding, maintain your cedar exterior’s new look with the help of a hose in order to get rid of dirt once in a while. If in case the paint starts peeling or blistering, then you need to repeat this project.