How to Maintain Cedar Siding

Cedar siding is a good option for homeowners who are concerned about the environment, as well as those who love the look of wood. Cedar is a renewable, biodegradable resource, making it earth-friendly; plus, it is durable when well cared for. Cedar siding can be left untreated and allowed to weather and take on a soft gray appearance. Untreated siding, however, will not be as durable as treated wood. The most important way to help your siding last is to keep the water out, whether the siding is painted, stained or treated with a water-repellent coating.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild detergent
• Exterior caulk
• Paint or stain
• Mildew remover or oxygen bleach
• Scrub brush
• Water repellent

General Siding Maintenance

1. Clean surface dirt off when necessary with a mild detergent solution and a garden hose. Do not pressure wash your siding; water could seep between the boards and inside the walls.

2. Inspect your siding a couple of times a year for gaps between boards. Use exterior caulk to fill them.

3. When inspecting, also look for gaps between the siding and trim pieces. Use exterior caulk on the top and sides of trim but leave the bottom open to allow moisture to escape.

Siding With Paint or Opaque Stain

4. Inspect your siding for signs of peeling or blistering paint or stain before the rainy season begins in your area. Touch up any problem spots to keep moisture out.

5. Look for nails that have shifted and hammer them back in. Cover them with paint or stain to seal them.

6. If your rainy season does not coincide with summer, inspect your siding again before the summer sun arrives. Repair as in steps 1 and 2 to protect your siding from harmful ultraviolet rays.

7. Repaint or restain the exterior of your home when the coating begins to show wear. Look for fading, peeling, blistering, chipping and chalking, when the paint or stain begins to break down and develops a powder on its surface.

Natural or Lightly Stained Siding

8. Clean any mildew on your siding as needed with a commercial mildew remover or with an oxygen bleach solution. Scrub the wood lightly, if necessary, and rinse with water.

9. Apply a water-repellent coating to preserve the color and durability of your cedar siding. Water repellents containing synthetic resins are more expensive, but they are not attractive to mildew.

10. Reapply the water repellent every few years, depending on its quality. The best repellents can last as long as seven years before requiring a new coat.

Tips & Warnings

• Use galvanized, aluminum or stainless steel nails when attaching your siding to avoid iron and rust stains.
• Do not use regular chlorine bleach on your siding. It can sap the wood of its natural color, as well as harm nearby grass and plants. Coatings such as urethane, varnish, shellac and lacquer should not be used on cedar siding. They will not protect the wood from ultraviolet radiation, and they will eventually fail, becoming cracked and brittle.

References

• Ask the Builder: Natural wood siding
• CedarSiding.org
• AcmeHowTo.com