How to Stain Cedar Shake Siding

Do not use a fabric drop cloth alone, as stain may bleed through.

Consider a few important points before staining your cedar shake siding. Because stain is thin, it is prone to heavy dripping and splattering. You must take the time to meticulously cover surrounding concrete, or you will end up with permanent stains. In addition, if the cedar shakes are brand new, you should wait a few weeks for them to dehydrate, or you may have problems with stain absorption, which will can lead to shedding.

Things You'll Need

• Pressure washer
• Low-pressure tip
• Plastic drop cloths
• Heavy-duty fabric drop cloths
• Professional painter's tape
• Oil-based stain
• five-gallon bucket
• Wooden stir stick
• three- to four-inch oil paintbrush
• Extension ladder
• Mineral spirits

Instructions

1. Wait four weeks for new cedar shakes to dehydrate.

2. Clean the cedar shake siding, using a pressure washer with a low-pressure tip. Wait two to four hours for the shakes to dry.

3. Cover cement surfaces beneath the shakes with plastic drop cloths. Lay fabric drop cloths on top of the plastic to hold the plastic cloths in place and prevent the stain from pooling.

4. Open the can of stain. Stir the contents for five full minutes. Pour two gallons of stain into a five-gallon bucket.

5. Apply stain to the cedar shakes, using a paintbrush made for use with oil paints. Brush vertically, along with the grain of the cedar. Stir the stain every 15 minutes to prevent the tannins from accumulating at the bottom of the bucket.

6. Wait two hours. Apply another coat for a darker shade.

Tips & Warnings

• Use mineral spirits to clean the paintbrush.

• Freshly cut cedar may contain moisture deep within the wood fibers that can interfere with stain absorption. Be sure to allow the cedar to dehydrate, or you may end up with a blotchy finish that could eventually flake.

• If you require an extension ladder to access higher shakes, read the safety instructions on the side of the ladder before you climb it.