Cleaning. If your siding's fresh color lays buried under a gray, weathered surface and mold, buy a bleach-based cleaning solution or mix 3/4-cup of bleach with 1-gallon of water to restore or salvage the cedar's luster.
The best way to restore your cedar siding or cedar fence to its original glory is with soft washing. Instead of the robust streams of high-pressure water used in pressure washing, soft washing uses a low-pressure technique with a special mixture of highly effective and biodegradable cleaning solutions.
Paint the cedar siding with primer, once the caulk dries. Wait for the primer to dry, then paint on a layer of exterior house paint, picking a color that matches the original or a fresh color. Apply additional coats as needed, making sure each paint layer dries before adding others.
The Cedar Bureau recommends using a solution no stronger than one-part bleach to three parts water. Apply it with a pump sprayer and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with a garden hose. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles.
Can you pressure wash cedar siding? Yes, you can pressure wash cedar siding by using a low PSI pressure washer or adjusting a pressure washer to its lowest PSI setting. This protects the cedar from being damaged from too high of pressure because it is softwood.
Absolutely! The official OxiClean website gives step-by-step instructions on removing stubborn stains from decks, patios, deck furniture, and more. Since these surfaces are made from wood, it is perfectly acceptable to clean cedar siding with the product.
Real Cedar in its Raw Form
But, if this is no longer the desired effect, you can usually get your siding back to its original color with wood brighteners, cleaners and restorers. But first you have to sand off the top layer of “skin.” After that, clean, dry and inspect the wood for mildew.
First, you will need to pressure wash your fence. You will then need to apply a wood brightener. We recommend the Restore-a-Deck Brightener (and all of their products actually). Then you will need to protect the fence from future damage by applying a good wood stain and sealer.
Applying bleaching oil is a two-step process. First, the oil tones the wood with a light gray pigment to fix and stabilize the color. Second, over a short period of time, the oil will accelerate the bleaching process so that you get the weathered look faster and with more uniform results.
Make Your Cedar Fence Like New!!!
A friend of mine showed it to me and I thought it was awesome. Just take a pump up sprayer and add Clorox bleach ( must use clorox brand) 1 part bleach and 2 parts water. When you spray it on the fence the gray washes off and the board looks new again.
While extremely old cedar can be painted, it requires heavy preparation. Even then, the paint is not expected to last long. Surface preparation is the key to success when dealing with weathered wood. The siding must be free from mold, mildew, and dirt.
There are several options for covering cedar siding, including stain, a clear treatment or paint. A solid-color stain or paint tends to give cedar a more formal appearance, while a transparent stain or clear waterproofing treatment provides a more rustic look.
Like other types of external siding, cedar is prone to accumulation of dust and dirt. You have to clean it twice a year to keep it easier. Use a soap and water solution for general cleaning to scrub the siding and then wash it down. You can use some bleach if you have mold and mildew problems.
The combination of water and UV exposure causes the cedar to lose it's scent and colour, turning it into a dull grey. The wood rot on the cedar creates an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew, which is both unattractive and detrimental.
The iron found in galvanized fasteners, as well as some window screens and flashings, can cause blue or black stains on cedar. These stains don't respond to oxygen bleach. Instead, use a wood bleach containing a 5 percent oxalic acid solution to remove the stains.
Chlorine bleach is the traditional and most popular form used in households, most often in the washer to get stains out of laundry. The powerful ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which is a toxic substance and is not good for your cedar siding, as it can damage the wood fibers.
When a home has only some mild mold and mildew on it's exterior, it is often a good candidate to be soft washed. However, the presence of algae, moss, and lichen can require a more comprehensive cleaning process in order to get your siding meaningfully cleaned and to keep it that way for as long as possible.
How often you need to restain your siding depends on your climate and how much wear it does to your siding. However, you should expect to restrain every three to five years. When restaining your cedar siding, you'll need to remove the old protective coating and add a new layer of wood stain.
Longevity
Cedar siding must be properly maintained at all times to reach its maximum lifespan, with many planks needing to be replaced after just 10 to 15 years, and even well-maintained cedar siding may only last around 20 to 30 years in some climates.
The best answer is based on your home's current cedar condition. Stain lasts longer and often looks more natural, but can only be applied if cedar is paint-free. Paint offers more protection and can be a good choice for badly worn homes with previous peeling issues from past painting applications.
Cedar siding needs to be repainted every 5-7 years, but if you take some special precautions, you can get up to 10 years from one paint application. In order to do this though, you will need to ensure that you are properly preparing the surface and considering all the environmental factors.
Allow the washed surface to dry before recoating and apply primer paint to areas of bare wood. After the primer has dried, apply one or two topcoats of paint or solid-color stain. Two topcoats are always better over bare wood that has been primed. These may be applied to Western Red Cedar by brush, roller, or pad.