Overall, all types of finishes are suitable for cedar. However, clear penetrating finishes such as linseed oil, Tung oil, and Danish oil are best suited for indoor cedar furniture. This finish safeguards the cedar wood from the inside while preserving the beautiful natural color of the cedar.
Does Cedar Wood Stain Well? Some cedar natural lacks pitch and resin, and these substances can make it very difficult for wood to accept stain. As such, cedar will take virtually any stain as long as you choose the right type and apply it well.
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.
If you wait a year, the wood will turn gray, and may even show deterioration from the weather. Cedar should be stained as soon as it will accept the stain. This is easy to determine with penetrating semi-transparent stains.
High-quality paint or stain, properly applied, should last five to seven years, and as many as 10, depending on weather conditions and if you maintain the siding. However, you may need to reapply a clear-coat stain every two years.
Cedar Naturaltone is a Transparent Exterior Wood Stain Color from our Brown & Tan wood stains color family.
What Color is Cedar Wood? Most types of cedar wood are a pinkish-red color, though it can have some purple tones as well. As it ages it loses its reddish hues and becomes a silver or gray color.
Priming western red cedar helps the wood's natural properties stay put. Without a primer, tannins from within the cedar mix with moisture and seep to the wood's surface, naturally staining and discoloring the surface.
Finish if you want to provide some protection to the cedar from minor abrasions. Use bleach, oils, semi-transparent and solid body stains and opaque finishes, if you want to change the wood's appearance.
The best clear Cedar finish stain for outdoors is Linseed oil, hands down. Linseed oil is the primary ingredient in any oil finishes, which dries clear. You can find other clear water-based stains, but will not last nearly as long as a Linseed oil based stain will.
Cedar wood, like other fine woods, can and should be coated with polyurethane for protection. Polyurethane will keep dirt, dust, and oil from getting onto the cedar which would dull and damage the color. If the cedar you want to protect is not new it will need to be scrubbed with hot soapy water and a cloth.
Once cedar has turned gray, there is no natural way of going back. The only alternative at this point is to tone the wood with a stain or other coloring agent. Maintaining your cedar's color is about choices, timing, and above all, the right type of treatment.
Exterior grade acrylic-latex paint is the most dependable finish in terms of protecting cedar.
On its website, Feldman describes the black-stained Western Red Cedar siding, explaining its aesthetic benefit: “A material palette showcasing black-stained cedar siding allows the house to sit subtly beneath the green canopies and shadows created by the oaks and redwoods hovering at the fog line.
However, cedar that is destined to live outdoors needs some special care and attention. Specifically, it needs to be treated with a good wood stain. Otherwise, your nice cedar color will fade to a dull, nasty grey.
Cedar is known to age gracefully to a soft, silver-grey patina, but it's wise to keep the rich tones of your cedar siding lasting longer. Transparent stains contain no pigment but have water-repellent features that will help to retain natural tones and slow down the natural colour change process.
It's possible to keep the natural color of Cedar used in the interior. Commonly, Cedar is used for paneling or ceiling cladding. To avoid applying water based varnish, it's possible to use a wall and ceiling oil like Brio, that will keep the natural color of Cedar.
Sealing Exterior Cedar
An effective option is a semitransparent stain containing cedar-colored pigments. You can refresh it as needed to maintain the natural colors. If weather resistance is your main concern and you aren't concerned about color, use a water-sealing finish.
Cedar also looks excellent with a stain or paint job, but over time it will deteriorate due to exposure to the elements. The best way to protect a cedar surface is to penetrate deep into the surface pores with a sealant.
Western red cedar has beautiful colors at all stages of fading, but the wood deteriorates if it's not protected from the elements. Use a quality semitransparent wood stain on cedar siding, exterior trim, fences, decks and sheds to preserve the integrity of the wood while maintaining its natural color.
To prevent cedar from fading to gray, you need to seal cedar fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide, according to Family Handyman.
Rot, premature aging, and warping can occur from the weather and elements when the boards aren't sealed. Finishing off your newly-installed cedar deck with a sealant or wood stain will help to prolong the life, beauty, and appeal of the deck for years to come.