Cedar Siding's Success Begins Before Installation

Many builders and homeowners today believe that wood, like western red cedar, is not a feasible siding option because it won't last as long as vinyl, cement or other non-wood products. This argument has merit, but it not fully true.

In composition alone, cedar will breakdown and decay much sooner than petroleum based vinyl or fiber cement. But finished and installed properly, along with responsible maintenance, cedar will last and outlast the life of most of it's owners.

Lap and shake siding have some of the longest history of use because the application is the best at moisture resistance. Cedar has survived centuries in the northeast and decades in the harsh pacific north west winters.

Noted many times in the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association's Finishing Application Guide (click HERE to go to the WRCLA application page), cedar must be acclimated and finished on all six sides previous to installation.

Cedar should be properly dried to a moisture content sufficient to the area (usually below 18%). This typically needs to be done in a shed or warehouse. Kiln drying is also popular but doesn't always guarantee a low moisture content. There are moisture meters available to read content in most woods.

Cedar is generally stable, so if left to acclimate and dry openly (that is, not in a kiln) material can be stacked with sticks in between layers to allow air flow on all sides. No banding is required as long as material is not openly exposed to direct sunlight or heating units which can cause cupping in the cedar.

Once dried, material should be finished on all sides. Spraying is a good method, but brushing is generally the best application since it assists in better penetration. Penetration is the key to stain and paint longevity.

On site finishing of cedar pre-installation (also referred to as prefinshing or prestaining) can be difficult depending on the amount of cedar. Many choose to use siding prefinishers who apply stains, primers and paints in a warehouse setting using one of many prefinsihing machines. This method ensures quality finishing and consistency that is harder to attain by a painter on the jobsite.

The life of stains, primers and paints are maximized when prefinished. Cedar is also assured maximized life because it is "encapsulated" while clean, warm and dry. Cedar siding with primer and paint applied by a prefinisher can be as low maintainence as vinyl and painted cement siding and last just as long if not longer.

Conversely, if cedar is installed raw and allowed exposure to sunlight and weather before being finished even a couple weeks can lose years of overall life. Moisture content is more difficult to control and can lead to accelerated finish failure.

For more information of prefinshed cedar lap, shake or shingle siding, please contact our company Carolina Colortones. We have provided the southeast with prefinished cedar siding for over 30 years.