Cedar siding is one of the most beautiful treatments available for the exterior of your home, which is why it is important to avoid common mistakes that could ruin your investment and your home’s appearance. EMA does not recommend painting cedar siding under normal conditions, but if you choose to paint it here are five mistakes to avoid:
1. Don’t Wait Too Long
The ideal time to paint your cedar siding is within two weeks of installation. Waiting more than 12 weeks could create problems with adhesion. Research has shown that after just 12 weeks of exposure to sunlight, cedar siding loses as much as half of its ability to hold a coating of primer or paint.[1]
2. Don’t Try to Do it with One Coat
Painting in two distinct phases (prime then paint) is the only proven way to get a lasting quality paint job. Most testing on the effectiveness of painting cedar has been conducted on the two-stage painting process and has shown it to be the best method.
3. Don’t Spray or Roll Paint onto Cedar Siding
Hand-brushing is the proven and recommended method for painting cedar siding. Cedar is a porous wood and requires a lot of paint to be applied to the wood, and hand-brushing is the only effective way to achieve this.
4. Avoid Painting Over Old Paint
If you decide to paint or repaint old cedar siding then it must be clean of all dirt, old paint, and any other substance. This can be a difficult job and may be best left in professional hands. If paint is applied to a surface with anything else on it, the paint job will not last very long and likely will not look very good after a few months.
5. Don’t Buy the Wrong Paint
First and foremost, be sure you are only using outdoor application paint. In most cases oil-based paint works on exteriors, but for cedar siding it is best to use latex paint. The shape of cedar can change slightly with the weather and humidity so it is best to use a paint with high elasticity.
As you can see, there are many ways that painting cedar siding can go wrong. If you want your cedar to look its best, you’ll want to hire professionals to handle the job. Getting the job right can save money, time, and deliver a more attractive result. Hiring painters will give you maximal enjoyment from your new (or old) cedar siding. Alternatively, cedar siding can be stained or left alone and enjoyed with its natural appearance.
[1] https://www.thespruce.com/painting-cedar-siding-guide-4125927