If your home is sided with cedar, you have one of the most popular exteriors in home building. Better Homes & Gardens asserts that it has been used on homes since the 1800s. At the same time, maintaining cedar siding requires more time and effort than you may have imagined to reap its benefits.
There are many reasons why cedar is so popular. It’s a low-density softwood, which means that it’s lighter than many other materials. Cedar is also very dense, which makes it a great insulator. It keeps heat in the winter as well as cool air in the summer.
Furthermore, it’s a terrific acoustic barrier, keeping your home a bit quieter. If that weren’t enough, cedar is durable and sustainable, and it comes in a variety of styles—siding, shingles, shakes, etc. Properly maintained, it will last longer than other types of siding.
Why Is Maintaining Cedar Siding So Important?
It’s critical to the life span and the appearance of your cedar siding that you do the needed maintenance. As a natural wood material, it’s susceptible to countless dangers from the outdoor environment. Here are the most common as listed at AspenExterior:
- Sunlight—if your cedar is constantly exposed to sunlight, it can buckle and warp;
- Insects—since it’s wood, it’s possible for insect to infest your siding; and
- Moisture—most damaging is moisture that works its way into the boards, causing warping, peeling, and curling.
What Should You Do to Prevent Damage and Prolong the Life of Your Cedar?
There are two major components to maintaining cedar siding. The first is cleaning it. You should wash your home’s siding every year. In fact, DoItYourself.com recommends cleaning twice a year. You can use a pressure washer if you have one, but be sure it’s on the lowest setting. It’s very easy to damage cedar siding with pressure washing.
In the process, look for signs of damage or infestation. You may need to remove stains, mold, or mildew as well. You can use prepared fungus killing products, or you can use an oxygen bleach, such as OxiClean.
If you find cracks, peeling, or warping, it’s time to plan for staining or painting.
Paint or Stain Your Cedar Siding
The second element in maintaining cedar siding is to paint or stain it when it is needed. This should be every three to five years.
At Those Painting Guys, we prefer to a solid color stain on cedar. Stains not only beautify and protect the surface but soak into the wood. Using a product like Sherwin-Williams Woodscapes provides long-term protection.
Whatever you choose for your home, the key is to do the necessary maintenance so you can keep enjoying the beauty and protection of your cedar siding.