Staining vs. Natural Weathering: What's Best for Your Cedar Siding?
Cedar siding offers timeless beauty and durability, but when it comes to finishing, you have a big decision to make: stain it, or let it weather naturally? Both options have their merits, and understanding them is key to making the best choice for your home.
The Great Debate: Stained vs. Natural
Letting Cedar Weather Naturally:
If you love the classic silvery-gray patina of aged cedar, going natural might be for you. This low-maintenance approach allows the wood to gracefully age over time.
Pros:
Low Initial Cost: No staining means no upfront material or labor costs for the finish.
Unique Aesthetic: Develops a beautiful, natural silver-gray color over time
Minimal Maintenance: Essentially, "set it and forget it" once installed.
Cons:
No UV Protection: Untreated cedar is more susceptible to UV damage, which can lead to surface erosion, cracking, and checking over many years.
Uneven Weathering: Areas protected from sun and rain may weather differently, leading to an inconsistent look.
Mold/Mildew Risk: Without a protective finish, cedar can be more prone to mold and mildew growth in damp, shaded areas. While cedar has natural decay resistance, persistent moisture can still be an issue.
Staining Cedar Siding:
Staining preserves the wood's natural beauty while offering protection from the elements. It allows for a wider range of aesthetic choices and can extend the life of your siding.
Pros:
UV Protection: Stains, especially those with pigment, shield the wood from harmful UV rays, preventing graying and degradation.
Moisture Resistance: Stains repel water, reducing the risk of rot, mold, and mildew.
Enhanced Aesthetics: You can choose from a variety of colors and opacities to complement your home's style.
Longer Lifespan: Proper staining and maintenance can significantly extend the life of your cedar siding.
Cons:
Ongoing Maintenance: Stained cedar requires reapplication every few years (the frequency depends on the type of stain and exposure).
Higher Initial Cost: Materials and labor for staining add to the upfront expense.
Potential for Peeling/Flaking: If not applied correctly or if the wrong product is used, some stains (especially solid ones) can peel or flake over time, requiring more intensive prep work for reapplication.
Understanding Stain Opacities: From Transparent to Solid
Stains come in various opacities, each offering a different look and level of protection.
Transparent Stains:
Aesthetics: Allow the most natural wood grain and color to show through. Often contain a hint of color (e.g., "cedar tone") to enhance the wood.
Protection: Offer the least UV protection and generally have the shortest lifespan (1-2 years) due to minimal pigment.
Maintenance: Requires more frequent reapplication.
Semi-Transparent Stains:
Aesthetics: Add more color than transparent stains while still allowing much of the wood grain to be visible.
Protection: Good UV protection due to increased pigment. Typically last 2-4 years.
Maintenance: Easier to reapply as they tend to wear down rather than peel.
Semi-Solid Stains:
Aesthetics: Provide even more color and obscure some of the wood grain, but still allow some texture and subtle grain patterns to show through. A good middle-ground.
Protection: Better UV protection than semi-transparent, lasting 3-5 years.
Maintenance: A durable option, generally easy to reapply.
Solid Stains:
Aesthetics: Act more like paint, completely obscuring the wood grain while allowing the texture to remain. Offers the widest range of color options.
Protection: Best UV protection and longest lifespan (5-7+ years).
Maintenance: Can be more challenging to reapply if peeling occurs, requiring more thorough prep work. May show wear and tear more readily than transparent options.
Eastern White Cedar vs. Western Red Cedar: Key Differences
The two most common cedar species used for siding in the US have distinct characteristics:
Western Red Cedar (WRC): Known for its rich, reddish-brown hues and consistent grain. WRC is highly stable and has excellent natural resistance to decay and insects due to its high concentration of natural oils (thujaplicins). It's generally softer and easier to work with.
Eastern White Cedar (EWC): Typically lighter in color, ranging from pale yellow to light brown, often with more knots. EWC is also very durable and resistant to decay, though perhaps slightly less so than WRC. It's often denser than WRC.
As it relates to staining: Both species take stains well. The natural color of Western Red Cedar will influence the final appearance of transparent and semi-transparent stains more significantly than Eastern White Cedar. For example, a "natural cedar" tone stain will appear richer on WRC. However, for semi-solid and solid stains, the differences in the underlying wood color will be largely masked.
Pre-Stained Cedar Shakes: A Smart Investment?
Pre-stained cedar shakes and shingles are factory-finished before installation. This offers several compelling advantages:
Benefits of Pre-Staining:
Superior Coverage: Factory application ensures all six sides of the shake are coated, including edges and ends that are impossible to reach after installation. This provides comprehensive protection against moisture intrusion and UV degradation.
Consistent Finish: Computer-controlled application results in a perfectly even, consistent finish without drips, runs, or lap marks
Ideal Curing Conditions: Stains are applied and cured in a controlled environment, free from dust, rain, or extreme temperatures, leading to a more durable finish.
Reduced On-Site Delays: No need to wait for ideal weather conditions for on-site staining, speeding up project completion.
Longer Lasting Finish: The comprehensive, high-quality application typically means the finish lasts longer than on-site applications.
Cost Comparison: Pre-Stained vs. Post-Installation Staining:
While the upfront cost of pre-stained shakes might seem higher than raw shakes, when you factor in the cost of hiring professionals to stain them after installation, pre-staining often becomes the more economical choice in the long run.
Pre-Stained: The cost of the stain and application is bundled into the material price. You save significantly on labor costs that would be incurred for on-site staining.
Post-Installation Staining: You pay for the raw materials, plus the significant labor cost of application (which can be extensive for shakes), plus the cost of the stain itself. This often adds up to more than the premium for pre-stained materials.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): When considering the TCO, pre-stained shakes are almost always a winner. Their longer-lasting finish means less frequent re-staining, saving you money on future maintenance cycles and extending the overall life of your siding. You avoid the hidden costs of scaffolding, potential weather delays, and the intensive labor involved in on-site finishing.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to let your cedar weather naturally or protect it with stain depends on your aesthetic preferences, budget, and willingness to perform maintenance. However, if you opt for a stained finish, considering pre-stained cedar shakes is a smart decision that can lead to superior protection, a more beautiful finish, and significant cost savings over the lifespan of your siding.
No matter which path you choose, proper installation and understanding the unique properties of cedar are crucial for a long-lasting and beautiful exterior. If you have questions about which option is right for your home, don't hesitate to reach out to our experts!
