Use a thick brush when staining.
Sanding cedar siding before staining.
Fine grits such as 220 are frequently used for a final light sanding just before applying stain to the wood.
1 connect a pressure washer to a garden hose and pressure wash the siding to be sanded.
Dealing with surface contaminants.
Cedar siding can last decades and it requires little maintenance to retain its natural beauty.
Once the surface is in good condition re inspect for dirt mildew stains cedar bleed chalkiness and other foreign substances.
If you work in the shade when applying deep penetrating stain to siding it will dry more slowly enabling the stain to sink more deeply into the wood surface.
Prepare your cedar siding by washing it with soapy water to remove any dirt or dust if any has accumulated.
Staining cedar with a solid color stain.
One of the most thorough methods when staining is to use a thick natural bristle brush.
After it s been washed let the wood dry for at least a couple of days.
Cleaning and sanding is the best way to prepare the cedar siding for a new finish.
After you have washed it wait for it to dry before applying any stain to the cedar.
There is one thing you must do however to hold onto that warm wood glow and that s restaining when your siding starts to look dull.
What you get is a very uniform opaque color.
Power sanders remove material fast almost too fast for finish work.
A stiff non ferrous bristle brush may be used to remove surface dirt dust and loose wood fibers before applying the stain.
Excessive scraping or sanding is not required.
Thus solid color stains let some of the cedar s grain show through but none of the color.
Solid color stains have solid particles but not nearly as many as paint.
Before staining replace rotting or decayed wood and remove loose stain and eroded wood fibers by sanding scraping or power washing the problem surfaces.
If the wood has weathered some you may have to do some surface preparation such as sanding before you can apply stain.
Use a 15 degree nozzle on.
The upside is that solid color stains will block most damaging ultraviolet light.
The next step is sanding but make sure there is no chance of rain.
A palm sander a lightweight rotary sander is more suitable for refinishing.
Unless the cedar has deep scratches gouges or planer marks lines running perpendicular across the grain cedar should be sanded by hand.
Restaining your cedar siding involves removing the old protective coating and applying a new layer of wood stain in the color of your choice then applying more protective coating.
Cedar siding has a warm natural look.
The truth about mill glaze western red cedar is classified as a durable wood species dimensionally stable and suitable for a wide variety of coatings and finishes.
Power tools make sanding go faster but heavy duty ones such as belt sanders are designed for heavier carpentry work and could quickly ruin a fine antique.