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Western Red Cedar Siding Requires Annual Maintenance
Western Red Cedar Siding is some of the most beautiful materials used for siding, decking boards, and interior accent walls. Likewise, this product’s exterior application requires annual maintenance to keep the material looking great regardless of the finishing applied to the siding. Remember: homes with Western Red Cedar Siding are stunning, but they require more commitment to maintenance than other materials.
Do You Have Paint Or Stain?
First, it’s essential to do an annual check-up on your Western Red Cedar Siding’s condition. Deteriorating paint or stain left untreated can cause a small fix to become a major repair. Second, if you notice any failing paint or stain, make sure to touch up those areas. Finally, when the overall condition is looking worn, it might be time for a new paint or stain application.
Be Sure To Cover All 6 Edges Of Your Western Red Cedar Siding
When installing Western Red Cedar Siding, it’s essential to paint, prime, or stain all six edges of the siding or deck boards to prevent water damage issues. Hint: If you are working with a contractor, insist that they have the boards dipped in stain before installing. It will cost more, but it will be worth it. Many contractors will not include that initial bids to keep the price low. Others will apply the stain on-site and neglect to dip the ends or the back of the boards.
Dry Rot Repairs Require A Professional Contractor
Dry rot is a fungus that eats away wood and makes the material brittle and weak. If you see any soft or deteriorating siding on your home, have dry rot repaired by a professional contractor. Dry rot left untreated can cause severe damage to your home, up to and including expensive structural repairs.
Don’t Skimp On Caulking
Caulking will deteriorate over time, allowing water to get in contact with your siding. It is essential to routinely check on the caulking around windows and doors and siding butt-joints. Suppose you observe the caulking drying out, cracking, and shrinking. In that case, you need to remove the old caulking and apply new caulking to the affected areas to prevent water from seeping in and damaging your home’s siding. We recommend using BASF MasterSeal NP 1 Caulking. If you can afford it, hire a professional siding contractor to apply it.
Vegetation Should Not Touch Your Western Red Cedar Siding
Having any vegetation touching your Western Red Cedar Siding can cause water damage issues. This can cause water stains or dry rot to appear. So, it is essential to cut back any plants at least six inches away from your home’s siding. This also goes for dirt or bark dust. Make sure the siding of your home is not in contact with the ground.
Western Red Cedar Siding And Water Stains
Water stains are a common problem with stained Western Red Cedar Siding. If you have water-stained, it’s best to clean the siding with oxygen bleach or light power washing. Oxygen bleach is not toxic to wood or plate life, and it will not remove the natural wood color from the Western Red Cedar Siding.