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What are the best Treatments for cedar?

Treatments for cedar wood can be broadly placed into these groups: opaque, semi-transparent, transparent or untreated.

Cedar wood is pitch and resin-free, which means that finishes are held very well by the wood as long as they are applied before the weathering process has begun.

Generally, opaque treatments (like paints and solid-colour stains) offer higher protection at the expense of obscuring more of the wood’s natural appearance.

Treatments that are more transparent — like natural stains and water-repellent preservatives — usually offer more modest protection from the elements, but retain a greater amount of the timber’s natural beauty.

1. Opaque or solid-colour

A thorough coating or two of acrylic-based paint is by far the most protective of the finishes on offer. It will shield the timber from moisture and weathering, but will completely conceal the wood’s colour and grain — so make sure to choose a wood paint of your desired colour.

These are also solid-colour stain finishes, which provide an opaque finish whilst retaining some of the original texture. They offer very strong protection against the elements.

Paints and solid-colour finishes allow you to take full control of appearance, adding a bit of excitement, colour or charm to a finished cedar project — but they’re not for the indecisive!

Typically lasts for 4–10 years

2. Semi-transparent stains

If you’re not interested in an opaque finish, there are still many ways to keep your  Cedar looking natural, whilst keeping it well-shielded. For this, a semi-transparent stain might be the ticket.

Depending on the product chosen, semi-transparent stains still offer up some interesting, subtle changes to the wood’s colour, pronouncing grains and knots — as well as affording great protection. Semi-transparent finishes can be oil-based or natural.

Oil-based protection penetrates deeper into the wood and usually provides a more drastic change of colour, giving a greater deal of protection from the elements.

Natural, water-based protection doesn't penetrate as deeply but still affords a good deal of protection, containing fungicides that inhibit the growth of mildew. They’re seen as more environmentally friendly.

There are many types of semi-transparent stains on the market.

Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain or Dryden Wood Oil Stain is a good example of a powerful, oil-based protection for cedar wood against weather and UV, available in a range of tints from virtually clear to charcoal. Whilst concealing some of the natural colours, a well-chosen finish like this can enhance the grain of your cedar.

A natural, water-based cedar wood stain — like Resene Woodsman waterborne Wood Oil Stain — will also keep the timber in good condition whilst providing a beautiful finish. A good oil or water-based protection typically lasts for 2 years up to first maintenance.

3. Transparent preservatives and oils

For a transparent finish with some modest protection, consider a coat of water-repellent preservative, or a bleaching oil. There are a range of products on the market.

Although these don’t provide good UV protection, this sort of cedar wood preservative will keep the wood’s warm tones for longer.

Bear in mind that, over time, the cedar will still weather to a grey colour, although this will happen more slowly and you’ll retain the wood’s beautiful, natural tones and patina.

Which cedar treatment should I choose?

So, to paint or stain cedar weatherboards? Or possibly leave them untreated? There’s no right or wrong answer: your choice will depend on your design preference and the required level of protection.

When choosing the right product for protecting cedar cladding (or any exterior cedar wood project), you’ll have to strike a balance.

What look are you after? If you want to retain the cedar’s beauty with some protection, choose a semi-transparent stain. If you’re looking to slowly acquire a distinguished weathered appearance, choose a transparent oil. If you want to drastically take control of your wood’s colour with maximum protection, an opaque finish will do the trick.

How much protection do you want or need? The amount of sunlight and rain hitting your wood will shorten the lifespan of the finish applied, so if it’s exposed, consider a strong, oil-based stain or paint.

How much upkeep are you prepared to do? Some cedar projects can be hard to reach, so you might want to choose a finish that doesn't have to be reapplied or topped up too often. On the other hand, your cedar might be easily-accessible, making a reapplication every couple of years a doddle.


What happens if  Cedar is left untreated?

Of course, it’s possible to leave your project without any treatment at all — one of the glories of durable timber species like this. With all its resins, Cedar is naturally rot-resistant and still performs well without a finish.

When left untreated and exposed to the sun’s oxidising UV light,  Cedar fades and bleaches to a beautiful silvery-grey finish. So if you’re after the weathered cedar look — perhaps some ‘silver fox’, distinguished weathered cedar cladding, for example — you simply don’t need to apply any treatment.

Whilst treated cedar cladding still looks great, letting your cedar go grey is actually somewhat of a trend. Amongst architects, there’s been a growing appreciation for leaving materials like timber in their natural, rustic state, with their inherent, untreated beauty on full show.


How to treat cedar wood & apply a stain

Once you’ve chosen a treatment (or lack thereof), you’ll need to apply it. Firstly, make sure the timber isn’t wet — this can drastically increase the risk of coating failure.

Another thing that can affect the quality of finish uptake is how weathered the timber is. If your  Cedar is showing signs of age, you’ll have to prepare the wood with a heavy-duty deep clean and restore. 

Paint or solid-colour stain application

When applying a paint or solid-colour stain, make sure to apply a primer coat before applying the main topcoat. If you’re adding two topcoats, allow the first to cure for the recommended period on the manufacturer’s instructions.

Semi-transparent or water-repellent application

Semi-transparent stains are usually best applied with a brush, although this can be achieved with a roller, pad, spray or drip. A second layer can be added for extra protection, but only if the cedar will accept it.

As with the application of any cedar treatment, we’d always recommend the use of a quality soft brush, if possible — despite usually taking longer, you’ll have a more consistent, even coat.



Restoring & recoating Cedar

After a few years, you might notice that your cedar’s finish is wearing slightly thin. At this point, decide if you want it to acquire that natural ‘grey’ aged look, or whether you want to give it a new lick.

If your cedar is still in good condition and isn’t well-weathered, a clean and reapplication will do the trick. To recoat Cedar, give it a gentle scrub with warm, soapy water to remove dirt and mildew. After the cedar is fully clean and dry, reapply your chosen finish as before.

To restore wood and cladding and recover the original colour of a well-weathered piece of cedar, you’ll need a heavy-duty cleaner for your cedar cladding restoration. To let your wood go grey gracefully, a gentle scrub followed by a coat of transparent, water-repellent preservative will keep the cedar in great condition and protect against splitting and cracking.