Should you stain cedar? (2023)

Should you stain or seal cedar?

Although cedar is naturally resistant to rot and decay, staining your siding promptly will help in the preventing of deterioration.

Rot, premature aging, and warping can occur from the weather and elements when the boards aren't sealed. Finishing off your newly-installed cedar deck with a sealant or wood stain will help to prolong the life, beauty, and appeal of the deck for years to come.

Unless you particularly want untreated cedar wood, it's best to treat it. Cedar fences should be treated once a year. Cedar's natural oils do protect the wood, but only for a finite period. Eventually, decay will start to set in.

A clear stain will help you maintain the beauty of your cedar wood while also helping to keep it from splintering. The first coat of clear stain will act as a sealant, protecting the wood from the elements. The second coat of clear stain will act as a sealant and a water repellant.

Staining a deck will lead to less work in the future. One of the main reasons the professionals don't recommend staining wood decks is because of the amount of time and energy involved. Stains don't generally last more than a year. This means yearly cleaning, staining and, if necessary, sanding of your deck every year.

Left untreated, cedar shakes — individual planks of one of several varieties of cedar — will discolor and begin to soften, with a possibility of rot after about five years, depending on the climate. There are several options for covering cedar siding, including stain, a clear treatment or paint.

Semi-Transparent Stains

Solvent-borne, oil-based, semi-transparent, stains penetrate the wood surface. They do not form a surface film like paints or solid stains. For Western Red Cedar products, they are the best choice in terms of offering protection, yet they still showcase the wood's natural beauty.

It's a durable wood that is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks, and resists moisture absorption, so it tends to last longer, needs less maintenance, and doesn't warp or split as easily. A cedar deck can last for 15-20 years or more, depending on maintenance and environment.

Used to preserve the Cedar's natural color and appearance, transparent or semi-transparent solvent-borne penetrating stains are recommended. Transparent stains are similar in composition to semi-transparent stains but contain fewer pigments that provide color.

Should I put polyurethane on cedar?

Transparent, non-flexible, film-forming finishes such as lacquer, shellac, urethane, and varnish are not recommended for exterior use on cedar. Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate the transparent film and degrade the wood.

Natural life of wood

Depending on the species, cedar may last for about 15-30 years, spruce may last for about 4-7 years, and pine may last for about 5-12 years.

How often you need to restain your siding depends on your climate and how much wear it does to your siding. However, you should expect to restrain every three to five years. When restaining your cedar siding, you'll need to remove the old protective coating and add a new layer of wood stain.

You may wonder how long it takes for the sun and water to turn the cedar wood grey. The answer: it takes about two weeks for the wood to change from red to gray. However, many factors can contribute to the length of time for the wood to change colors.

Your Deck Will Lose its Luster

Over time, the sun's rays will dull and fade the finish. When this happens, a fresh coat of stain can quickly restore your deck's beauty. If you decide to leave your deck alone instead, expect the loss of color and shine to progress until your deck takes on a gray-ish, green-ish hue.

You want to apply the stain when the wood surface and air are in the temperature range of 50° – 90°F. You also want to avoid the direct application of sunlight. Lastly, do not apply a stain if there is a forecast of rain in the following one to two days, or all your hard work could end up being washed away.

If left untreated, over time that red weathers to light gray. To prevent cedar from fading to gray, you need to seal cedar fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide, according to Family Handyman.

Due to its chemical properties, cedar is naturally weather-resistant and repels most bugs. But over the years it can crack slightly and develop a fuzzy surface texture unless it's periodically refinished. Cedar accepts sealers and stains beautifully and should be refinished every two to three years.

While untreated cedar fences tend to last anywhere from 15 to 30 years, treated and maintained cedar fencing can last up to 40 years. That said, cedar fences can start to grey in as little as six weeks if they aren't painted or stained.

Is it OK for cedar to get wet?

Cedar is typically found in outdoor furniture and structures surviving through sun, rain, and snow as well as the wood that saunas are lined with holding up against constant humidity and heat.

Stain And Seal When Needed

Every two to three years, you will want to reseal and stain your cedar deck. Some deck sealants include a stain so you can do both tasks with one product. By the time your deck is ready for a new seal, most of the old seal will likely have worn off.

Rustic Cedar is a semi-solid stain color that is a great choice for cedar decks that may be a bit older. With hues of rusty red and soft natural browns, Rustic Cedar adds a coat of protection and a bit of classic color to hide slight imperfections.

If a deck is new, we recommend waiting at least 90 days before staining and sealing the wood structure. Pressure-treated lumber or smooth milled cedar needs to cure three to six months prior to the staining process.

Redwood, cedar and treated pine decking are all able to withstand the great outdoors for years no matter the season.

Natural properties aside, it's still important to prime and pre-stain western red cedar for exterior applications, especially if you want it to weather naturally into grey. Priming and staining sustains the wood's performance and maintains its natural properties.

Staining your cedar siding will considerably slow down the siding's change in appearance. There are a great variety of stain choices available, including transparent, semi-transparent, solid-transparent, and solid wood stains.

Stain cedar lumber to protect it from fading in sunlight and from moisture erosion. Western red cedar has beautiful colors at all stages of fading, but the wood deteriorates if it's not protected from the elements.

Used to preserve the Cedar's natural color and appearance, transparent or semi-transparent solvent-borne penetrating stains are recommended. Transparent stains are similar in composition to semi-transparent stains but contain fewer pigments that provide color.

To properly answer your question of “Do you have to seal stained wood?”, the answer is no. However, if you want to protect your wood and give it a polished finish, it's smart to do so. It's worth taking the extra steps and applying a wood stain sealer.

How soon should you seal cedar wood?

If you are looking to preserve the beautiful rich grain of, say, a mahogany or cedar decking, we recommend sealing the deck with a translucent penetrating stain within 1-2 weeks of construction. This will ensure minimal or no UV damage and give your deck that natural look.

Cedar siding generally has a life expectancy of 20 to 40 years, but can last an amazing 60 to 70 years in the right conditions. The longevity of cedar siding also depends on whether or not it has been stained or left in its natural state. Some manufacturers offer warranties of more than 25 years for cedar siding.