How To Paint Cedar Lap Siding

Choose a paint and primer.

How to paint cedar lap siding. Using a stiff bristled brush scrub the siding. First painting freshly milled cedar requires a paint stain unless a 100 acrylic exterior primer is used first thereby allowing a 100 solid acrylic paint to be used as final finish coats. Do not allow peeling paint to remain on the cedar siding before painting. Do not however use a power washer because cedar can t withstand the pressure.

Step 4 let the cleaner sit on the cedar siding for 15 to 30 minutes. It s preferable to paint all the way across the house until you terminate at a window or corner board. Alkyd oil primers are recommended but one may choose a high quality latex primer as long as it contains stain blockers. Once done let the wood dry completely for approximately two weeks.

These may be applied to western red cedar by brush roller or pad. After the primer has dried apply one or two topcoats of paint or solid color stain. For best results fresh siding should be pre primed on all six sides with a stain blocking primer and top coated with 100 percent acrylic latex paint. Reach the high areas or apply cleaner to the less dirty areas using a roller with an extension pole which doesn t allow you to apply as much pressure or elbow grease as a paint brush.

Start at the top of the clapboard siding to be painted and paint across from left to right working down the side of the house. Cedar siding painting will only be successful if you have a clean slate. Work on three or four clapboards at a time. Allow the washed surface to dry before recoating and apply primer paint to areas of bare wood.

Paint or stain dimensional cedar wood siding having cedar lumber wood siding such as 1 x 6 1 x 8 1 x 12 or two inch thickness can be painted with a solid paint stain not requiring primer but still not recommended painting cedar if you can help it.