Leaving Cedar Siding Untreated

It does weather though changing color throughout time offering a much more rugged look than stained cedar siding offers.

Leaving cedar siding untreated.

However it will lose its typically golden brown color. Other types of siding can only hope to imitate the timeless beauty of cedar and its rich textures and grain. Boards used for clapboard siding have a uniform thickness and they are overlapped to leave no exposed gaps. Cedar wood deteriorates slowly due to its abundance of natural oils.

All cedars tend to turn a satin gray with age if left untreated. Cedar has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping rotting and cracking. While untreated cedar siding shingles offer an attractive weathered look they are more prone to damage caused by weather insects and other conditions. Although weathering begins immediately with cedar it quickly slows to a crawl.

To avoid this type of damage an option for you is to pick cedar siding shingles that have been factory treated or sealed. A thorough cleaning once or twice a year will greatly extend the life of cedar. Too much direct sun causes the siding to dry out warp and crack. From a structural standpoint cedar more than holds its own.

Treatments for cedar siding maintenance. Leaving cedar untreated and exposed to the elements causes its natural honey color to become weathered and gray. Horizontal installation is most common but clapboard siding can be used vertically too and diagonal installation in gables and other locations produces interesting aesthetics such as a sunburst design. Untreated cedar siding weathers over time without excessive warping and cracking but still requires care.

Untreated cedar fences can go for many years before they need to be replaced. However the natural rich coloring can be preserved with routine power washing and a fresh coat of stain or sealant.