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Cedar shingles

Mario_che | Posted in Construction Techniques on November 16, 2010 02:13am

Hello,

We are going to build a house in Spain, and we would like to do the exterior finishing with natural cedar

shingles on the exterior walls.

We do like the natural color at the begining, but after some years the color changes to a dark brown that we don’t like very much,

so we heard that there is a “stain” that keeps longer the first beautiful “gold” color.

There are several questions,

Do you recommend the stain product?

If we change our minds after some years, can we paint on the cedar shingles to a white or grey color?

Thank you for your help!

Mario

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Replies

  1. hartlandboy | Nov 16, 2010 02:42pm | #1

    Stains are great

    Wouldn't have a problem using stain.  Technology has made some great advancments over the past ten years or so.  I like the Behr product line but I'm sure there are lots of comprable others out there.  I wouldn't recommend painting the cedar.  The stains come in what they call a solid colour stain which will give you the painted look but the longevity of a stain.  You'll get lots of options and great advice here on this forum.    Just sayin..

    Gary

  2. Scott | Nov 16, 2010 02:56pm | #2

    >>>so we heard that there is

    >>>so we heard that there is a "stain" that keeps longer the first beautiful "gold" color.

    Akzo Nobel Sikkens Cetol products:

    http://www.nam.sikkens.com/product.cfm?product_id=3&product_category=exterior

    We're using it on sidewall shingles for gable ends and our entry.

    This is color #996.

  3. DanH | Nov 16, 2010 08:30pm | #3

    Even the best of stains won't maintain a "natural" (which is to say, an unnatural, unweathered) appearance for more than 4-5 years.  You can maybe extend it to 8-10 years if you re-treat the wood every 2-3 years.

    You'll generally get better protection from stains that are a bit on the dark side and contain more solids, vs very transparent stains.

    1. Scott | Nov 16, 2010 09:04pm | #4

      >>> Even the best of stains

      >>> Even the best of stains won't maintain a "natural" (which is to say, an unnatural, unweathered) appearance for more than 4-5 years

      Dunno about that.

      My neighbor accross the street has a house that was built around 1998 (we bought our land in '99 and it was already there). That house has board & batten cedar siding coated with Sikkens Cetol 1 and 23, color 077 IIRC, and it still looks like the day it was brushed. This is the south side which gets all the weather and UV.

      Can post pics if it would help.

      Sikkens is good stuff, but of course the running joke around here is that it's called Sikkens because it "sikkens" you when you see the price.

      1. DanH | Nov 16, 2010 11:01pm | #5

        I'm willing to bet that it's been retreated at least once since 1998, probably twice.

        1. Scott | Nov 16, 2010 11:32pm | #6

          >>>I'm willing to bet that

          >>>I'm willing to bet that it's been retreated at least once since 1998, probably twice.

          Nope. I can swear on a stack of bibles.

          I've lived here and know the owner(s), both the first and second (there has been only two). In fact I was the one who told the second owner about the first one offering it for sale. I know both of them well, and can atest to the fact that this house hasn't been recoated since the original application.

          This is just one example...there are numerous others.

          However, I will say that with the Cetol products it is very important to follow the directions: One or two coats of Cetol 1 (which is a sealer and mold and fungal inhibitor), followed by at least two coats of the Cetol 23 (mostly UV and mold inhibitor). This is what the original owner did, and it appears to be living up to it's expectation..

          The 23 application appears to be critical, as my own sloppiness seems to support: In a few cases I've applied the Cetol 1 product, and not the 23...sure enough, within a year I've got mold spots and peeling.

  4. Mario_che | Nov 18, 2010 06:27pm | #7

    Thank you all very much for your help!

    I have discovered this forum very recently and It's great!

    If you need any help from Spain, just let me know.

    Regarding to the stain, I don't know how long it will last here, in the north of Spain,

    because the sun is very hot here, I will let you know!

    Mario

    1. calvin | Nov 18, 2010 07:38pm | #8

      Mario

      Welcome to Breaktime.

      Please come back with pictures and some thoughts from Spain.

      thanks.

    2. Scott | Nov 18, 2010 11:02pm | #9

      Mario, I believe that Akzo Nobel is a European company by origin, so they ought to be familiar with your climatic needs.

      As for here, our location is completely exposed to the South, and we often get temperatures in excess of 40 degrees C during summer months, with serious UV intensity. I have no problem recommending the Sikkens (although I have nothing to do with the company, other than using their (expensive) product).

      1. DanH | Nov 19, 2010 07:40am | #10

        Yeah, certainly Sikkens is one of the best, and will give you about the best performance you can hope for.

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