Shiplap siding/stain question

Sampson

Hi all, question regarding the application of shiplap siding/stain

For the more "rustic" look, we have decided on shiplap siding for the house. All the necessary "cats" or cleats are in place in the walls for nailers. In the past, despite having what I feel are an adequate number of nailers, I've had some "cupping" of the siding, particularly on the South side of the house. The current siding (putting a sizeable addition on) is shiplap pine with a clear stain.

I'm considering going with cedar instead of pine this time, and almost definately going with a semi-solid stain. Should the siding (either pine or cedar) be pre-stained on ALL sides prior to application?? seems like a lot of work if it's not necessary. Can anyone with any experience weigh in?? Thanks in advance, Sam

DexterII

Not sure how much experience you are looking for, but I have done a fair amount of it, and yes, I always stain all sides before installing it, and keep a can and brush handy during installation, so that any cut edges get a last minute application. You're right, it is a lot of work, but well worth it, in my opinion. The trick is to properly prepare your work area before you start, so that you can stain a piece, get it out of the way, and move immediately to the next piece. I typically do a pretty close rough calculation, so that if I need to stack it in anyway, I know how high, what materials I am going to use for that purpose, and make sure that I leave myself space to maneuver once I start laying them out to dry. It is also an excellant time to identify any pieces that you want to avoid in specific areas, etc. For example, if you have a knot that looks like it is loose, or whatever, have a separate place for it, so that it can later be used in a place that needs to be cut out anyway.

kwikfishron

You can order your siding pre-stained.
This is Red Cedar shiplap and shingles I had pre-stained both sides with Sikkens. Hit it with 1 more coat after install. This is three years later, no cupping.

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Sampson

Thanks guys, while I'm planning to install the shiplap in this application vertical, I guess I know that I'm going in the right direction.

prolyfemommy

Hi Kwikfishron,

I just stumbled upon your photo searching for cedarsiding colors. We bought a short-sale home that is cedar. It was stained practically black. My husband is stripping the stain off painfully little by little. We want a nice color that represents cedar but not to "orange". We want to see the wood knots and look through the stain.

Can you tell me what color your stain was? I really like it. Our home has the same color garage doors and the same style windows.

Thanks.

(I am normally on chat boards with women and kids junk, and I can normally just message people, I haven't found an option for that yet.)

kwikfishron

Hi prolyfemommy and welcome to the forum.

That’s “Sikkens Cetol Log and Siding" "078 Natural” over new Western Red Cedar. It’s not a clear as it does darken the Cedar a bit but it’s not a color either. Spendy stuff, about at about 80 buck a gallon.

It’s been about five years since it was applied to the house in the pic and the South and West sides of that house are ready for another coat. The N and E sides of the house look almost as good as the day it was applied.

Keep in mind that the house in the picture is a front row house on the Oregon Coast and takes a brutal beating from the Pacific for many months out of the year so the weather sides needing another coat after five years is not surprising.

Keeping the original new cedar look is something that many want but is very difficult to achieve. That Sikkens product I linked is the best product I know of to keep new cedar looking new.

Beware of Sikkens products sold at the big orange box store, it's not the same as the stuff that is sold by the other Sikkens Dealers. It cost less but it's NOT the same.

BTW ALL, those wonky curve Dr Seuss looking corners is an anomaly, courtesy of a cheap phone camera.

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