[777]

HI, about to start to paint or to stain our exterior cedar siding of our country classic home. We have a forest green color right now and we are going to go lighter green.

I've been told that i should use a oil based color tinted stain then an acrylic based latex stain.

My question is about prep. We have a number of boards with knots showing. Will the thick acrylic stain fill in these knots sufficiently? A number of boards need to be nailed again, some are cracked. Is a regular wood filler ok for filling these or do i need something that expands with the heat and cold?

The siding is a rough cedar so if i fill it too much that part with seem too smooth if you know what I mean. So the large cracks need to be filled for sure but I am hoping the stain fills the knots.

Is it common practice to seal under each siding board as well?

SUggestions or comments?

regards

 

[Matthewt1970]

Oil based stains are a lot less likely to peel. Latex however will fill holes and voids a little btter, but then tends to stay on the surface more and is more likely to peel. I would caulk any unsightly cracks, but any hairline cracks I would be tend to leave alone on a stained surface. Putty or spackle the nail holes and then stain with the oil. You can always stain with latex later, but once you put latex stain on there, you should never go back to oil.

 

[jaros bros.]

A good siding job calls for all boards to be prefinished before installation. That means the backside and all cuts as well. Primed if you are painting and stained if you are staining. This prevents water from intruding and popping the paint, causing unnecessary swelling and degradation. A rainscreen is a good technique as well. Common practice varies from region to region and from carpenter to carpenter so much that it is sometimes hard to determine. Best practice calls for sealing on every side.

 

[Tom Struble]

i think you talking about sealing along the bottom of the siding,dont do it any water that gets thru the siding will want to drain thu there