Old cedar siding--repaint or stain, or cover?

12 years ago

The gables of my 1951 home are sided with vertical cedar boards. At some point they were painted white, then later covered with aluminum siding. The aluminum siding needs to go, and I'm trying to decide if I should replace it with vinyl, or instead, repaint the cedar siding, or strip it and stain. They are high and hard to get to, and I'd likely need to hire someone each time they needed paint or stain.

Was hoping some folks with long-term experience with cedar siding can give some opinions about this.

Thanks.

Featured Answer

old_house_j_i_m

12 years ago

hey dave11, I, too, am in the midsts of taking off the vinyl on my house so I can paint the old Cedar clapboards and shingles (it was already painted, before). If youre siding is in good shape, just clean and paint, or, if you have the stamina for stripping, strip and stain.
Use a high quality paint or clear finish and you shouldnt have to repaint/re-stain for like 20 years.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vinyl Siding turns old houses into Trailer Parks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

powermuffin
12 years ago
I just can't imagine trading cedar siding for vinyl. We have our original cedar clapboards and they still look great after over 100 years.
Diane
Related Discussions
OK,, who's into vintage textiles and old, old, old baby clothes?
Q
Comments (20)
No need to apologize, my toes are just fine! *grin!* But I took a 1/2 day seminar with someone who did museum textile conservation and am very aware of "delayed deterioration" due to detergent residue and even due to the clorine that is in tap water. BUT the treatment I give heirlooms and things that are particularly fine, like bobbin lace, old Battenberg or Hardanger is very different that what I do for things like linen napkins and banquet cloths or even crocheted edged tea cloths and tatted doilies and I wouldn't dream of washing a sampler. Linda C
...See More
Recoating a 2 year old stained cedar deck
Q
Comments (1)
I have rented a floor sander to go over my deck and prep it for staining. I get the flat kind of sander that has no roller so less danger of gouging. Just keep it moving and go over the whole thing lightly. New stain takes better. I use the Cabot oil based semi transparent stain and it has lasted for 3 years. Now doing a referb on my deck which is over 10 years old. Some boards cracked all the way through and were replaced because they were dangerous. Most had surface cracks and I am trying an outdoor stainable filler made by Elmers. Haven't gotten around to stain it yet so we will see how it does. Needless to say, we are saving up to replace it next time. Would have done now but we are short of cash. This time I am going to try Cabot's Australian Timber Oil. I used it on a bench and picnic table and like the oily look. Not sure how it will wear though.
...See More
Dilemma with my 100 year old cedar shingle siding
Q
Comments (14)
I must say, the aged look of the shingles is quite beautiful to me. Sounds like (from the above) that doing your spot repairs as needed could be the way to go, both esthetically and financially. May I ask pros for more detail about how you would prep either for clear finish or paint if thats the route someone wanted to go? If wood is dark do you assume that its mildew (prob use deck clearner type product?) or is it just some natural aging (patina) of the wood that could take a clear finish over it? Just curious - dont have a shingle house at the moment but almost did once. If the damage is limited conceivably OP could use an epoxy-base d wood hardener + wood fill product on it? Generally my experience with 100 yr old wood is :-) and not :-( This is likely still old growth timber and as such was hard as nails very unlike the farmed wood of today (and still is, if its not too rotted) Was so shocked when I got some cedar trim milled for my old porch at how soft and splintery it was - nothing like the existing wood. And I would reiterate about trying to find someone local who is old house friendly and has wood restoration in his/her repertoire - either to do the actual work or you pay them for a consultation. Your plastic guys - siding, windows, etc. - have their own business model and ways of doing things so you really cant expect them to be knowledgeable in other methods. Its fine with me if thats what they want to do, but where I have a problem is when they dont recognize their limitations and make these pronouncements about how the old siding or windows have to go .... like its some kind of ulitimate truth. Consequently, a lot of people dont look any further and the end result is ... at least in my neck of the woods.... a lot of plastic-clad houses.
...See More
Exterior stain color suggestions for cedar sided home
Q
Comments (4)
Is there paint on it now? If so, you cant put stain on over the top. You will have to repaint it, or use a solid color stain (the grain wont show through, like regular semi transparent stain). I would try to do a color very close to actual cedar siding color.
...See More
karinl
12 years ago
For us, keeping paint on our 100yo cedar siding has been a real headache. However, you're talking to old wood fanatics here (me included) who consider it worthwhile - on a historic house, having the original wood is worth it.

Your house is not historic (based on date and I think I remember other threads about it). So I don't know if you would have an authenticity issue with the wood.

For me, one issue would be ease of colour changing. I remember your brick, so colour will be tricky. You might like to change it (all) sometime, and vinyl does not invite painting.

If you did want to cover the wood, I'd go with metal rather than vinyl myself. Vinyl just seems like a very inferior material, whereas metal siding is getting quite cool these days - lots of new options out there. In fact, that may be a solution for your brick too. Whole house covered in metal? Or Hardiplank? That way if in 100 years a fanatic buys your house, the original brick is retrievable :-)

Karin L
Fori
12 years ago
O no not vinyl, especially if the vertical siding is part of the look. Is it a ranch style house (one might guess so with the vertical siding and the date)? Paint it or stain it depending on what color you like with the rest of it. Or even Hardiplank it. Vertically.

I don't know your house of course. But I know mid century houses usually do not look better when one takes away their mid centuriness.

In my '50s neighborhood, the cedar siding was usually painted. Gracious rustic ranch homes for modern living or something, according to the ad copy. There's a chance yours was always meant to be painted as well maybe?
wholenewmom
last year
@Fori I would love to hear why you say no vinyl especially if vertical siding is part of the look. We have a house w/ 60 year old painted cedar. I keep wondering what to do. I love the paint job (it's a garrison colonial which I do not love but I love the paint) but I keep seeing newer houses w/ vinyl and thinking how clean and carefree they seem (no woodpeckers etc). Thanks!
wholenewmom
last year
@old_house_j_i_m - I'm really intrigued by your statement about paint lasting 20 years on cedar - can you tell me where you live and what type of paint? Around here we are typically told 5-7, but maybe 10, but even that's long. I'm in Michigan. We did get good paint this time but I would LOVE to get more time out of it this time around. Keep wishing I hadn't bought a wood house....sigh.
HU-409979343
last year
last modified: last year
I currently have the same issue, house was built in '47, do not cover that cedar, my house has aluminum over cedar, bough it that way, hate it, found water damage on an area under the aluminum, rotted 2x4s but the cedar held up, I find cedar to have more character than aluminum siding, the holes and dents do not go away without replacing the aluminum its very tacky, plus it requires pressure washing, vinyl is so generic looking, plus everyone does it, it's a cheaper route, take the time for the cedar you'll appreciate it more, exterior paint has come a long way and good caulk for all the joints
wholenewmom
last year
@HU-409979343 - thanks for taking the time to comment! It's a pain in the neck but so far we still have it. We just need to find someone to repair the siding. Lost of nincompoops/ crooks here. We might have to do it ourselves.
btydrvn
last year
When you research cedar siding…the recommended treatment is stain..colored or not…as it helps the cedar to repel moisture…
but with your situation it is hard to say if stain is still an option..or if there is a way to return it to a natural finish..or if there are nail holes..rust..etc that really need covering?..
in your situation the area seems small enough to thoroughly sand and stain..but location is not the best/ safest for a task like that?..but that would theoretically be the last time it would need that much work
however…since it is high up….the defects in the wood finish may not show at all

Old cedar siding--repaint or stain, or cover?

old_house_j_i_m

Comments (9)

powermuffin

Related Discussions

karinl

Fori

wholenewmom

wholenewmom

HU-409979343

wholenewmom

btydrvn

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US