Fir is one of the woods that is difficult to stain evenly, even when new/freshly dried. What you can do nis apply a prestain product(some of those make fir dark, so test a small easily sanded area first. That seals(not a sealant for weather, just one that prepares the wood for a more even absorption of stain) the different grain areas and helps create a surface that takes stain more evenly. Keep in mind you cannot stain a wood to a lighter color. There are ways to do that, but few are newby or DIY friendly. Then stain(again, testing first). For a finish, use untinted Ultra Deep Tint base paint(That is from Sherwin Williams. Without color added, the base dries clear.

Benjamin Moore has a wide variety of colours to choose. Not sure what your location is but if you have one near by drop in and ask for a stain colour brochure to look through. All paint stores will have stain brochures to look at and take home. Benjamin Moore's "Sansin" line is pretty hard to beat.

Because based on my research (reading and talking to Shweri Williams rep) paint tends to outlast staining? Maybe. Under ideal circumstances. But. Existing structure. No way to properly back prime the siding. No way to prime the cut ends of the siding. Stained siding breathes so any moisture that might migrate from the interior will evaporate vs getting trapped behind paint (leading to peeling paint). And your roof has next to zero overhang to help shield the walls from the elements. So, realistically, less than ideal circumstances for optimum paint performance. Before considering other variables like weather conditions during the job, painter experience & skill... No mention of the labor & material cost. To paint now, it is a minimum three coat job. Primer & 2 coats of paint. To repaint later will involve scraping, sanding, priming & paint. To stain now & restain later will require less material & a lot less labor cost. Agree with Cat and Roarah--I would go with a semi-transparent oil-based exterior stain.

Yes, I was hoping someone had found what custom mix would be a close match to this. i was told the builder could match any stain color i provide but i dont have a sample of this particular color