I took a few of the same shingles the house was sided with over to the paint shop to have a few samples done. Sikkens RDC is what they were recommending although again being oil based it made the shingle samples look darker. The natural seemed to be the closest to what I am looking for but not really what I truly want. Other than the fact that water base finishes don't last as long or protect as well, are there other inherent problems with using one of the hybrids as suggested. Another paint shop was pushing Olympic Maximum clear (hybrid) and it appeared to be closer in color when put on as a sample. Faron, I'm not sure what back primed means, but if it means sealed both sides and all edges before installation, the answer is definitely no. And to help answer your question, I"m looking to see as much grain and as much of the original color as possible. I've heard a bit about the Log and Siding but was concerned about it producing a look which was much different to what I have now. Any thoughts? Thanks to both of you for the help. Art

I have almost the exact same problem as you. I too stained my deck on a hot day. I did not sand it properly before hand, and I ended up with blotchy areas as well as water stains just two days later when it rained. I used a stain remover followed by a neutralizing agent. The brand I used was Benjamin Moore; it can be found at just about any hardware and paint store. You live in Canada but you don't say where. I live in southeast Alaska; lots of rain where I live. I've successfully removed all the stain along with the water stains and blotchy areas, and am now looking for a stain that will bring out the natural beauty and protect the wood. I was told to only use a latex based stain and NOT an oil based one. Maintenance was the main reason. Anyway, I would recommend the Benjamin Moore stain remover and neutralizer. It worked great for me.

Wash it well use a powerfull house cleaner to de gloss it

I do not mean to hijack your post, but it seems like a good place to add another example. We are dealing with this exact same issue. Bright red stain on brand new cedar siding after being VERY clear we did not want red at all costs. Our contractor used 2 coats the same day he put the boards up. Besides the ridiculously ugly color, I am unsure what problems we should anticipate, as I am reading there should only be 1 coat and that waiting for the wood to dry before putting a stain on is essential. I will post any solutions we try-hopefully that will help others.