How To Lighten Dark Cedar Siding

Treating cedar with primer and paint.

How to lighten dark cedar siding.

Paint is your best option for treating cedar if your only intent is protection. You could use a white wash by mixing 1 part paint with 3 parts water add more water for less color test on a small area. Rinse the sponge in clear water before dipping it again in the neutralizing solution. Tips for restoring blackened cedar shake siding.

Mix the oxygen bleach in a ratio of 2 cups of powdered granules to 1 gallon of water or based on the product and manufacturer s instructions on the label pour the mixture into a cleaned out lawn and garden sprayer. Add some bolder trim not sure what s there now and let it accent the rest of the house. We have a home that has stained wood siding. A gray ish tint would give the cedar an aged patina and a sage green or turquoise wash a copper look.

Lighter colors last longer since they reflect light more efficiently than darker colors. Cover about a 4 by 8 foot section with the liquid and let it sit on the siding for about 15 minutes. One part white vinegar to 3 or 4 parts water is fine. We would like to change the color of the siding to a lighter more neutral color like gray or beige.

Brighten the surface of the cedar siding with deck and fence brightener or apply a new coat of stain to restore a vivid color and luster to the siding. Removal can be done with a commercial mildew remover or with dilute solutions of liquid household oxygen based bleach followed by thorough rinsing with clean water. The stain is a deep red stain and it is rather dark. Paint s solids ward off light and light is the main contributor to the deterioration of cedar.

Shingles if needed can go architectural and stand out a bit more. Surface dirt should be removed from cedar shake siding before attempting to remove black spots from the mold. After these preparations scrub the surface with a stiff bristle not wire brush and water and rinse with clean water. Dip a sponge in the vinegar solution and wipe it on the bleached wood.

Use a synthetic cedar siding stain to prevent.