How to care for redwood siding?

September 17, 2007 1:21 PM

How do I maintain/freshen/update or paint redwood siding?

My house has rough redwood (I believe) siding covering the original 1947 asbestos shingles. I've been there about 3 years and the stain on the siding is starting to fade in spots. I have no idea how or what one does about this.

Do I call a house painter? Or someone who stains decks? Is it even possible to paint over siding like this? I don't necessarily dislike it, but I also don't want to have to deal with re-staining it every 2-3 years. For all I know, maybe I just need to rent a power-washer and spray the house. Anyone have experience with this sort of siding and know the answers?

Picture for reference.

posted by idigress to home & garden (4 comments total)

Redwood will do just fine untreated, it will turn a silvery gray color but won't rot.
posted by zeoslap at 1:31 PM on September 17, 2007

You certainly can stain it. But that would negate everything redwood is good for. As zeoslap says, it'll do just fine untreated.
It might take a few years for the silver color to even-out, but the end result is very handsome
posted by Thorzdad at 2:55 PM on September 17, 2007

if it is actually redwood, it shouldn't have been stained. if it is redwood and stained then as the other people have said, the fading of the stain is purely cosmetic, hopefully it will all fade away you will have the nice weathered redwood look.

by all means DON'T paint it. most commercial stains are rated from 4 to 8 years, but due to differences in the wood it is applied to (and the application procedure) I would expect to reapply a new staining perhaps even yearly until the wood is saturated. and then you can leave it alone...

I wouldn't be surprised if paint over stained siding didn't need reapplication sooner than you expect.

bottom line: if it is actually redwood you are in luck: you may never have to do anything unless there are outrageous moisture/pest problems. otherwise, expect to maintain your siding regularly over x number of years depending upon the climate and other unknowables.
posted by geos at 3:53 PM on September 17, 2007

What I find truly worrysome are the asbestos shingles underneath./ Yoiks. You sure they just aren't asphalt shingles¿

That redwood was probably stained 'redwood' tint I'd bet.

For natural wood, I'd recommend hemp oil. It restores natural moistures to the wood, low maintenance, gives wood a warm natural glow.

However, that stain has to go before applying the oil. If you power wash, don't use too much pressure or you'll shred the wood. Let it dry 3-4 days before any finish coat application.

That asbestos shingle... I'd almost take all the redwood off, dump the shingles, reattach the redwood, unstained side out this time and oil it.

Yeah, depends how much you care about your health and how much effort you really want to put into it...and budget.

I'm currently using that oil for a cedar deck that the owner thought would look good aged...but no, it's gray and dingy looking.
posted by alicesshoe at 8:24 AM on September 18, 2007