Cedar siding is one of the most beautiful treatments available for the exterior of your home, which is why it is important to avoid common mistakes that could ruin your investment and your home’s appearance. EMA does not recommend painting cedar siding under normal conditions, but if you choose to paint it here are five mistakes to avoid:
1. Don’t Wait Too Long
The ideal time to paint your cedar siding is within two weeks of installation. Waiting more than 12 weeks could create problems with adhesion. Research has shown that after just 12 weeks of exposure to sunlight, cedar siding loses as much as half of its ability to hold a coating of primer or paint.[1]
2. Don’t Try to Do it with One Coat
Painting in two distinct phases (prime then paint) is the only proven way to get a lasting quality paint job. Most testing on the effectiveness of painting cedar has been conducted on the two-stage painting process and has shown it to be the best method.