Cleaning And Sealing Cedar Siding

The side of the house with the least sun exposure can be the worst spot with the cedar developing mildew or mold that looks black.

Cleaning and sealing cedar siding.

The wood cleaner will remove dirt gunk and grime that could be contaminating the surface of the wood. It is non toxic to trees and vegetation and will not remove natural color from the siding. While you can use household bleach to kill mold and algae it tends to make the cedar shingle s surface fuzzy because of the excessive pulping reaction when using it. It is highly toxic to vegetation.

Surface preparation to prepare the surface of rough cut cedar siding wash the siding down with a good wood cleaner and follow that up with an application of wood brightener. It s important that cedar and redwood siding as well as cedar shingles and shakes are cleaned using a two step method prior to sealing the wood with a semitransparent oil based finish. The oxygen bleach comes as a granular powder that mixes with water. Have any damaged pieces replaced.

Begin by sweeping off dust and cobwebs. The siding must be thoroughly cleaned and old layers of paint or sealer must be removed before you can apply a new coat. When you begin the process of cleaning your cedar siding make sure to remove any old sealer stain with a stripping solution. Department of agriculture s forest services laboratory recommends cleaning cedar shingles with an oxidizing bleach as opposed to a household bleach to avoid damaging the wood.

Make sure you use low pressure because high pressure can damage the wood. If necessary use a paint removing product to remove an old layer of paint. Wash part of a wall and allow it to dry thoroughly before applying the sealant. Pressure washing can damage cedar so if possible wash by hand.

Then using low pressure power wash your home. Cedar shingles can also grow moss and algae or develop iron staining which requires periodic cleaning. How to seal cedar siding if you re applying sealant to siding that is already installed it is essential to throughly clean the wood surface being sealed. The safe and effective way to clean the wood is oxygen bleach.

Inspect the siding for rot or damage.