Painting Wood Shake Siding

If the unfinished wood was exposed more than 3 to 4 weeks lightly sand the surface to remove the thin layer of degraded wood before applying paint.

Painting wood shake siding.

Use a brush when painting old siding. Sand the cured filler with a hand sander to make it smooth and level with the surrounding wood. New cedar shingles are more frequently stained than painted but painted wood shingles are much less maintenance intensive. Paint tends to peel or flake near joints between dissimilar materials think siding and trim window frames and glass etc.

Let the primer dry and apply a high quality acrylic latex house paint. Soap like compounds can form on oil primers in as little as two weeks. Before you paint condition the siding with a specific type of bonding primer or the final coating will ultimately flake and peel. Powerwash the siding to remove any excess dirt or paint with a low pressure pressure washer.

The siding must be free from mold mildew and dirt. Work the brush into the overlapped edges and the recesses between the shingles. Loosened photodegraded surface fibers and any loosened remaining finish must be removed prior to re finishing. As with all painting surface prep is the key to success.

Start at the top of the house and work your way down aiming the nozzle downward and keeping it moving constantly. While extremely old cedar can be painted it requires heavy preparation. This is where water seeps into cracks and soaks into the wood causing the paint to peel. According to the centers for disease control cdc lead paint should be removed by contractors who are certified by the epa.

If you roll either primer or paint back brush so all surfaces are protected. Work a paint scraper from every direction keeping the blade flat against the wood so you don t create gouge marks. If the siding is delicate then you can wash it with a product called jomax which can be done with a. Using a 4 inch brush apply an oil base stain blocking primer.

Even then the paint is not expected to last long. You must be careful not to damage the wood while doing so as the water pressure is strong. Before sanding scrape loose and flaking paint from the siding. Don t let the primer sit more than a few weeks before painting.

Because shingle siding is exposed to harsh temperatures and weather elements it requires a finish specifically made for external surfaces. Step 4 let the cleaner sit on the cedar siding for 15 to 30 minutes. Apply the right paint or subtle cracking and fading may result. Stains will only hold up on cedar shingles for two to three years while a quality paint will serve as an attractive finish for 10 to 15 years.

Be careful when painting very old cedar siding. Reach the high areas or apply cleaner to the less dirty areas using a roller with an extension pole which doesn t allow you to apply as much pressure or elbow grease as a paint brush.