How to Stain a Cedar House: Siding Prep, Products, and Steps

Staining cedar wood siding protects it from UV graying, mildew, and moisture while bringing out the warm color cedar is known for. I have stained cedar homes, fences, and decks since 1993, and siding is the most forgiving of the three because it never takes foot traffic. This guide covers which stains I use on cedar houses, how to prep the siding, and the application steps that prevent lap marks on long walls.

In this guide:

1. Can You Stain Cedar Siding?
2. Best Stains for Cedar Siding
3. Staining New Cedar: Rough Sawn vs. Smooth
4. How to Prep Cedar Siding for Stain
5. How to Stain a Cedar House in 9 Steps
6. Removing Old Clear or Failed Finishes
7. Cedar Siding vs. a Cedar Deck
8. How Long Does Stain Last on Cedar Siding?
9. Cedar Siding Stain FAQ

Can You Stain Cedar Siding?

Yes, you can stain cedar, and on a house it is the best way to protect the wood. Untreated cedar siding turns gray within a year or two as UV breaks down the surface fibers, and shaded walls can develop mildew. A penetrating oil stain with pigment soaks into the wood, blocks UV, and keeps the natural grain visible.

Avoid film forming finishes and clear water sealers on cedar siding. Clear products have no pigment to block UV, so the wood grays underneath them, and film finishes peel as cedar expands and contracts. Semi transparent penetrating stains are what I use on nearly every cedar house.

Best Stains for Cedar Siding

The best stain for cedar siding depends partly on where you live, because VOC rules restrict some oil stains in certain states and in Canada. These are the three I recommend for cedar houses.

TWP 1500 Series

TWP 1500 is my first choice for cedar siding in the US. It is EPA registered, compliant in all 50 states, and its mildew resistance makes it a strong fit for shaded or humid walls. It is not sold in Canada. See TWP 1500 colors and sizes.

Armstrong Clark

Armstrong Clark is the stain I recommend when VOC compliance matters most. At 50 VOC, it is compliant in all 50 states and in Canada, so it works anywhere. It penetrates cedar well and wears away gradually, which makes future maintenance coats simple. See Armstrong Clark colors and sizes.

TWP 100 Series

TWP 100 is a proven cedar stain where it can be sold. At 550 VOC, it is restricted in about 20 states and in Canada, so check your state before ordering. If you are outside those areas and have used TWP 100 before, it remains a solid option. See TWP 100 colors and sizes.

Not sure about color? Order wood stain samples and test them on a hidden section of your siding after prep. Cedar’s natural color shows through semi transparent stain, so the same color looks different on cedar than on pine.

Staining New Cedar: Rough Sawn vs. Smooth

Staining new cedar depends on whether the siding is rough sawn or smooth. Rough sawn cedar has an open, textured surface that absorbs stain immediately, so it can be stained as soon as it is installed and clean. Smooth milled cedar has mill glaze, a compressed surface that blocks absorption. I let smooth cedar weather for 3 to 4 months, then clean and brighten it before the first coat.

Rough sawn cedar also absorbs roughly twice as much stain as smooth cedar and usually needs two coats applied wet on wet. Plan your stain quantity around the texture, not just the square footage.

How to Prep Cedar Siding for Stain

Prepping cedar siding for stain is the step that decides how long the finish lasts. Stain applied over dirt, mildew, or gray fibers will not penetrate and fails early.

• Clean with an oxygen based wood cleaner. I use the Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener Kits on cedar siding. Apply with a pump sprayer from the bottom of each wall up to prevent streaks, let it dwell, and scrub.
• Rinse at low pressure. Cedar is a soft wood, so keep a pressure washer at 500 to 800 PSI with a fan tip, or scrub and rinse with a hose. Too much pressure leaves cedar fuzzy.
• Brighten while the wood is wet. A wood brightener restores the wood’s pH, brings back cedar’s natural color, and reduces the dark tannin staining cedar is prone to.
• Skip chlorine bleach. Bleach breaks down cedar’s surface fibers and leaves the wood blotchy and washed out.
• Let it dry for 48 hours. Cedar siding must be fully dry before staining.

How to Stain a Cedar House in 9 Steps

Staining a cedar house follows these nine steps once the siding is clean, brightened, and dry. The goal is even penetration across every board with no lap marks where sections overlap.

1. Check the weather. Stain when temperatures stay between about 50 and 90 degrees and no rain is expected for 24 to 48 hours. Avoid days with morning dew that keeps the wood wet past midday.
2. Protect windows, trim, and landscaping. Cover windows, doors, light fixtures, concrete, and plants with plastic. Oil stain is difficult to remove from glass and masonry once it dries.
3. Mix all your stain together. If you are using more than one container, combine them in a large bucket so the color stays consistent across the whole house. Stir regularly throughout the day.
4. Start in the shade. Work on walls that are out of direct sun and follow the shade around the house. Stain applied in hot sun dries too fast to penetrate evenly.
5. Work from the top down. Start at the top of each wall so drips land on unstained wood and get blended in as you work down.
6. Stain full board lengths. Carry each board from end to end, or to a natural break like a corner, window, or door. Stopping halfway across a board is what causes lap marks.
7. Apply only what the wood absorbs. Use a stain brush, or a sprayer followed by back brushing. Brush out any stain that is pooling or not soaking in, because excess oil left on the surface turns tacky.
8. Add a second coat on rough sawn cedar. On rough sawn siding, apply a second coat wet on wet before the first coat dries, following the manufacturer’s timing. Smooth cedar usually needs only one coat.
9. Let it cure. Keep sprinklers off the siding for at least 24 to 48 hours. Clean brushes and sprayers with the solvent listed on the stain label.

For tools, a quality stain brush or pad gives the best penetration on siding. A pump sprayer speeds up rough sawn walls, but always back brush sprayed stain into the wood.

Removing Old Clear or Failed Finishes

Removing an old finish is required before staining cedar if the siding has a clear water sealer, a film forming product, or a peeling stain. New stain cannot penetrate through an old coating, and cedar coated with a clear sealer often darkens over time as the finish breaks down.

For these jobs, I use the Restore A Deck Stripper/Brightener Kit with the Booster and Thickening Gel additives. The Gel keeps the stripper on vertical siding long enough to work, and the Booster handles tougher coatings. Rinse at low pressure and brighten afterward, the same as with a cleaner.

If the old stain is the same brand and has faded evenly, you do not need to strip it. Clean, brighten, and apply a fresh coat.

Cedar Siding vs. a Cedar Deck

Cedar siding and a cedar deck use the same stains, but they wear very differently. Siding is vertical, so water runs off instead of sitting on it, and it never takes foot traffic. A deck floor faces direct sun and standing water and wears out roughly twice as fast. If you are also staining a deck to match your house, my guide to staining a cedar deck on DeckStainHelp covers the products and test results for deck floors.

How Long Does Stain Last on Cedar Siding?

Stain on cedar siding typically lasts 3 to 5 years before it needs a maintenance coat. South and west facing walls get the most sun and fade first, while shaded walls can go longer. When the color lightens and water stops beading on the wood, clean those walls and apply one light coat. Maintaining the faded walls on schedule is far easier than stripping the whole house later.

Cedar Siding Stain FAQ

Can you stain cedar wood?

Yes. Cedar takes penetrating oil stains very well. A semi transparent stain with pigment protects cedar from UV graying and mildew while keeping the grain visible.

How long should I wait to stain new cedar siding?

Rough sawn cedar can be stained as soon as it is clean and dry. Smooth milled cedar should weather for 3 to 4 months, then be cleaned and brightened before staining.

Should cedar siding be stained or sealed with a clear finish?

Stained. Clear sealers have no pigment, so cedar still grays under them from UV exposure. A tinted semi transparent stain lasts much longer on siding.

Can I use deck stain on cedar siding?

Yes. TWP 1500, Armstrong Clark, and TWP 100 are made for both decks and siding. They last longer on siding because vertical surfaces shed water and take no foot traffic.

Do I need to strip cedar siding before restaining?

Only if the old finish is peeling, is a clear sealer or film forming product, or is a different brand. If the same stain has faded evenly, clean, brighten, and recoat.

What stain color is best for cedar siding?

Cedar tone and natural colors are the most popular because they enhance cedar’s own color. More pigment means more UV protection, so very light or clear colors fade fastest. Test samples on your siding before buying.

Have a question about staining your cedar house? Ask in the comments below, and include photos if you can. I answer most questions within a day.

Scott Paul Wood, Deck, Paver Concrete Sealing Pro Owner

The Sealer Store is operated by OPW LLC and owned by Scott Paul, an exterior restoration contractor working since 1993 with more than 10,000 decks restored. He opened his first storefront in Rochester Hills in 1996 and has been selling these products online since 2002. We are the largest online dealer in the country for several of the brands we carry, and we are not a manufacturer. Scott also publishes independent reviews at DeckStainHelp.com and ConcreteSealerReview.com, where the products sold here are compared against competing brands.

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