Rough sawn cedar is a traditional building material in common use on exterior applications such as siding, sheds and other out buildings. You can leave the wood untreated to weather naturally, painted or stained. Staining with a solid color stain is an effective option when using rough cedar.

How do you stain rough cedar?

Use a wide brush to apply vertical strokes of stain along the grain. Stir the stain first, then use a 4 to 6 in (10 to 15 cm) natural bristle brush to apply it to the wood. Work your way along the grain using long, vertical strokes, from one side of the piece to the other.

Can you stain fresh cut cedar?

“Your instincts on this are right on track. If you wait a year, the wood will turn gray, and may even show deterioration from the weather. Cedar should be stained as soon as it will accept the stain. ... I recommend staining as soon as the wood feels and looks dry and weather permits.”

Does rough cut cedar need to be sealed?

Don't use polyurethane on rough cedar, as the wood's coarse nature will prevent the sealer from bonding properly. Semi-transparent water-proof oil-based stain will adequately seal rough cedar against wear and water-based rot.

How do you stain rough cut lumber?

1. Work outdoors if possible. ...
2. Wash the rough-cut lumber thoroughly by spraying it with the pressure washer. ...
3. Smooth any rough or splintering portions of the lumber using 80 to 120 grit sandpaper. ...
4. Place the lumber on heavy-duty drop cloths. ...
5. Pour the stain into the 5-gallon bucket, about one-third full.

How To Stain Wood Timber and NOT MAKE A MESS

Can I stain rough cut lumber?

For rough sawn wood you can use a brush and/or roller. ... You can also apply stain to rough sawn wood using a pump or airless sprayer. Spraying the stain can allow it to get into the rough texture of the surface with less effort than brushing or rolling.

What is a good stain for cedar?

• Ready Seal Natural Cedar Exterior Stain.
• Thompson's WaterSeal Waterproofing Stain.
• Defy Extreme Transparent Exterior Wood Stain.
• Olympic Stain Elite Woodland Oil Stain.
• Cabot Semi-Solid Deck & Siding Stain.

How do you paint rough sawn wood?

1. Stand your pieces of rough lumber up against an exterior wall.
2. Mist both sides of the wood with a spray of water. ...
3. Mix a sodium hydroxide-based cleaner at half strength. ...
4. Put the cleaning mixture in a pressure washer. ...
5. Let the rough cut lumber dry completely.

How do you protect rough cedar for outdoors?

On bare new or restored cedar, apply one coat only of water-repellent preservative (1% or less of wax by volume and content). Allow it to dry for the period of time recommended by the manufacturer. If the wood has been dip treated, a longer drying time may be needed.

Should I sand cedar before staining?

If your cedar deck is newly installed, you'll need to sand* the cedar boards prior to staining. ... The planing process causes an oily surface on the boards that can hinder the wood stain from penetrating the wood. For an existing deck, you may need to sand* to remove loose wood fibers.

Can cedar be stained dark?

Wood lacquer is the best choice for any interior dark-stained cedar. It can be sprayed or brushed on. Lacquer dries quickly, making it the most efficient of all the available coatings, but cannot be used for exterior cedar. The lacquer formula is thinner than other coatings, and will penetrate faster.

Do cedar decks need to be stained?

Most deck surfaces in the region are built using cedar decking. ... As a contractor and decking specialist, I've seen some cedar decking last more than 50 years. But the key to that longevity is maintenance. You need to stain it every one to three years to keep it looking its best.

How soon can you stain rough cedar?

After installing your exterior cedar, you have about a two week grace period until the wood starts to discolor. After that, the color will rapidly change from red to gray.

Can I use rough sawn timber outside?

Like untreated studwork, this works well in stud wall partitioning and general construction. But you can use it outdoors as well as inside your home. It's also pressure-treated to protect against fungal and insect attack.

Can rough cedar siding be painted?

Acrylic-based paint is recommended when painting cedar siding as it looks great and offers the protection the natural wood needs. Acrylic paint also has strong adhesion abilities and is even mildew-resistant, making it a perfect fit.

How do you paint rough cedar?

For best results, use an outdoor alkyd oil-based primer before painting. The primer will help create good adhesion between the post and the paint. Once primed, paint the posts with a 100 percent acrylic latex paint. Latex paint will flex with temperature changes and have a lower incidence of cracking over time.

Can rough cedar be sanded?

Cedar is soft. Unless the cedar has deep scratches, gouges or planer marks -- lines running perpendicular across the grain -- cedar should be sanded by hand. Power sanders remove material fast, almost too fast for finish work. If you do need to sand it with a power sander, use an orbital sander with 100-grit sandpaper.

What colors can you stain cedar?

A comparison of 6 popular Behr semi-transparent fence and deck stain colors applied to raw cedar: Boot Hill Grey, Tugboat, Wood Chip, Chestnut, Cordovan Brown, and Coffee.

Can you use water based stain on cedar?

Type of Wood

water-based stains, if you are coating a wood that has a natural resistance to rotting, a water-based stain is the better option. Some examples of this kind of wood are cedar, cypress, and redwood.

Is Thompson's Water Seal good for cedar?

A new Waterproofing Stain from industry leader Thompson's WaterSeal can not only protect your deck from further damage, but also add rich, beautiful color. ... Choose from five popular colors: Acorn Brown, Harvest Gold, Maple Brown, Sequoia Red or Woodland Cedar.

How do you finish a rough sawn timber?

Boiled linseed oil and polymerized tung oil are two common products for finishing rough lumber. Boiled linseed oil is the least expensive, but it takes longer to dry than tung oil, and doesn't provide the water-resistance of tung oil.

Can you polyurethane rough sawn lumber?

First, yes you can poly over that stuff. One issue though is that you really need to lightly sand poly between coats for good adhesion. This may be difficult with a rough surface. Could try scuffing it with steel wool.