Best Clear Coat For Cedar Shingles

Left unstained cedar s red hue will fade to gray within about a year.

Best clear coat for cedar shingles.

The best clear cedar finish stain for outdoors is linseed oil hands down. Paint is your best option for treating cedar if your only intent is protection. The best stains should last three to five years on a deck and even longer if applied to siding or fences which don t get as much abuse. Properly primed a 100 percent acrylic latex paint will provide decades of protection for cedar siding shingles.

Bleaching oil also protects against the blackening of cedar siding shingles caused by mildew infestation and natural substances in the wood. Paint s solids ward off light and light is the main contributor to the deterioration of cedar. Personally i am not a behr product fan but some people including several neighbors of mine have had good experience with behr transparent penetrating oil wood finish cedar or behr 501 natural tone transparent weatherproof finish exterior sealer on cedar plank and shingle shake siding. The sun and water beat down on a deck snow can pile up.

You can find other clear water based stains but will not last nearly as long as a linseed oil based stain will. Linseed oil is the primary ingredient in any oil finishes which dries clear. The wood s structural integrity will remain unless the wood is exposed to excessive moisture which can cause curling cracking and wood rot. You may need to recoat your cedar siding shingles with this bleaching oil to keep them in optimum condition.

But professionals advise semi transparent finish as it helps enhance the look and appeal of the wood by giving it an aged look. If you like the natural cedar siding look you can apply a clear coat solution to them. While cedar stands up to the elements fairly well on its own putting a seal or a coat of paint on it can enhance the color and protect the wood from inclement weather. These paints form a tough but flexible film that allows moisture within the wood to escape while protecting the cedar from atmospheric moisture that might lead to extractive bleed.

It depends on your preference.