How To Paint Cedar Siding Shakes

How to prepare old cedar shakes for repainting scrape any peeling paint chips off the shakes with a scraper.

How to paint cedar siding shakes. Allow the house to dry completely for one to two weeks. Remove as much of the old paint as possible as the more prep work you do. Alkyd oil primers are recommended but one may choose a high quality latex primer as long as it contains stain blockers. If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation.

Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks. Next dip each shake into the paint leaving only an inch or two not painted at the top where it is being held. Remove the shake and hold it over the bucket while wiping off the excess with a paint brush. Scrape any peeling paint chips off the shakes with a scraper.

Prime the cedar before you paint it. Choose a paint and primer the best choice of paint to use for cedar wood is urethane acrylic house paint. Pour the paint into a five gallon bucket. Hang the shakes from a clothesline while they dry.

Powerwash the siding to remove any excess dirt or paint with a low pressure pressure washer. Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes. Remove as much of the old paint as possible as the more prep work you do the better your home will look. Choose your primer based on what the paint manufacturer recommends to use.

For best results fresh siding should be pre primed on all six sides with a stain blocking primer and top coated with 100 percent acrylic latex paint.