Western Red Cedar is naturally rot resistant and still performs well without a finish, so if you want the weathered look, you don't need to apply any treatment. When left untreated and exposed to the sun's UV light, Western Red Cedar fades to a beautiful silvery-grey finish..
Herein, do you need to seal western red cedar?
If you want to enjoy the aroma of varieties such as Western Red Cedar and incense cedar, leave the wood unsealed. If you're using cedar for an outdoor project, give it a light seal coat to guard against moisture and sunlight.
Subsequently, question is, can cedar be left untreated? If you leave cedar wood untreated, it will not succumb to the devastating effects of mold, rot and insect damage. However, it will lose its typically golden-brown color. However, even with the proper maintenance, cedar will eventually succumb to fading—usually after about 10 years—and lose its natural tone for good.
People also ask, do I need to treat red cedar?
All cedar products used in exterior applications require a degree of maintenance to keep them looking their best. Even if the choice is made not to apply a finish to Western Red Cedar, contaminants such as dirt and mildew should be regularly removed to maintain its beautiful, natural appearance.
What can I put on my cedar to keep the color?
Treating Cedar With a Bleaching Oil Bleaching oil is a two-step process. First, the oil tones the wood with a light gray pigment to fix the color. Second, over a short period of time, the oil will accelerate the bleaching process so that you get the weathered look faster and more uniformly applied.
Related Question Answers
How do you treat western red cedar?
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.How do you keep cedar looking new?
How to Keep Cedar From Turning Gray - Sweep or brush off the cedar area completely with your broom, removing any large debris and any dirt that can be brushed off easily.
- Mix the exterior wood wash, according to package directions, with water in the large bucket.
- Clean off the wood wash mixture using a power washer or garden hose.
- Dry the cedar.
How long does it take for Cedar to turn GREY?
It depends on your area and where your fence is in the ground. Sometimes its as early as 2 months, and other times it takes a year for the grey to set in. This is why stain is so necessary for your cedar wood. It keeps out the water, so those cells can keep doing their thing.How do you keep cedar from turning gray?
To prevent the cedar from fading to gray, you need to treat the fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide. The stain should be transparent or semi-transparent to let the natural wood coloring show, and oil-based so the stain will penetrate into the wood.How long should you wait to stain cedar?
There are many questions as to when a newly installed deck should be stained. Some stain manufacturers suggest you should wait 3-12 months to let the wood dry while others say to stain the deck right away. The answer can be both just as long as you prep the new wood properly for an application of the stain.How do you finish red cedar?
Sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any minor surface characteristics before applying finish. Use finishes specially formulated for “interior” applications in low-moisture areas of the home. Finish if you want to provide some protection to the cedar from minor abrasions.How long do you have to wait to stain a new cedar fence?
Question: Do I have to stain my new cedar fence? Answer: Staining or sealing your fence protects it from the damage of the sun and moisture. If you choose not to stain the wood fence it will weather to a silvery gray. You should wait four to eight weeks after initial installation before applying a stain.How do you paint western red cedar?
Allow the washed surface to dry before recoating and apply primer paint to areas of bare wood. After the primer has dried, apply one or two topcoats of paint or solid-color stain. Two topcoats are always better over bare wood that has been primed. These may be applied to Western Red Cedar by brush, roller, or pad.What stain is best for cedar?
The best wood stains for new cedar are deep penetrating paraffinic oil-based stains that are thinner in viscosity. Stains for new cedar wood should dive deep into the wood to condition the wood cells and provide protection from UV fading and moisture damage.Do you need to prime cedar before staining?
Staining new Cedar requires a Transparent, Semi-Transparent, or Semi-Solid stain, if your intention is to still see the natural beauty of the wood's grain after completing the staining process. No primers needed using these stains, as they do not cover like paint, or paint stains.Does Cedar need to be stained?
Cedar should be stained as soon as it will accept the stain. This is easy to determine with penetrating semi-transparent stains. Apply the stain, if it soaks in its ready.Does Western red cedar turn GREY?
As Western Red Cedar weathers, it will lose its natural color and become grey.Can I paint red cedar?
Beyond that, Western red cedar has multiple advantages over other cladding options because it is natural, sustainable, and is a renewal product. 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.Can you use polyurethane on Cedar?
Cedar wood, like other fine woods, can and should be coated with polyurethane for protection. Polyurethane will keep dirt, dust, and oil from getting onto the cedar which would dull and damage the color. Allow the wood to dry completely before applying the polyurethane to it.Can you clear coat cedar?
Cedar-Seal dries clear and maintains the wood's oil content for years to come. Cedar-Seal may be applied before water based stains or before painting with any water based paint product. Natural “greying will occur if used as a stand-alone coating without the use of pigments. Wear areas not covered in Warranty.How long will untreated cedar last?
Average Life of a Cedar Fence Fences made of untreated cedar can last between 15 and 30 years, depending on how well you care for it and the specific cedar species used. If it's treated, a cedar fence may last up to 40 years.How long does Cedar last in the ground?
about 15 to 20 years
How much does cedar boards cost?
The average cost of basic cedar decking is $4.63 per linear foot. The minimum cost of basic cedar decking is $3.89 per linear foot. The maximum cost of basic cedar decking is $5.39 per linear foot.How long should cedar dry before building?
The traditional rule-of-thumb for air-drying lumber is to allow one year of drying time per inch of wood thickness; this adage obviously only takes a few of the aforementioned variables into account, but it's at least a rough starting point in understanding the time investment required in order to properly air-dry 
