How Often Does Cedar Siding Need to be Painted in Oklahoma?

Exterior Home Upkeep is a Must!

Your house is most likely your biggest and most important investment. It can serve you in the future as a home to live your later years in or as an income opportunity to fuel a more stable retirement. Either way, taking care of your home is essential to all your future endeavors as a homeowner.

Although home upkeep involves many aspects, there is nothing more important than the exterior. As your home’s protective shell, siding, is the most important and unfortunately, the most overlooked. Despite that it’s easy to stride inside oblivious to peeling paint and swollen wood, ignoring it is detrimental to both curb appeal and your home’s integrity.

Peeling or swollen siding has the potential to cause internal leaks in exterior walls that potentially can go unnoticed. Often resulting in black mold and structural decay before any sign of leaks on your interior walls are visible. For those of you with cedar siding, upkeep is especially important. Despite that cedar can last up to 40 years, it is especially vulnerable to rot and mold if left uncared for.

How Often Does Cedar Siding Need to be Painted to Maintain Durability?

Depending on the area, different environmental factors play a large role in answering this question. In Oklahoma, a basic paint job can last anywhere from 5 – 7 years. The operative word here is, basic.

Work done with minimal prep and mediocre materials is only good enough to last half the time of a more-meticulous job performed by someone knowledgeable in exterior painting. With diligent prep and the right products, it is possible to extend the life of your cedar sealant to about 10 years. Let’s explore the necessary aspects involved in prolonging the life of your exterior coating.

Primer is a Must

Despite that it’s possible to skip the primer step on some interior projects in a pinch, it is not a step to skip on your exterior. In particular, cedar siding, although durable, is extremely porous and will absorb common exterior paint very quickly. You may get the “coverage” you need on the second or third coat, but if you are only using paint, the outer coating you see after three coats is really only about a one-coat barrier between your siding and the elements. If done this way you’ll experience peeling very quickly.

For this reason, it is essential to get a higher-end, stain-blocking primer. If at all possible, it is also best to remove the siding and coat all sides generously before replacing it. However, if you are unable to achieve that, meticulously applying to all exposed areas, including cracks and edges should suffice.

Use Quality Exterior Painting Products

When it comes time to paint, you want to use 100% Acrylic-Latex paint because it’s thick enough to fill cracks that could potentially allow the elements to penetrate the primer layer. Because the condition of the wood you are treating is important in choosing the right paint for the job, it is best to consult a professional painter before settling on paint choices.

Proper Application

Paint thickness is important in protecting porous wood. For this reason, brushing by hand ensures cedar siding is properly coated. That being said, hand brushing is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Because of this, spraying is the preferred method professionally.

Despite that hand brushing provides the thickest application per coat, spraying can provide the same effect using a less-time consuming process. Simply spray and back roll the paint to ensure that the paint is able to fill the crevices sufficiently. Using this method, two to three coats on top of the primer should provide a decent protective barrier.

Cedar has a High Susceptibility to Climatic Elements

Especially prone to dryness, prolonged exposure to sunlight will leave poorly coated, cedar siding dry and brittle. With the forecasting of increasingly higher temperatures, heat is a significant issue for Oklahoman’s with cedar siding. From preparation to products, paint application to durability, every aspect of exterior painting is affected by rising temperatures. If you are looking to protect your home in the increasingly hot Oklahoma landscape, as opposed to simply painting, you should consult exterior home painting services for product and application advice before beginning.

Search Painters Near Me

If you live in or around Edmond OK, you’re in the right place. Kaleidoscope Paint LLC. is a superior paint contractor with a proven track record in customer service. Holding an A+ Better Business Bureau accreditation and a 4.9-star google rating, they have built an impeccable reputation by demonstrating uncompromising standards. Preserving your real estate investments is just as important to them as it is to you. Whether you are in need of advice on products and applications or a full-service paint contractor in the Edmond OK area, Kaleidoscope Paint is just a click away. Get a quote today!