The Four Types Of Stain You Can Use For Your Cedar Siding

If your home’s exterior is made up of cedar siding, you should make it a point to stain it. Basically, staining helps protect your cedar siding against moisture, insects and harsh weather condition. In addition, it enhances the natural beauty of the lumber, which can greatly boost your home’s curb appeal. With all that in mind, it very essential for you to use a good wood stain for your cedar siding. Choosing the best stain for cedar siding, however, can be a tall order, especially if you are new to building woodworking projects. As you probably know, there are a number of stain brands that you can choose from on the market today. Luckily, you can determine the best stain for your project by understanding the differences of the four major types of stain for cedar.

Solid cedar stain

With its ability to protect wood from UV rays and other elements, the solid cedar stain has been often regarded as the best stain for cedar siding. It is ideal for outdoor use, and comes with an array of colors, ranging from natural shades to unusual shades like green and purple. Furthermore, of all the cedar stains, it boasts the boldest colors.

Clear cedar stain

If you are looking for a stain that would slightly darken the wood’s overall color, then opt for a clear cedar stain. With a clear cedar stain, you get a very translucent stain that would minimally alter the cedar’s natural appearance. What’s more, this stain can add an extra level of protection to your wood against the sun’s UV rays.

Semi-transparent stain

Semi-transparent stains have bolder and stronger colors, as compared to its clear cedar counterparts. As a wood stain, it can add more character to your siding while leaving its grain patterns look visible. As with other wood stains, it protects your wood from the sun, and helps extend the cedar’s life expectancy. Best of all, it comes with a broad range of warm and rich colors.

Semi-solid stain

A semi-solid cedar stain would highlight your cedar’s natural texture and grain. In addition, it is available in an array of colors that are meant for outdoor purposes. It is, however, significantly less subtle, compared to other wood stains.