Red Cedar Stain Problems - Paint Talk

NEPS.US · 05-29-2010, 10:07 PM

I recently took over a project of 80+ existing homes from 1-5 years old with another 60 to build and all are red cedar shingles. The first two builders went under and never had a official "spec" for the exteriors. There have been numerous painting contracters dragged thru there in the past with no direction. For the green trim they were told to just do a "hunter green", we have nailed down Aura Essex Green for the trim now. For the decks they might of used Cabot's Austrailian Timber Oil Mahogany Flame and the red cedar siding the Cabot's Austrailian Timber Oil Honey Teak or Cabot's Clear Solutions 9200. One painter even used a semi solid with pink tone and completely ruined two houses.

The property maint company still have the painter from last year under contract to complete the 5 year anual re-stain of 6 more homes. They are assuming the Cabot's Honey Teak was the product but for some reason they have decided to use a California product to throw another monkey wrench into the works. Last year this painter did 40+ decks with the Cabot's AT Mahogany Flame only to have drying issues ...sometimes up to two weeks. They got no support from Cabot's, thus changing products.

My delema:

My company is doing the NC homes in three different phases of the project with several color issues all around each phase in it's own. We have pretty much decided to use Sikkens SRD on the mahogany decks. Case closed. I was trying to keep things simple by using the same product for the siding and even used the Sikken SRD Oak to add a brown tone to help match the older existing homes but every single product I try makes the red cedar look orange. Mostly the lighter shingles look real orange in color. Clear Solutions (two colors), Sikkens (two colors), Timber Oil Honey Teak, BM Natural stain, Water ....all look orange. My builder understands that we will never get a consistency throughout the development with so many varying colors and ages of the cedar. My issue is coming "close" to what these homes look like with two coats of a natural stain on them.

My head has been spinning over this one and I have never had issues with red cedar before. These shingles have been up for 30-60 days and have no water stains or discoloration. My main questions are how long will it take for the "orangeness" to darken and with out getting into any semi's how can I get the shingles to appear light, clearer, not orange and not darker?

Right now I am leaning toward Cabot's Clear Solutions 9200 because it is the closest thing to what is already up but understand that it is not the best product for longevity with practically no UV protection. This is why we were leaning toward Sikkens SRD Natural but the color is too much.

Thanks....

NEPS.US · 05-29-2010, 10:17 PM

I should also add that my BM store sales rep that was a 10 year Cabot's rep is baffled as well.

plainpainter · 05-29-2010, 11:22 PM

Most stains end up looking yellow/orange on cedar if the stain contains yellow trans oxide pigments.

Why not go with a stain with brown pigments, but bleach the shakes beforehand. So the resultant isn't too dark - yet not yellowy in appearance.

NEPS.US · 05-30-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plainpainter

Most stains end up looking yellow/orange on cedar if the stain contains yellow trans oxide pigments.

Why not go with a stain with brown pigments, but bleach the shakes beforehand. So the resultant isn't too dark - yet not yellowy in appearance.

I have used a stain with a slight brown pigment with much of the same results. The darker shingles look great. It is the light shingles that look orange no matter what I use.

Msargent · 05-30-2010, 09:11 PM

I was at local lumber yard recently and was checking into a new product by penafin or have you looked into timber Uv coatings its in northwest and winchester uses it on all his cedar and nicer decks and siding. My problem when they sent me there free samples they were small . But you might be able to work a deal being that you might use so much maybe a free quart in what ever color. Decks covered Neps? srd is a great product but if snow sits they might peel, and secondly after 10 coats you must stripp and reapply I believe. Stripping 10 coats might be time and huge expense.

NEPS.US · 06-09-2010, 06:08 PM

Update. We went with the original product. Cabot's Australian Timber Oil Honey Teak.

**RCP** · 06-09-2010, 06:12 PM

Love that style of home! Looks great!

Thanks for the update.

ReNt A PaInTeR · 06-09-2010, 07:26 PM

Looks pretty good NEPS

**Workaholic** · 06-09-2010, 07:31 PM

I missed this entire thread. Looks good Chris.

ewingpainting.net · 06-09-2010, 07:39 PM

I must of been in detention, cause I missed it too
Nice gig NEPs

RPS · 06-09-2010, 07:43 PM

Is semi solid too much? Seems like the clears, toners would fade to fast.

plainpainter · 06-09-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPS

Is semi solid too much? Seems like the clears, toners would fade to fast.

You have something against repeat work?

**Workaholic** · 06-09-2010, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plainpainter

You have something against repeat work?

I got agree with Daniel on this. I think exterior paints are lasting to long.

y.painting · 06-09-2010, 10:42 PM

Nice nice! Did you climb a tree to take that third one?

plainpainter · 06-09-2010, 10:48 PM

What I love about these pictures are the White Pine trees in the background, so characteristically New England.

Rick the painter · 06-25-2010, 06:50 PM

Nice Neps the green looks great with the Cabots.

vermontpainter · 06-25-2010, 06:53 PM

Neps, I bet this place looks great when the landscaping is complete.

NEPS.US · 06-25-2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermontpainter

Neps, I bet this place looks great when the landscaping is complete.

Yes they do. No skimping on this one.

We begin the interior next week.

mmack3090 · 07-20-2010, 07:39 PM

I have been in charge of finding a clear oil based product . I had done the house previously with cabot 3000 but can't get it now. I just used Sikkens natural and the owner is unhappy need to redo it so it looks natural . any suggestions I only did one coat . How to get it off and what to use for a clear new shinglw look. I think the house with the green trim looks great but still looks srange? Thanks for your help. M

premierpainter · 07-28-2010, 06:45 PM

I think that the shakes will even out in color once the sun bakes them for a bit. The stain looks really good man.
Good gig for you guys