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Western Red Cedar - To seal or not to Seal?

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vermiciousknish

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey Fellas,

In the process of building a pergola/change room/rinsing station up in cottage country for personal use. I've completed about 80% of this project with the intention of leaving the Western Red Cedar to age naturally but I'm now being given conflicting reports as to the need for a sealer or stain. I want this thing to be as low maintenance as possible and I am not interested in re-sealing, stripping, sanding, staining, every 1-2 years. I never realized how beautiful WRC looks and I really love the colouring and tone of the wood now. I understand that left alone, it will fade to a silvery grey colour (which I guess I would be ok with).

My questions are:

1) if I leave "as is", will the lifespan on this baby be significantly decreased?

2) If I do need to seal/stain, what is the best product to keep the warm tones of the wood as it looks now? I do not want a dark stain.

3) If I do need to seal or stain, what is the best product for low future maintenance? Is there a "one-time" seal product that can be applied once in 7 years? or was this just a myth?


Thanks in advance fellas,
Vermy
 

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#3 ·
Pre finish is definitely the way to go with a project like that.

Too late now. I vote for twp 100 series. Cedar tone natural would be nice. Two coats right away. There is no striping involved with this finish. The " One Time " product is a myth.

Remember no clear or natural out door finish has any UV protection us them and the building will go silver gray.

With no finish at all the soft cedar will split / crack allowing water to get in the joints and the cracks and yes it will go faster by a good degree.

Look at the beauty of the wood because it wont look that way for long. Then pick a color you like. Put on the finish soon, if you wait and it goes gray the work goes into overdrive.

JonMon www.deckmastersllc.com

Your a DIY kinda guy Right ? Not a Contractor ?
 
#4 ·
if you're ok with the grey patina.... then DON'T touch it:thumbsup: WRC is a very stable wood filled with natural tannins that inhibit bugs, and rot!!!> if you elect to stain it, and i don't care what brand... you will be back prepping and staining again...and again
 
#6 ·
#10 · (Edited)
I have been building for 31years, Cedar is nice in the sense that you won't have to look at the same structures in your back yard after 15 - 20 years. It'll just get soft, rot, turn to dust.
Which leaves you several choices, move 10 years after you built your cedar masterpiece, pass it on to the next sucker. Or find another building material if you plan on "nesting" for a while.
We are replacing so much of it that we did 15 years ago it has made for a nice cottage business. So if you want to replace it 15 years from now, use all u want.

It is nice to work with and looks beautiful for 6 months than get ready, because the pay, pay pay is right behind you.
 
#11 ·
killerdecks said:
I have been building for 31years, Cedar is nice in the sense that you won't have to look at the same structures in your back yard after 15 - 20 years. It'll just get soft, rot, turn to dust.
Which leaves you several choices, move 10 years after you built your cedar masterpiece, pass it on to the next sucker. Or find another building material if you plan on "nesting" for a while.
We are replacing so much of it that we did 15 years ago it has made for a nice cottage business. So if you want to replace it 15 years from now, use all u want.

It is nice to work with and looks beautiful for 6 months than get ready, because the pay, pay pay is right behind you.
Click to expand...
Maybe in Detroit, but that's not true here. Yes left unprotected, low to the ground with poor drainage it'll rot in 15 years. I built decks in Austin for 32 years & most of them were cedar. Some that are over twenty years old still look nice today because the owners took the time or spent the money on maintenance. If it's covered you can get thirty years out of cedar. Tore down/rebuilt a redwood deck that was over fourty years old a few years back, it's mainly the conditions that determines how long they last.
 
#12 ·
deckman22 said:
Maybe in Detroit, but that's not true here. Yes left unprotected, low to the ground with poor drainage it'll rot in 15 years. I built decks in Austin for 32 years & most of them were cedar. Some that are over twenty years old still look nice today because the owners took the time or spent the money on maintenance. If it's covered you can get thirty years out of cedar. Tore down/rebuilt a redwood deck that was over fourty years old a few years back, it's mainly the conditions that determines how long they last.
Click to expand...
Well than metro Detroit ain't no place for cedar,
 
#14 ·
Some of you folks are talking like the materials you are purchasing today are the same as those that were used 20-30 years ago. That is absolutely wrong.

I would definitely treat Cedar and preferably prior to assembly, using a semi transparent stain/sealer. Vertical surfaces will last much longer then horizontal ones like decks. Whether you wish to keep up on the maintenance is a personal choice. The more work you put into it, the longer it should last.
 
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