Cedar siding is an incredibly popular option for homeowners, thanks to its beauty and durability. If you are interested in an exterior painting project for your cedar siding, but you have never worked with the material before, don’t panic. The experts at T.K. Painting & Decorating have a few tips for you to keep in mind to ensure success. The Lakeville, MN, home improvement company has 18 years of experience providing top-quality interior and exterior painting services to residents in the area.

Read on as these professionals explain how to paint cedar siding the right way:

• Work Within the Right Time Frame: The best time to paint your siding is about two weeks after it has been installed. At most, try to paint within 12 weeks of installation—after that, it may be hard for the cedar to retain the primer and paint. If your siding is older than 12 weeks, extensive preparation will be key—this includes clearing the surface of any mold, mildew, or dirt. Doing so will ensure that your exterior painting project lasts. 
• Prep the Surface With Primer: Prime the cedar siding on all sides with a stain-resistant primer. Select either a stain-resistant alkyd-oil or latex primer that works well with your chosen paint.
• Begin to Paint: Use exterior paint, such as a 100% acrylic latex option, to paint your cedar. Hand-brush the paint during dry weather for the best results. Keep in mind that vertical grain cedar works better for painting than flat-grain cedar because it does a better job absorbing the primer and paint. Review your manufacturer’s instructions to determine if you need to apply one or two coats of paint.

Discuss these and other cedar painting tips with the team at T.K. Painting & Decorating. Call them at (952) 210-5963 for a free home improvement estimate or visit their website for a complete list of services. Like the exterior painting experts on Facebook for more great tips.