Stupidly, I fell under the marketing spell,read the copy on the product, saw the price and thought with proper prep, my job would be better…. it wasn’t! This depends on your home's exterior and the colours and tones in your garden. Avoid anything jarring, and look to either complement or contrast with your walls and fences. I know from mistakes of using the products I’ve helped design that this is a costly and flaking-well infuriating. Bear in mind that, over time, the cedar will still weather to a grey colour, although this will happen more slowly and you’ll retain the wood’s beautiful, natural tones and patina.

When you are planning to paint the cedar on the exterior of your building, the main point to consider is the weather. Humidity or rain may be disturbing factors for your project. First, it is essential that you estimate the time required to complete the project. Based on this, get an understanding of the weather forecast in your locality. Make sure that you will be able to complete the task before changes in weather set in. else, you may be left with a half-done job. Also, painting in the time of rains is not advisable as everything will be washed away easily. When applying a paint or solid-colour stain, make sure to apply a primer coat before applying the main topcoat. If you’re adding two topcoats, allow the first to cure for the recommended period on the manufacturer’s instructions. Semi-transparent or water-repellent application

So why choose Western Red Cedar for your next decking project?

When left untreated and exposed to the sun’s oxidising UV light, Western Red Cedar fades and bleaches to a beautiful silvery-grey finish. So if you’re after the weathered cedar look — perhaps some ‘silver fox’, distinguished weathered cedar cladding, for example — you simply don’t need to apply any treatment. Water-repellents can be applied by sprayer, brush, pad or roller, followed by a brushing in the direction of the wood’s grain. The cedar wood you choose must be thoroughly cleaned for painting. This will remove all impurities and dust and make the surface ready. The wood that was present on the external surface of your home will have accumulated a lot of dust over the years. It is useless to apply paint on top of it. Wash the surface after the sanding is done so that all timber particles are also washed away. You have to allow the surface to become completely dry before you start painting. If you are painting an old cedar, you have to consider the paint that was used earlier. Can you paint cedar wood with a transparent or semi-transparent coating? Not if you had given a solid coat already! The wood has already been covered and it is very difficult to apply a transparent coat, while vice versa is possible. Oil is also really durable and is easy to maintain – you just need to keep it clean and touch it up every now and then. It’s very resistant to dirt and water so doesn’t require much upkeep at all.'

Cover it and let it sit for at least 2 days. At that point the steel wool should be completely dissolved. Of course, for any finishes applied, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s individual guidelines. Which cedar treatment should I choose? We recommend using the clear version, as it delivers a beautifully natural finish. The same can't quite be said about the teak colour, as it's a little orange.We’d recommend something like Owatrol H4 Wood as an excellent weather protector that doesn't contain any UV filters, allowing the cedar to silver naturally. The final step is staining/painting the wood. While doing this, remember to work in the direction of the grain and not against it. You will not be able to get a smooth finish if you do this. Always beware to use a paintbrush instead of spraying while staining the wood. Even if the first coat is done by spraying, the final coat and refinishing have to be done by brush only. This will give a uniform look to the painted surface. Any corners missed out can also be given a touch-up with the hand brush. Cedar is a porous material and it takes a large amount of paint. Specifically, a hand brush is preferred for this reason. The paint used should be acrylic-based as it is resistant to mildew and also has strong adhesion qualities. Treatments that are more transparent — like natural stains and water-repellent preservatives — usually offer more modest protection from the elements, but retain a greater amount of the timber’s natural beauty. Before starting application, test the colour choice on a small area and allow to dry to determine final colour. Top tip — Western Red Cedar has fantastic exterior finish-retention qualities, especially when smooth, as opposed to textured. Therefore, if you’re particularly interested in longevity, look for planed cedar. 1. Opaque or solid-colour

When choosing the right product for protecting cedar cladding (or any exterior cedar wood project), you’ll have to strike a balance. After the final coat is applied, the cedar wood has to be left out to dry for at least 72 hours. This can ensure even spread and adhesion of the paint applied. The surface should not be disturbed so that the effect stays for long.

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Semi-transparent stains are usually best applied with a brush, although this can be achieved with a roller, pad, spray or drip. A second layer can be added for extra protection, but only if the cedar will accept it. Although these don’t provide good UV protection, this sort of red cedar wood preservative will keep the wood’s warm tones for longer. Don't know where to start? Not sure what you need? Don't worry, the gardening experts at B&M HQ are here to help! Helpful Tips A very simple way to give wood an aged look is to apply an oxidizing solution. Here is an easy recipe that requires only two ingredients - vinegar and the finest steel wool you can get "00000", and here's how to do it: