John Martin wrote:
On Jul 25, 6:54 pm, Larry Jaques
wrote:

Posted to RCM only

On Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:52:49 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, John
Martin quickly quoth:






I want to put a preservative on the siding of my house. House is
roughsawn white cedar clapboards, garage is roughsawn pine board &
batten. When built 24 years ago they used bleaching oil on it, which
gave it a somewhat gray color. All of it has since weathered to just
about the color I want, so I'm not interested in stain.

I do want to preserve it, though. There are a few places where
splashback from rain causes some particular problems, indicating it
might need some special treatment. Generally, though, I want to do
all the siding.

Growing up, we used creosote. The last time I went to buy some I
found it hadn't been sold for years. Plus, it's black and smells and
really isn't what I'd want on siding. Instead I bought green
Cuprinol. Good protection, but still not a color I'd go with for
siding.

I've heard of Penofin which sounds good, but at $40 per gallon and
coverage on rough wood in the neighborhood of 100+ square feet per
gallon, it seems a bit pricey.

Any recommendations?

You're OK with creosote? Then you'll love the stinky stuff I found
recently for the brown Wolmanized (pressure treated) boards. It's
Jasco Termin-8 H2O Brown. $10 a pint at ACE Hardware.

- Metaphors Be With You -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


Not really OK with the creosote - it does stink and is far from a
clear finish. I might consider using it - or the Cuprinol - on a
couple of problem areas only. To do the whole house, though, I'd want
something clear and a lot less fragrant.

I will admit, though, to having some affection for those smells.
There was an insect repellent years ago called Old Time Woodsman -
mostly pine tar and similar ingredients. Worked well, but it stunk
and was about the color of creosote. If you were going to spend a
week in the woods, you might as well smell the part. It was off the
market for some years, but has recently come back.

I see that there is also a Jasco Termin-8 in clear, and will have to
check it out. I do hope that $10/pint was a mistake, though!

It is disappointing to go into a dedicated paint store (a Benjamin
Moore dealer) and then a large lumberyard/building supply and not have
either one have exactly what I want.

John Martin


It depends wether your in an urban area or in a farming one.
Here, in the UK, for what its worth you cannot buy creosote in an
urban DIY store, but go to an agricultural /farm type of store , they
have creosote in a light brown in 5 gall drums.
Also our Telephone co, BT still has all its poles pressure creosoted,
as nothinbg last longer.
I put in 100 or so fence posts that had been pressure creosoted, they
were guaranteed to last 25 yrs. Its now 30 yrs and weve only had to
replace about 3.
Cedar siding is nice, Ive some Western red,that I had from a demolition
site some 25 yrs ago, Its as you say light grey but hasnt deteriorated
in our wet climate.
The best is heart oak. With no sap wood.
I used t on my upper storey of my house some 35
yrs ago. Sawn 7in by 3/4 in. Its grey now but 1.16th in in its as hard
and sound as the day I put it up.
With no treatment at all.
Its the tannin in the oak that preserves it.
theres another post material that lasts as long. Thats sweet chestnut.
One possibility for you, is to look for lt brown creosote, then mix it
50/50 with kerosene. youll find that will dry virtually colourless.
Best thing is to run a trial on an unobtrusive part.