I live in the Chicago area, and we have a cedar-sided house. This is
not clapboard, but channel style rough cedar boards. The house was
initially stained with a semitransparent grey stain. We had to redo
the stain about every five to seven years. The reason was that the
boards would become very dry and soft. Basically they began to
weather. Athough the weathering process is slow with cedar, it is
enevitable. We would begin seeing color differences as the stain
disappeared or weathered away, and even the board texture increased as
the softer more weatherable areas preferentially disappeared. Finally
on the fourth staining, I used a solid stain. Because the solids level
is so much higher, the weathering process is even slower. Of course,
we lost the natural color of the wood, but I believe I will get quite
a few more years out of the siding. The house is now 23 years old.

On 7 Jan 2004 17:20:46 -0800, (Paul Rouse) wrote:

I am building a new house (Mid-West - Near Chicago) and I am trying to
decide between natural cedar clapboard (primed and painted) or a
synthetic such as primed and painted cement fiber board (i.e., Hardi
Board). My builder is strongly discouraging me from deciding on
natural cedar. I have also asked all of the building suppliers in the
area about natural cedar - they all look at me like i am crazy to want
to use natural cedar. The collective opinion is that natural cedar
will only look good for 5 to 10 years (regardless of paint job).
After 5 to 10 years, they claim that the cedar will show serious signs
of decay.

Is this an accurate description considering the cold winter climate?
I am concerned that they are pushing me towards a solution that may
have a higher profit margin (or some other motive).

What kind of life expectancy should one expect from natural cedar?

Thanks in advance for your input.

Gary Dyrkacz

Radio Control Aircraft/Paintball Physics/Paintball for 40+
http://home.attbi.com/~dyrgcmn/