The new owners of this home knew they had to make some decisions regarding maintenance of existing siding. They have a beautiful Cedar home, that was almost black with mildew, and needed maintenance to avoid cupping/warping/splitting that is common in Cedar Siding that is neglected. Stain is a “preventative maintenance” for Cedar, and a well-taken care of Cedar home can last as long (or longer) as synthetic siding – and they look a lot better!
The Kortendick home is nestled in a highly wooded area, sheltered from winds and sun, which caused a mildew issue that was compounded by the use of an oil based stain by the original owner (mildew feeds on oils in oil based stains, so it actually makes the problems worse).
We talked about options, but in the end, the homeowners wisely opted to treat for mildew and switch to an Exterior Acrylic Solid Stain- this will last longer (less maintenance) and will also camouflage the likely permanent stains caused by years of unchecked mildew. Acrylic Stains require maintenance, on average about every 7-10 years, although in an area that is sheltered from the elements (namely UV, Wind, and Rain) it can be over 10 years. Acrylics are also more colorfast than oil stain, meaning the color will not be as likely to bleach out like oil stains do. Acrylics are also far more resistant to mildew than oils, which in this case was a primary consideration.
BEFORE:
