Do you mind being more specific on the weathering stain brand/etc?

Hello: We're not certain of the exact formulation here. We typically use products from Cabot, sometimes blending more than one color or formulation, and testing them in the field. Our goal is often to even out the tone but also be conscious of how the wood will continue to weather and oxidize. We generally seek to avoid exterior finishes that require ongoing maintenance.

What grade Cedar siding did you use? Clear? As for the stain, how often have you, or does it need to be restained using Cabot Wood Stain? Thanks! Any pictures of how it is holding up today?

Yes, it's clear cedar - tongue & groove installed horizontally. It does need to be retreated every few years - the north side is starting it's fourth summer and will probably need to be retreated next year in the spring of it's fifth year. The south side needs to be redone every three to four years. Strong sun is hard on natural wood treatments. Here are some pictures from this morning (sorry for the deeply amateur photography). As you will from the pics this siding is beautiful not definitely not low maintenance. Exactly how much maintenance is required is partly a function of how fussy you are.

Front, faces south and gets the biggest beating. Starting it's third summer, will definitely need to be treated next spring:

East side. Starting it's fourth summer. You can see that the left side of the pic is more shaded than the right...and the siding is more faded over on the right. The reflection of the sun when I took this picture this morning exaggerates this effect.

South east corner, from a distance. As you can see, the fading gradient isn't noticeable standing back from the house.

Close up of east side - starting it's fourth summer. You can see where my husband scraped the shovel against the siding digging out the 99 zillion feet of snow this winter to uncover a meter.

Pristine section from inside the screen porch: protected from rain and sun. The finish here will probably last 10 years or longer.

Back of the shed: lots of sun, wet from a scupper, we forgot about it when having the south side of the house retreated two years ago. This is what happens if you don't maintain this siding.

Thank you so much, very helpful & thorough! Why did you chose Cabot? Is it "Natural" or is Natural the stain color used? Natural = Clear I assume? Is the Cabot Stain a 1 coat process?

Thanks Margaret! I attached a pic of our work in progress/siding to be decided this wknd future home! Where is your house located? We are in Atlanta.

Congrats on the new house! It looks great!

Yes, by "natural" I meant clear, not the color that Cabot labels "cedar". Our siding was pre-treated before being applied to the house, and then we had the front (south) re-treated two years ago with one coat.

We are outside of Boston. I suspect climate makes a difference in how well the siding treatment holds up but I have no idea what the differences will be!

How are the edges of the cedar siding finished? Are the boards mitered at a 45º angle to make a joint or is there a separate piece of wood or metal on the edges? Thanks!

Hello: The corners have an outboard dark metal trim. You can see it in the photo here.