Exterior stain/paint color advice

last month

Our cedar house is currently stained dark brown. It has darkened a lot in the past 5 years since it was stained. We

want to lighten it up some with paint or solid color stain. The trim is painted a dark brown which is hard to see now that the stained cedar has darkened so much. Can i get some helpful (and kind) suggestions on a color pallette for the cedar siding as well as the trim and cedar shakes above the porch. The roof is green metal so that needs to be taken into consideration.

Featured Answer

PRO

BeverlyFLADeziner

last month

Would we need to have it stained again if we just have it washed?

It all depends on the results of the cleaning. Once the soil & residual cedar oil is off the wood & you allow the wood to dry, you might not need to restain. A good stain should last you about 10 years.

Get a cleaner that has the right Ph for cedar. It will be mild.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last month
last modified: last month
Cedar will darken with soil. It's worth trying a gentle wash to see if the overall appearance will lighten.

If necessary you can STAIN over the existing color. DO NOT PAINT CEDAR, IT WILL PEEL.
0
HU-598995692 thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
HU-598995692
Original Author
last month
Would we need to have it stained again if we just have it washed?
0
Related Professionals
Roseville Painters · Swansea Flooring Contractors · Ridgefield Interior Designers & Decorators · St. Louis Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Winton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Terryville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cedar Rapids Furniture & Accessories · Galena Park General Contractors · Orangevale General Contractors · Springfield General Contractors · Waterville Siding & Exteriors · Arvada Architects & Building Designers · Moorpark Painters · North Bellmore Painters · Kilgore General Contractors
PRO
lisedv
last month
I suggest a solid stain to cover the dark brown.
HU-598995692 thanked lisedv
tracefloyd
last month
last modified: last month
There is also wood and fence cleaner that removes dark oxidation on old wood. Very easy to use, brush and scrub with a broom and bucket and hose off.

I would not do a color stain with a green roof.
0
HU-598995692 thanked tracefloyd
HU-598995692
Original Author
last month
We used a really good stain 5 years ago so hopefully a wash might do it
0
HU-598995692
Original Author
last month
To lisedv - im not tech savvy at all. can you tell me how you did the picture with the solid color stain? i would love to see my house with several different color schemes
0
cat_ky
last month
I would keep the color you have now. It looks good on your house and its setting. On the stain you have now, you can see the wood grain of the cedar. If you use a solid color, its more like paint, and you wont see any of that grain.
0
HU-598995692 thanked cat_ky
HU-598995692
Original Author
last month
Thank you
0
Debbie Downer
last month
last modified: last month
IMHO I love the look of dark and gothic for wood cabins and the way they sort of blend into the woods. That said, I would tweak the current colors a bit. Choose a dark gray-b brown on the horizontal siding (horizontal) to continue with the old aged wood vibe - exact shade/color whatever fits well with your stone colors. Have the trim, shutters + timbers be your lighter/brighter wood tones. Dark and/or cool colors recede, light and/or warm color comes forward. Since it looks like you already have white for window sashes, you could consider white as your accent color have your door , outdoor furniture etc. be white as well I think these things would brighten/freshen but without taking it back to looking like a newly built cabin.
0
HU-598995692 thanked Debbie Downer