Hi, I covered the outside of our house with Cedar Shakes about 20 years ago. Well, they have all turned black, I have found out that the black is most likely from mold. :'( So, I bought a power washed and power washed the whole house. It looks really good now, but what can I put on the shakes to keep them looking natural? Is there some kind of sealer for cedar? Thank you for any help.
Richie, there is a waterproof sealer, Thompson's, that is used on decks. Since most decks are cedar, I think it would work on your shakes, too. It not only prevents water penetration, which causes mold, but it also helps preserve the wood. Gosh, what a job you have ahead of you! I'm tied up for the rest of the summer and fall, or I'd offer to help .
marligardener, Thank you VERY much for that info, it's JUST what I was looking for. :-D It's really not a hard job, just messy. It's like taking a shower with all your clothes on! Thanks again and have a GREAT week.
Make sure you look into your sealer. Thompson's doesn't have the best reputation because it is a wax based sealant. You will only get a season out of it if lucky and anything you try to apply over it will be blotchy because of the wax left behind in places. You might google search your project and find out others' experiences with different products. I'd recommend you go to your local quality paint store and ask for a recommendation, not buy whatever is on a big box store's shelves. I hear Cabot's, Sikkens & others make good products. This is a project you'll really want to do your homework on before jumping in.
Create a cleaning solution to use on your cedar deck with one gallon of hot water and half a cup of trisodium phosphate. Always wear rubber gloves when working with TSP.
Plan on cleaning your cedar deck in the spring and fall each year, but plan on sealing the deck every other spring. This will ensure that your cedar deck stays in good repair for years to come.
