Cleaning wood siding

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We recently purchased a home that was built in 1986. The outside is what we have always called T-111 paneling. It is stained and weather worn in places, grey in other places, and looks pretty good in other places. What would be the best way would be to clean this paneling and make the house look all one color again and what product should be used? Then, what should be used to seal the wood so this will not happen again (I know I'll have to repeat the sealing over time).

-- Susan Selvage (mstitle@cablenet-va.com), January 12, 2000

Answers

Probably the best way to clean it is by "Power Washing" you might add some bleach but it is not really necessary. then when you are done and it is dry, say in the summer, use a clear stain or sealer, the paint dept. of some home improvement sotre will tell you what is best. sun on one side, rain on the widward side, shade on another side will cause all the different staining, mold, bleached, etc.

-- Hendo (OR) (redgate@echoweb.net), January 12, 2000.

Sounds to me that someone used a poor sealant or stain on the siding originally. Thompson's Water Seal comes to mind. It has to be re-applied every year, or you get what you have. If you want to retain the "natural" look, use a semi solid (some call them 'semi- transparent) stain. One that I have used with success is Cabot's Natural Cedar. There are others, and they will make your siding look pretty natural, and quite attractive. Power washing is good if you plan to paint, but I would advise against that. In my experience (substantial) I have found an oil based stain requires less maintenance. Good luck! Brad

-- Brad Traver (homefixer@mix-net.net), January 17, 2000.

If you are in the South like I am.....go ahead and plan or your T-111 or R B&B siding to weather and delaminate no matter what you do....If it is exposed to sun it will pull away...I suggest TSP to clean it and an oil base stain....Where ever it pulls away use galvanized drywall screws to secure back to the studs....If you ever have to replace consider using cedar instead of pine....It costs more but holds up better to the weather...Also this product has been made in pressure treated pine before....I would recommend replacing with either maintenance free vinyl siding (just cover over t-111) or installing cement based siding such as Hardi-plank. This would be the closest material to the now outlawed asbestos siding

-- brian r (brian3006@msn.com), January 18, 2000.

On my cedar siding I use a mixture of 4 parts boiled linseed oil to one part semi-transparent stain. I have to do it every 3 to 4 years. Course that's in Colorado at 6400 feet. Don't know how much difference the UV rays make.

-- BigDaddy23-2 (DSev347385@aol.com), January 18, 2000.

Folks, I am a builder, and have unfortunately built two houses using T-111. It tends to fall apart after a few years in the sun, even though it has an oil based stain. I've also built a house that are painted rough cut wood (I cut dead trees off my own property, and got them milled up for only 12 cents per board foot.) This house is now five years old and will go for maybe one more year before repainting.

I have built two houses (the one I moved out of two years ago, and my new one, two years old) with the same rough cut lumber, but with NO stain or paint. The one I sold two years ago still looks the same as it has for the last 17 or 18 years. It has weathered to various shades of honey brown and, in some places, grey. The wood is still as sound as the day I put it up.

My new place is just the same; I don't want to be stuck having to paint or stain it every few years (I already have to do so on the rentals I built)

I am only familiar with the native trees here in SW Oregon, but I can tell you that I recommend either any one of the three cedars which grow here (Port Orford, Western Red, or Incense), Sugar Pine, or Douglas Fir. Don't use Ponderosa Pine, as it soakd up water like a sponge, and will rot rather soon. These other trees tend to repel water better.

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), January 25, 2000.



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