Yes, transitioning Cedar from stain to oil is possible, but it’s not a process to be undertaken lightly. Removing stain requires a chemical stripper to remove the broken-down stain, and perhaps even some sanding to remove any stubborn remnants.
There can also be a 3-9 month transition period where the Cedar will have a shiny-flat-shiny-flat (or “patchy”) appearance. However, the end result is Cedar that looks stunning and is protected against the UV rays.
How Stained Cedar Ends Up Looking Unsightly
Treating Cedar with stain isn’t usually an informed choice by the homeowner.
Often, the previous owner has done a quick fix and used stain to make the Cedar look pretty before selling, or the current homeowner has stained over a poorly prepared stain without stripping back the boards.
Stains are translucent, so even though they have some opacity, you can still see through them and unless the preparation is done well, stains don’t hide imperfections.
Eventually the stain will delaminate in the harsh UV, giving a camouflaged look with light and dark shades that are often patchy and uneven.
Why Transition From Stain to Oil?
No matter how much stain you put on the surface of the timber, 5-10 years of sun exposure on a northern face will deplete the natural oils of the Cedar and cause the boards to dry out, cup, then ultimately split.
This doesn’t just look bad, it threatens the integrity of your home to withstand the elements and if the damage continues, you may need to replace the cladding altogether.
Unlike stain, oil soaks into the pores of the timber leaving only a thin film on the surface, so it does not break down or flake off. The oil then replaces the natural oils depleted by the sun and protects the timber against surface tension and cracks.
Oil is also easier to maintain and as you only need to recoat exposed faces every 2-3 summers, the maintenance will be more cost-effective over the long term.
The Transition Process from Stain to Oil
First, we do a site visit to look at the current state of the boards.
In the best-case scenario, the weatherboards will have had an even exposure to the sun. We then use a stripper to lift the broken-down stain, followed by a deep clean to remove anything which is loose.
The heavy wash will give us a good look at the condition of the boards below. If there is any stain remaining on the surface, we might need to sand or strip the boards back to their virgin state before applying the oil.
If the boards have received partial shade cover, such as nearby trees or soffits that have only protected the upper areas, they need to be stripped. You can’t just oil over the top and hope that it’s going to match the weatherboards below.
This adds a lot of cost to the process and if the homeowner isn’t willing to spend that much money, we may recommend applying another coat of stain to provide at least some protection against UV and keep the house looking tidy.
Be Prepared for the Patchy Look
One of the biggest downsides of moving from stain to oil is a 3-9 month transition period where your Cedar will have a shiny-flat-shiny-flat (or “patchy”) look.
This happens when oil is applied to any surface that still has stain remnants. The oil cannot soak through the non-porous stain, so it sits around the surface area where the oil has soaked in, giving the shiny-flat-shiny-flat look.
In the sunlight, the shiny-flat-shiny-flat look is not pretty. However, this effect is only temporary and eventually the oil will soak in and delaminate any remaining stain.
After 3-9 months, we come back and give the boards another deep clean, sand back any remaining stain and apply another coat of oil. 9-12 months later we repeat the same process.
After 12-24 months the transition will be complete and the Cedar will move into a regular maintenance schedule, with sun exposed areas being treated every 2-3 summers.
What Costs Are Involved?
Cost is the final hurdle for many Cedar homeowners. Stripping off stain is an expensive process and if your current home is not your forever home, the costs might be prohibitive.
However, if you are planning to stay in your current home for the foreseeable future, the costs become an investment that will pay for itself. Over time, oil is much easier to apply than stain, provides superior protection against the elements and increases the lifespan of your Cedar.
In broad terms, it comes down to this: do you want to spend the extra 10k to remove the stain and give yourself an easy to maintain finish, or deduct the 10k from the cost of replacing the cladding in the not-to-distant future?
By investing in the health of your Cedar now, you will save money on long-term maintenance, and your cladding will look amazing.
Get An Expert Opinion!
As you can see, there are a lot of variables when considering the transition from stain to oil.
For a Free Cedar Assessment, get in touch by calling 0800 298 298.
There is no obligation and our goal is always to look after the best interests of our customers over the lifecycle of their homes.
