How Much Oil Does Cedar Need?

15 Dec 2024

Applying the right amount of oil is essential in protecting your Cedar from the harsh New Zealand sun.

The purpose of applying oil is to seal the boards from moisture. And the only way you can seal the boards is to put enough oil into the deep pockets of the timber that the water will stop getting in.

If the pores of the timber are not filled with oil, they will accept whatever other liquid there is available, such as the rain or moisture in the air. This causes the boards to swell and contract, absorbing and releasing moisture.

The summer heat will then dry the surface of the timber and as the surface tension gets tighter, the boards will begin to cup.

Follow the Manufacturers Guidelines

For the purposes of this article, we will look at the manufacturer’s guidelines for Wood-X.

Coverage of Wood-X penetrating wood oils is dependent on surface condition, timber type, air temperature and other factors. The following is an approximate, typical guide.

The range of sq meters per litre (such as 9-14 sq meters for the first coat of dressed timber) is a guideline for different situations. There will be areas where the boards will allow you to put the maximum recommendations on, and areas where you will only get the minimum.

The end grain of the Cedar is nice and open and will suck up the oil, whereas the heart of the tree is a lot harder and does not absorb the oil as easily.

Other factors include the porosity of the board, how warm it is (in warm temperatures the boards will expand and oil will penetrate more easily), and the type of timber also makes a difference.

A dressed faced board has a smooth finish, like trying to get oil to penetrate glass, so it takes a long time for the oil to soak in. With a band sawn finish or weathered finish, the pores are open and will accept oil more readily and get deeper into the timber.

Is More Oil Always Better?

More is best. You can’t put too much Wood-X on. The intention is to saturate the surface and put as much oil into the timber as you can.

The timber will tell you when it’s full. It says that by perspiring. It leaves a shiny film on the surface and at that point, you know that no more oil is going in.

Sometimes people try and apply stains or oils sparingly and get them to look pretty with the first application. That’s not the design of a penetrating oil such as Wood-X. Wood-X needs to be applied so the boards get saturated and no longer absorb oil. At that point, you stop.

3-5 sq meters per litre is not a lot of timber to cover with quite a lot of oil, but that is what’s required if you want the boards to be protected.

Does Recoated Cedar Have Different Requirements?

No, the same principles apply. Saturate the surface and put as much oil into the timber as you can.

For new Cedar, the first recoat timing starts when the boards are installed and exposed to the air trafficking around the outside of the board. On a dressed face, the small pockets have already been filled with oil, so you are going to get 12-15 sq meters per litre.

That first coat can feel like it’s a waste of time. It’s not, it’s just very labour intensive for not a lot of gain, but it will set you up for the future of your timber.

Application Tips

Be careful to protect the areas you don’t want oil on. It migrates very quickly and will get onto decking and painted weatherboards. Once soaked in, oil is difficult to get out.

Using a spray gun is fast and effective, but we recommend using a brush or speed brush to take off any excess oil before it drips.

Spend the time to get the colour right. Choose a colour you like and stay lighter, that way the 2nd coat can go darker. It’s hard to go the other way around.

How long until the oil is dry to touch? If it’s a warm and windy day, around 48 hours after coating. With harder woods, or in cold conditions, you may need to extend that to 72 – 96 hours. As long as it takes to soak in.

When you start to see the colour fade, that’s an indicator that your Cedar needs attention. Or when the rain comes and the boards go very dark because they have soaked up the water. Both are tell-tale signs that there is no oil in the pores of the timber.

Final Thoughts

Wood-X is tried and tested in New Zealand conditions. For stress free Cedar maintenance, simply follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and your boards will last forever (well, almost).

If you need further advice, do not hesitate to get in touch with our team. We are always happy to help!

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12 Aug 2023

The Cedar Oil vs. Cedar Stain Debate

What debate? Oil is the way to go when it comes to cedar, no contest. While stain only coats the surface of the wood, oil works in partnership with one of cedar’s basic features. You see, cedar is a naturally oil-rich timber itself – it soaks up rejuvenating oil deep into its cells for up to a year after it’s applied.

“Should I use oil or stain on my Cedar?”

This is by far the most common question we get from Cedar homeowners and a source of some debate on the internet.

In our opinion, there is no debate (with a few caveats). For nearly all situations, treat Cedar with a penetrating oil such as Wood-X.

Oil works like moisturiser for Cedar, deeply replenishing the natural oils and keeping the Cedar protected – and looking great – for many years to come.

So, there we have it, debate closed. Oil is the way to go when it comes to Cedar, no contest. But if the answer is so clear cut, where does this debate come from in the first place?

To find out, read the full article, or watch the video below for a quick summary.

With Cedar, Location Is Everything

If we were having this conversation in the northern hemisphere, the answer would be the opposite: use a stain. Stains last longer and you will have a lot less maintenance over the lifetime of the Cedar.

In New Zealand, the situation is very different. We have some of the harshest UV rays in the world which extract the natural oils from the Cedar and dry out the boards. Over time, the boards will cup and eventually crack, leading to a costly replacement of your cladding.

Stains protect the boards from moisture and look great, but unlike penetrating oils, they do not replenish the natural oils extracted by the sun. They are designed to erode over time, often unevenly, and leave the timber unprotected and unsightly.

Caveats For Using Stain on Cedar

While oil is recommended for Cedar in nearly all cases, there are some situations where stain is more suitable.

If the Cedar has considerable shade with little to no UV exposure, using a stain instead of an oil might be appropriate. This is usually when a house is shaded by dense tree cover or has wide soffits, such as villas where the roof extends over the porch.

The soffits stop the weatherboards from being degraded by the sun. These well protected areas can be treated with a stain and will look great forever.

If in doubt, get in touch, we are always happy to give an expert opinion on which treatment is best for any given job.

Comparing Costs Between Cedar Oils and Stains

Over the long term, there isn’t much difference in maintenance cost between oils and stains. The real savings come when looking at the longevity of the Cedar boards over the lifetime of your home.

Stained Cedar will dry out in the sun, causing the boards to cup and warp faster, and increase the likelihood you will need to replace your boards. A costly solution to an avoidable problem!

The difference shows up when we’re preparing Cedar for restoration. Sanding stain may reveal unsuspected insect, sun or moisture damage. With an oil recoat on a well-maintained property, it’s just a gentle clean with a bio-degradable wash, a short drying period and the re-oiling itself.

Have any more oil vs stain questions? Send us a message or use the Live Chat below!

14 Jun 2023

Cedar Maintenance Advice for Newly Built Homes

Cedar is a miracle timber if ever there was one: durable, long lasting, rot resistant and a superior insulator – warm in winter and cool in summer. Not to mention it looks stunning.

Congratulations on purchasing your newly built Cedar home!

Cedar is a miracle timber if ever there was one: durable, long lasting, rot resistant and a superior insulator – warm in winter and cool in summer. Not to mention it looks stunning.

But like any outdoor timber, Cedar will require maintenance to stay in optimal condition.

New Zealand’s UV rays are some of the harshest in the world and they will eventually dry out the Cedar, leading to fine cracks and a roughening of the surface. This can commonly be seen in Cedar houses that have been left to “silver off”.

By starting Cedar maintenance early, you can get ahead of costly maintenance further down the line and keep your cladding looking just as beautiful as the day you moved in.

When To Start Cedar Maintenance

We recommend starting Cedar maintenance after two summers.

At this point, you may be wondering why we are talking about maintenance for a house that has just been built two years ago? Fair question!

While fresh Cedar boards do have a reservoir of natural oils that will keep them protected for longer, the boards have now been exposed to the sun for two summers and the natural oils are already being depleted.

It’s also worth noting that although you just recently moved, the Cedar may have been installed up to 3-6 months before that, so this process is well underway.

What Does Cedar Maintenance Involve?

For most new Cedar homes, maintenance consists of a soft wash and a recoat of sun exposed areas.

Our soft wash is an oxy-wash solution that removes any built-up organic matter – dust, pollen and spores – and leaves the Cedar fresh and vibrant.

Applying a recoat of oil will replenish the Cedar’s natural oils, fortify existing anti-fungal properties and enhance the colour tone, retaining the vibrant look of freshly installed Cedar.

After the initial treatment, sun exposed areas need to be maintained every 2-3 summers. The rest of the house may not need any maintenance for 5-7 years, apart from a light wash to remove built-up organic matter.

How Much Does Cedar Maintenance Cost?

This depends on the house size, ease of access and if scaffolding is required, but as a rough guide, the initial treatment of a single-story house with good access can cost anywhere between $4-5k.

A larger house with multiple stories can cost anywhere between $8-9k, plus you may need to include the cost of scaffolding on top of that.

However, after the initial treatment of the whole house, the cost of regular maintenance drops by 40-50% as only the sun exposed areas need maintaining.

If you have bought a Cedar house in a new development, chances are you are in the same maintenance schedule as the houses around you. By pooling together with your neighbours, we can often spread fixed costs (such as a cherry picker) across the all the involved parties.

Protecting Your Investment

A new house is an investment, possibly the most expensive investment you will ever make.

By regularly maintaining your Cedar, you are protecting the long-term value of your property and investing money now to get a higher resale value if you decide to sell.

Regular maintenance is also more cost effective than undertaking restoration just before you are ready to sell – and you will get to enjoy the beautiful look of freshly maintained Cedar while you are still actually living there!

15 Apr 2023

What is the Best Season to Maintain Cedar?

You might be surprised that there’s no ‘best time’ for treating Cedar and maintenance can be done throughout the year, across all seasons, given there is enough time for the oil to penetrate the timber, or the stain to cure. The real question isn’t which season is best for maintaining Cedar, but which conditions are optimal for the Cedar maintenance process.

We usually get asked this question during winter, when the weather outside is either rainy, cold, blowing a gale – or sometimes all three at once!

In fact, winter is an excellent time for Cedar maintenance. Your cladding has been knocked about by the summer sun and needs nourishment, relief and protection.

The real question isn’t which season is best for maintaining Cedar, but which conditions are optimal for the Cedar maintenance process.

To find out more, read the full article, or watch the video below for a quick summary.

Optimal Conditions for Cedar Maintenance

To successfully apply oil or stain to Cedar, the boards need to be dry, with no threat of imminent rain. It’s that simple.

When most homeowners think of maintaining the outside of their house, they think of paint and how long it takes to dry. Oil and stains do not work like paint and are quick drying.

On a hot summer’s day, we can stain the side of a house and gently waterblast it 20 minutes later and the stain won’t move.

Oils are similarly robust. On average you want to give oil a couple of hours to soak in. Once absorbed into the timber, the oil is resistant to any incoming rain and is in no danger of getting washed away or having the finish ruined.

The Best Plan is Planning Ahead

If last summer is any indication, heavy rain can strike at any time, as can long dry stretches.

Given our changing weather patterns, there really isn’t an ideal time to maintain Cedar and the best course of action is to get your Cedar regularly maintained, following our standard advice.

“To protect Cedar from the harsh NZ sun and keep it looking beautiful year-round, sun exposed areas should be treated at least once every 2-3 years.”

So don’t let winter deter you from getting your Cedar maintained. Our Cedar Technicians are experts in their field and know how to work around the seasons, even if there are four of them in one day!

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How Much Oil Does Cedar Need?