Cedar Finishing Tips

Below are some helpful hints in deciding what type of finish, to apply or...not apply to your outdoor Cedar Furniture.
If you do decide to apply a finish, be sure your furniture is clean and dry beforehand.
Natural Weathering
Because of the inherent nature of Western Red Cedar to withstand the outdoor elements such as decay and rot, your Cedar Furniture really does not need to be finished. Western Red Cedar is renowned world-wide for its unique weather-resistant properties.
Many folks prefer to allow their cedar furniture to "age naturally" outdoors without any finish at all. Over time the color will weather to a handsome silver-grey highlighted by darker streaks, and the grain of the wood will become slightly raised.
Wood Sealer
If you go this route you may find a wood sealer to be useful by blocking the pores of the wood. This inhibits the grain from becoming raised yet allowing the natural fading to a gentle silvery-gray color.
Stain
If you would like to preserve the color of the freshly sanded cedar, it is recommended that two coats of a semi transparent stain with a UV inhibitor such as Sikkins Cetol 1 (natural) to preserve the handsome tone of the Cedar Wood. Every second year you might re-apply a coat of stain to freshen the finish. Little or no sanding, preparation or primer is needed when you use a stain.
Wood Oil
An alternative to using stain is to rub a light coat of teak oil or linseed oil over the finished surfaces of your furniture. This gives a rich deep appearance to the wood.
Paint
Painting is not recommended (unless the piece is located in a sheltered area where there is little or no moisture and no direct sunlight). Over time the sunlight will shine on the furniture and cause any moisture within its fibers to be released as evaporate. On a sealed finish the pressure of the evaporate will cause the finish to blister and peel leaving you with a mess to sand down and re-finish. Stain however, is "breathable" and will not trap the moisture, therefore - no blistering, no peeling.
Ground Applications
Western Red Cedar should be preservative treated if intended for use in applications where it is dug into the ground. i.e. Fence Posts or Landscape Ties.