Does Cedar Siding Rot

If you leave cedar wood untreated it will not succumb to the devastating effects of mold rot and insect damage.

Does cedar siding rot. Cedar is the most obvious choice for wood siding. The higher the solid count the more protective the paint. Over the years the wood loses much of its tannin. As is the case with other types of wood siding cedar is flammable unless specially treated.

It has something to do with the wood we harvest now being from second growth trees that don t have the resins they had a hundred years ago. Any time dirt debris and moisture are allowed to pile up on the siding and in the creases mold and mildew will grow. Although it s not as inexpensive as some non wood options it s less expensive than shou sugi ban ipé and specially treated wood. Similar to redwoods cedars naturally produce pest and rot resistant compounds.

It doesn t need a sealer. As albany fence designs mentions the natural forces of nature such as wind and rain will slowly cause untreated cedar wood structures such as fences and furniture to fade. However redwoods and cedars have notably different physical weathering characteristics. It requires regular maintenance in the form of repainting or re staining every three to five years.

Redwood cedar ipé and specially treated woods listed below can be very rot resistant. Aside from certain regional varieties of cedar such as aspens cedar exhibits weather resistance similar to redwood. For the interior of a raised bed a geotextile or landscape fabric can separate the bedding soil from the wood to wick moisture away from the wood and preserve its longevity. We heard that it s a myth that cedar is rot resistant.

This will gradually weaken the wood and lead to rot. Despite a higher resistance cedar is still more prone to rot woodpeckers and insect damage than artificial alternatives. However it will lose its typically golden brown color. Stains are not as protective because they lack the high solid count.