I am building a second home in the mountains above 3500 Ft elevation and want to use natural cedar or cypress siding. The natural look (wood grain and color) is the appealing criteria for the choice. However, the surface protection treatments I have researched do not withstand the elements for very long before re-treatment is necessary. The best I discovered to date is a Sikkens product (Cetol in a three step process), but distorts the true color and texture of the wood. The Sikkens product literature states it will last for 8 to 10 years before re-application. This is good compared to the 2 to 3 years that semi transparent stains claim, but I would like the durability of the Sikkens product with the look of the semi transparent stains. Are there other products that will give the look of the semi transparnet stains and the durability fo the Sikkens?
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I use Sikkens extensively on cedar siding and fir beams. I have mixed feelings about the look, which is a bit shiny, but Sikkens will return greying cedar into a quite natural warm red colour and blend differing wood tones well.
I guess I use Sikkens by default not having found anything better. Here on the coast it doesn't last more than two years on the waterside and maybe five on the land side. You really have to keep at it too. Unlike stains that completely penetrate, Sikkens does have a surface finish component that will flake off over time and re-finishing become a huge task. You are much better off planning on regularly re-coating more frequently than you might like, to avoid sanding and irregular uptake of future coats later. Unfortunately, cedar is high maintenance.
"Natural" isn't natural. You have to expend a LOT of effort to keep wood looking "natural". Better to settle for something like the Sikkens that'll preserve the wood and keep it from looking too crappy as it weathers.