The Biggest Mistake Milwaukee, OR Homeowners Make Before Installing Cedar Siding
What To Do Before Installing Cedar
Siding On Your Milwaukee, OR Home
Essential Prep Steps For Beautiful
Cedar Siding Results In Milwaukee, OR
Thinking about cedar siding for your Milwaukee, OR home? You’ve made an excellent choice! Cedar siding brings unmatched natural beauty and warmth to any home. But before we install those gorgeous cedar boards, there are some important steps you’ll want to take to ensure the best possible results.
After working with homeowners throughout the Portland Metro Area for over two decades, we’ve learned that proper preparation makes all the difference in how your cedar siding performs and looks for years to come. A little work upfront saves major headaches down the road.
Many homeowners don’t realize that cedar siding requires specific preparation that differs from vinyl or fiber cement options. Its natural properties are what make it so beautiful, but also why it needs special attention from the very beginning.
Let’s walk through the essential steps to take before installing cedar siding.
Inspect Your Milwaukee, OR Home’s Exterior
The perfect time to address any underlying problems with your home’s exterior is before new siding goes up. Think of it as a rare opportunity to see what’s happening beneath the surface – and fix it while everything’s exposed.
We occasionally discover issues during the tear-off phase. These range from water damage, pest infestations, or structural weaknesses that have been silently causing problems. Catching these early saves significant money compared to addressing them after new siding is installed.
In Milwaukie’s climate, moisture issues are particularly common. Our wet winters can lead to hidden rot or mold that might not be obvious until your old siding comes down. A thorough inspection helps identify these problems before they compromise your beautiful new cedar.
Our experienced team knows exactly what to look for and can help evaluate what needs attention before moving forward. This step alone can add years to the life of your new cedar siding installation.
Choose The Right Cedar Type For Milwaukee, OR Weather
Not all cedar siding is created equal, and getting the right type for our specific climate makes a big difference in performance. Western Red Cedar is popular for good reason, but there are specific grades and cuts that work better in our environment.
Clear grades with minimal knots generally perform better in our humid conditions, while knotty grades, though less expensive, may have more movement over time. Quarter-sawn cedar tends to be more stable than flat-sawn in our seasonal weather changes.
Thickness matters, too. Thicker cedar boards (¾” or greater) resist warping better than thinner options, something particularly important given Milwaukee, OR’s rainy seasons and increasingly warm summers.
We’ll help you navigate these choices based on your home’s specific exposure, your aesthetic preferences, and your budget. The right cedar selection at this stage sets the foundation for decades of beautiful performance.
Home Wrap And Moisture Barriers For Cedar Siding
Cedar siding needs to breathe while still keeping water away from your home’s structure – a delicate balance that requires proper moisture barriers and installation techniques. This critical step is often rushed or done incorrectly, leading to problems down the road.
For our area, we recommend a high-quality house wrap with proper overlapping and taping at all seams. Additionally, a rainscreen system with furring strips creates an essential ventilation gap between your siding and house wrap.
This ventilation gap might seem like a small detail, but it’s actually one of the most important elements for cedar siding longevity in our climate. It allows moisture to escape rather than getting trapped behind your siding, which can lead to premature failure.
The investment in moisture protection pays dividends through extended siding life and reduced maintenance. It’s something we never compromise on because we’ve seen the difference it makes over decades of performance.
Finishing Options That Protect And Beautify Your Milwaukee, OR Home
One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is how to finish your cedar siding. Each option – from transparent stains to solid-color finishes – offers different benefits and maintenance requirements. You’ll need to make this choice before installation begins.
For local homes, we generally recommend semi-transparent or semi-solid stains that offer UV protection while still showing cedar’s natural beauty. These finishes allow the wood to breathe while providing necessary protection from our wet climate.
Pre-finishing boards before installation gives you better coverage on all sides and edges – areas that are impossible to properly coat after installation. This comprehensive protection significantly extends the life of your cedar siding.
Whatever finish you choose, we recommend high-quality products specifically designed for cedar. The right products may cost more initially but save substantial money over time by extending the periods between maintenance coats.
Partner With Experienced Cedar Siding Installers
Cedar siding installation is a specialized skill that requires different techniques than other siding materials. Finding installers with specific cedar experience makes a tremendous difference in both appearance and performance.
Our master carpenters understand cedar’s natural properties and how to work with them rather than against them. From proper board selection and placement to the correct nailing techniques that accommodate wood movement, experience matters at every step.
When you’re investing in premium cedar siding, the installation quality should match the material quality. That’s why we treat every home as if it were our own, with meticulous attention to the details that ensure lasting beauty and performance.
If you’re interested in cedar siding for your Milwaukee, OR home, give us a call at 503-285-0875. We’ll walk you through the entire process and help you make informed decisions that lead to stunning, long-lasting results. Visit our website for an estimate today.