Sorry this is not plug related, wish it was but I've been chained to the house for the last 4 weekends re-siding the second floor and replacing the windows.

I know some of you guys use red cedar and I've got a question about it.

The siding and trim around the windows I used is all western red cedar. I am going to stain the siding with a solid stain, should I be priming it before staining? If so does it make a difference if the primer is water or oil based ??

The stain I am going to be using is the Behr solid stain form HD, not sure if that makes a difference or not...

Once I finally get this done and cleaned up I can finally get back to the lathe. Its been way toooooo long.

Clapboards suck ... they are a nightmare to hold a finish. Do not use HD'S Behr product, it will not hold up. Use Flood transparent stain and you cannot go wrong. They make a heck of a product. Go to their web site and check themout, you won't be unhappy. www.floodstain.com. :kewl:

Do not use HD'S Behr product, it will not hold up. www.floodstain.com. :kewl:

I agree, do NOT use that HD Behr stuff, if you bought some, return it.

Thanks guys I'll check it out...

My buddy is a painter....he also says to stay away from behr products.....paint, stain or otherwise...one rule of thumb that he has told me ( and I happen to agree ) always spend the money on good paint, stain, ect...Benjamin Moore makes some quality stuff...you won't be sorry...otherwise you will be chained back to your house in a couple of years.

I used Beher (?) stain on a cedar fence. It fell off under the snow the next winter :eek: I went to Cabot oile based!
To answer your original question; Keep the base type of primer and top coat the same. Oil to oil, water to water....

You should prime it before staining. It's best to prime it on both sides - obviously before you nail it on. The primer should be tinted to the same shade as the final stain coat. I had my house sided five years ago. I bought factory primed (on both sides) cedar. The painters put another coat of tinted primer out the outside, then the opaque stain. It still looks new. I don't remember if the primer was oil based or water based.

The very best, rated by Consumer Report, is Cabot.
Cost about 27-29 bucks a gallon. Well, worth it.



Coley

Dave - take the easy way out and pay someone to do it, then you don't have to worry about it! :hihi:

Mike, I can see the finish line, I'm too close to being done to quit now. I picked up the stain tonight on the way home from work..... Thanks for all the help.

By the time I'm done, there oughta be plenty of mung on the cape. Perfect timing...Oh well...