question about western red cedar

[markm]

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.