Use and Care Manual

General Finishing Tips
■
Apply finishes on windless days.Tem-
perature should be between 50 and 70
degrees Fahrenheit.
■
Surfaces should be clean and dry
■
New structures built with unseasoned
wood should air-dry one month before
finishing.
■
Back-priming is recommended for all
exterior finishes, particularly paints.
■
Don’t use wire brushes or steel wool as
metal particles may become embedded
in the wood and can cause stains. Use
stiff bristle brushes.
■
Use finishes recommended for wood
exteriors.
■
Follow manufacturer’s directions and
read warnings on toxicity
■
Don’t mix incompatible materials. Finish
failures may result from mixing incom-
patible products or applying them over
one another.
■
Moisture is the most common cause
of finish failures, so use proper vapor
barriers, air vents and flashing in new
construction.
■
Saw-textured redwood holds stains,
water repellents and bleaches up to
twice as long as smooth-surfaced wood.
■
Redwood grade marked Certified Kiln
Dried will provide the best finish retention
available.
■
To avoid nail stains, use stainless steel,
aluminum or top quality hot-dipped
galvanized nails.
■
Periodic rinsing with a garden hose will
remove dirt and grime from siding.
Stubborn build-up can be removed by
scrubbing with a bristle brush with a
solution of warm water and a mild
detergent. Rinse afterward.
■
Splash lines can be minimized by an
occasional hosing of the unaffected
area, which will even the appearance
of the wood.
Exterior Finishes Not Recommended
■
Varnishes and polyurethanes crack and
pool when used for exteriors. They are
difficult and expensive to apply and
deteriorate quickly Removal is expen-
sive and difficult.
■
Pure oil-treatments such as boiled
linseed oil, are not recommended on
exterior redwood as they tend to promote
mildew growth. Quality oil-based finishes,
including those based upon linseed oil,
contain mildewcides, and are appropriate
for use on exterior redwood.
■
“Shake and shingle” type paints do not
last well on redwood lumber siding.
Clear Water Repellents
with Mildewcide
Clear finishes that modify weath-
ering characteristics and let
color and grain show through.
Bleaching or
Weathering Stains
Low maintenance, natural
appearance with a gray-
toned finish.
Semitransparent Stains
Penetrating finishes available
in a variety of semitransparent
colors including several
redwood hues. Oil-based
stains are recommended.
Solid Body Stains
Film forming finishes avail-
able in a wide variety of
opaque colors. Oil-based
stains are recommended.
Paints
Durable, attractive finishes for
traditional exteriors. Quality
paints are generally worth the
extra cost.
Exterior Finishes
Natural Appearance Finishes Description
Pigmented Stains
Paints