Does Cedar Siding Rot

Over the years the wood loses much of its tannin.

Does cedar siding rot.

Any time dirt debris and moisture are allowed to pile up on the siding and in the creases mold and mildew will grow. If you leave cedar wood untreated it will not succumb to the devastating effects of mold rot and insect damage. As albany fence designs mentions the natural forces of nature such as wind and rain will slowly cause untreated cedar wood structures such as fences and furniture to fade. It doesn t need a sealer.

However redwoods and cedars have notably different physical weathering characteristics. Cedar is the most obvious choice for wood siding. I would guess that along with the stain being at the end of its life with a lower level of protection the cedar has simply run out of time and run out of protection. As is the case with other types of wood siding cedar is flammable unless specially treated.

However it will lose its typically golden brown color. It requires regular maintenance in the form of repainting or re staining every three to five years. Aside from certain regional varieties of cedar such as aspens cedar exhibits weather resistance similar to redwood. The higher the solid count the more protective the paint.

And while it is rot resistant it is not rot proof. It has something to do with the wood we harvest now being from second growth trees that don t have the resins they had a hundred years ago. Similar to redwoods cedars naturally produce pest and rot resistant compounds. This will gradually weaken the wood and lead to rot.

We heard that it s a myth that cedar is rot resistant. For the interior of a raised bed a geotextile or landscape fabric can separate the bedding soil from the wood to wick moisture away from the wood and preserve its longevity. Despite a higher resistance cedar is still more prone to rot woodpeckers and insect damage than artificial alternatives. Stains are not as protective because they lack the high solid count.