Painting cedar shake siding requires specialized knowledge and techniques to achieve beautiful, lasting results in Minnesota's demanding climate. Cedar shake is a premium siding material prized for its natural beauty and rustic charm, but it demands proper maintenance to protect against moisture, UV damage, and the wear of harsh winters. At Weatherguard Construction, our family-owned team has been painting and maintaining cedar shake exteriors across Stillwater, Woodbury, Minneapolis, and the Twin Cities metro for over 25 years.
Understanding Cedar Shake Siding
Cedar shake siding consists of split or sawn wood shingles made from western red cedar — a naturally rot-resistant species valued for its dimensional stability and beautiful grain pattern. Cedar shake has been a staple of Minnesota home design for generations, particularly in lakeside communities, established neighborhoods, and craftsman-style homes throughout St. Paul and the inner-ring suburbs.
Cedar's natural oils provide initial resistance to rot and insects, but these oils deplete over time, leaving unprotected wood vulnerable to moisture, UV degradation, and biological attack. Regular painting or staining is essential to maintain cedar shake siding's beauty and structural integrity.
Paint vs. Stain for Cedar Shake
The first decision when refinishing cedar shake is whether to paint or stain. Both approaches have distinct advantages.
Painting Cedar Shake
Advantages:
- Complete color coverage in any color you choose
- Thicker film provides more moisture protection
- Longer intervals between maintenance (8-12 years vs. 3-5 years for stain)
- Easier to maintain with simple recoating
Disadvantages:
- Covers the natural wood grain that many homeowners love
- Can peel and flake if improperly applied, creating unsightly maintenance issues
- Requires more thorough surface preparation
Staining Cedar Shake
Advantages:
- Preserves natural wood grain texture and character
- Penetrates into the wood rather than sitting on top, reducing peeling risk
- Easier to apply to irregular shake surfaces
- Available in transparent, semi-transparent, and solid-color options
Disadvantages:
- Shorter lifespan — needs reapplication every 3-5 years for semi-transparent, 5-7 years for solid stain
- Less moisture protection than paint
- Transparent and semi-transparent stains show wood imperfections
At Weatherguard Construction, we recommend painting for cedar shake that has already been painted and staining for previously stained or bare cedar shake. Switching from stain to paint requires complete removal of the existing stain — a labor-intensive process.
Preparing Cedar Shake for Painting
Cedar shake's textured, irregular surface requires meticulous preparation for a successful paint job:
Cleaning
Power wash cedar shake carefully at lower pressure (1,000-1,500 PSI) to avoid damaging the soft wood. Use a cedar-safe cleaning solution to kill mold and mildew, which are common on shaded shake surfaces in Minnesota. Allow 48-72 hours for complete drying — cedar absorbs significant moisture during washing.
Addressing Wood Damage
Inspect every shake for:
- Splitting and cracking — Common in older cedar. Minor splits can be filled with exterior wood filler. Severely split shakes should be replaced.
- Rot and decay — Probe with an awl to test wood integrity. Soft, punky wood indicates rot that must be addressed. Small rot spots can be treated with wood hardener and filled. Extensive rot requires shake replacement.
- Warping and cupping — Cedar shakes that have warped significantly away from the wall should be re-fastened or replaced. Warped shakes allow moisture behind the siding.
- Loose or missing nails — Re-nail loose shakes and replace missing fasteners with stainless steel ring-shank nails.
Sanding
Light sanding removes loose wood fibers, smooths rough spots, and improves paint adhesion. Use 80-120 grit sandpaper on a sanding block, working with the grain. Focus on areas with glossy aged patina that may resist paint adhesion.
Priming
Cedar requires a quality stain-blocking primer to prevent tannin bleed — the dark brown staining that occurs when cedar's natural tannins migrate through paint. We use alkyd-based stain-blocking primers (like Zinsser Cover Stain or Kilz Original) for maximum tannin blocking. Latex primers may not adequately block cedar tannins, especially on older wood with heavy tannin deposits.
Best Paint Products for Cedar Shake
Top Recommendations
- Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior — Excellent flexibility and adhesion on textured surfaces
- Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior — Outstanding durability on cedar
- Benjamin Moore Regal Select Exterior — Good performance at a mid-range price
Paint Type
Use 100% acrylic latex exterior paint exclusively. Acrylic latex provides the flexibility cedar shake needs — shake expands and contracts significantly with moisture and temperature changes, and rigid paint films will crack and peel.
Sheen
Flat or satin finishes work best on cedar shake. The textured, irregular surface of shake panels doesn't benefit from higher sheens, and flat/satin finishes hide the natural surface variations beautifully.
Application Techniques for Cedar Shake
Brush Application
Brush application is often the best method for cedar shake, particularly on split-face shakes with deep texture. A quality exterior brush works paint into the grooves, splits, and irregular surface features that spray application may miss. Use a 4-inch flat brush for main surfaces and a 2-inch angled brush for edges and tight areas.
Spray and Back-Brush
For larger projects, spraying the body coat and immediately back-brushing (working the sprayed paint into the surface texture with a brush) provides the speed of spray application with the thorough coverage of brushing. This is our preferred method at Weatherguard Construction for cedar shake projects.
Two Full Coats
Cedar shake absolutely requires two full coats of paint over primer. The textured surface absorbs more paint than smooth siding, and the first coat often appears uneven. The second coat provides uniform coverage, depth of color, and maximum protection.
Maintaining Painted Cedar Shake
Painted cedar shake requires ongoing attention to maintain its beauty and protection:
- Annual inspection — Check for paint peeling, cracking, mold growth, and wood damage each spring
- Gentle cleaning — Wash annually with low-pressure water to remove dirt and mildew
- Prompt touch-ups — Address any paint failures immediately to prevent moisture damage
- Keep vegetation trimmed — Overhanging branches and climbing plants trap moisture against cedar surfaces
- Manage drainage — Ensure gutters and downspouts direct water away from cedar shake walls
Contact Weatherguard Construction at (651) 439-4320 or book a consultation to discuss your cedar shake painting project. We serve homeowners from Stillwater, plus Schaumburg, IL and Centennial, CO.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should cedar shake siding be repainted?
Painted cedar shake typically needs repainting every 8-12 years in Minnesota depending on sun exposure, paint quality, and maintenance. South and west-facing walls may need attention sooner. Semi-transparent stain needs reapplication every 3-5 years, while solid stain lasts 5-7 years.
Can you paint over stained cedar shake?
Converting from stain to paint is possible but requires thorough preparation. The existing stain must be completely removed or heavily sanded, and a stain-blocking primer must be applied. This adds significant labor cost to the project. Consult with Weatherguard Construction for an honest assessment of your specific situation.
Is it better to paint or replace cedar shake siding?
If your cedar shake is structurally sound — no significant rot, splitting, or warping — painting is far more cost-effective than replacement. Painting costs roughly one-quarter to one-third of cedar shake replacement. However, if extensive rot or damage is present, replacement with new cedar or LP SmartSide shingle-style panels may be the better long-term investment.
What causes paint to peel on cedar shake?
The most common causes of paint peeling on cedar are: inadequate surface preparation, moisture penetrating from behind the siding, tannin bleed through insufficient primer, painting over wet or damp wood, and using rigid paint that cannot flex with the wood's movement. Professional application with proper products eliminates these issues.
