Things You Will Need
In order to maintain the color and to prolong the life-span, periodic cleaning, brightening, and refinishing of cedar shingles is essential.
Cleaning and Brightening Cedar Shingles
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Hose down the shingle siding with a garden hose to remove any dirt and residue.
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Mix a solution of wood cleaner in a plastic bucket. Wood cleaner is generally sold in a concentrated form. A mild solution will work well for a routine cleaning, and a heavier concentration will break down and remove old coatings. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the dilution of the wood cleaner.
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Apply the wood cleaner to the siding and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Then scrub the siding down with a nylon scrub brush.
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Rinse the siding thoroughly with water.
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Mix the wood brightener according the the manufacturer's instructions and apply it to the still wet wood.
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Allow the brightener to sit for 45 minutes, then rinse the siding thoroughly with water.
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Allow the shingles to dry for at least 24 hours before applying a finish.
Refinishing Cedar Shingles
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Mix the wood stain thoroughly with a stick. The pigments in stain tend to sink to the bottom of the bucket, so as you mix, scrape the bottom with your stick.
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If you are using several different 1-gallon cans of stain, mix them all together in a single 5-gallon bucket in order to ensure consistent color throughout.
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Mix periodically as you work in order to keep the pigment particles suspended.
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Apply the stain with a brush, roller, or sprayer. Transparent stain can reveal lap lines, so as you work, maintain a wet edge and stain an entire row of shingles at a time.
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Feed the wood as much stain as it will absorb, but don't over-apply. The stain should penetrate into the wood's surface within 15 minutes. Check the job a half hour after staining, and use a dry paint brush to remove any excess product that has not completely penetrated the wood's surface.
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Most penetrating stains cover with a single coat. In rare cases, if the shingles are aged or extremely dry, a second coat may be necessary. If, after applying a coat, the shingles look blotchy or lack color, apply a second coat. Just be careful not to leave excess product on the surface of the wood. Oil based stains will not dry hard; over-application can lead to a tacky surface.