to finish outdoor cedar or not, that is the question.

[Chris Mann]

I'm finishing up a cedar arbor/gate for a client and originally they didn't want to have a finish on it (they wanted it to age to that nice silver/gray color). But after seeing how much this is going to cost them, they're having second thoughts. (After getting price quotes on clear cedar I had to scale back the original design, 2x8's ran almost $8 a lf.)

So I'm wondering how much life finishing the cedar will add and also if there's any particular finish that will still let it age in color but protect it from the elements. Also something that's fairly easy to apply and maintain would be a plus.

-chris

[Don Baer]

I built a deck 17 years ago. I Used Thompsons water seal on it and it's still standing good as new. It's clear so the wood shows through and the sun bleached it out.