Finishing Cedar?

[Mark Kelly]

What is the appropriate way to finish cedar that is to be outside and painted? Does it have to be primed? I have heard also of people using BLO first, then painting it. This is for trim on a new shed. Thanks!

[Chris Padilla]

Use a good acrylic latex for the top coat and by all means, a good primer, too. David Rose recently went through all this...do a search on threads started by him...it was not 2 weeks ago.

[Mark Kelly]

I read that thread and it was more about the type of paint rather than an appropriate finishing technique. Although I may have had the wrong thread, I did learn a little more about what I want to do.

[Chris Padilla]

I wouldn't bother with BLO...frankly, I don't see the point. In your case, the only thing BLO would be good for is thining out any oil-base paint/primer you might choose but I would stick with acrylic latex for any outdoor jobs.

[Kelly C. Hanna]

Any exterior wood should be primed if you are going to paint it. Skip the BLO unless you want to use marine poly for the finish.

[Tom Peterson]

If you want it to last, seal all four sides of the materail and the end grain at the cut-off. Moisture will seep in from all over. I did my shed with this method and have had no failure of the top coat. the house on the other hand in need of work.