Need help with faded wood

[harrisjnet]

We put T1-11 siding on most of our house four years ago. We never got around to sealing it and it is now very weathered looking. We just finished putting on the rest of the siding and added a room with new siding. Is there any thing I can do to bring the colring back in the weathered wood?

[DenverGirlie]

short of staining it, no

[halfpint]

Sometimes pressure washing will take off the layer of faded wood, then let dry well, and seal all of the wood.
Dawn

[ricky]

may try bleach. i know when cabins are built they bleach the logs after to make them look better . try a small spot and see if it works

[NWoods_Hippie]

Bleach will destroy the cellulose fibers that make up of wood, NEVER use bleach on wood siding or logs.

I own a small (very small just me!) house painting company in Northern Wisconsin and BLEACH is a BIG BIG NO NO!!

As to pressure washing, let the structure dry for at least three weeks to a month before sealing or staining, and use the lowest pressure setting! I DON'T ever pressure wash because it drives the dirt and grime on the surface into the wood, not a good thing! Also IMO pressure washing is only going to make the light faded wood lighter!

I am starting on a 1/2 log sided house in a couple of weeks, the south and west sides are badly faded, but the east and north sides look good. So what I am doing with that house is staining the whole place in April, then I will come back in August and re-stain the two faded sides, should pretty much even the whole place out.

Harrisjnet, please feel free to PM me if you like, and also PM me photos which would give me a better idea of what you are working with.

Peace,
Margie

[harrisjnet]

Thanks Marge. I will get some pictures taken and post or pm you. I was wondering if Thompson's Deck cleaner might not take the weathered look away.

[NWoods_Hippie]

Thompson's will NOT take the weathered look away or change the color much, it will clean the siding and prep it for staining or sealing please make sure you put it on VERY evenly or you will get streaks and lines, and I speak from experience on this!!!

I can recommend some products that are more "earth" friendly than Thompson's if you are interested.

Margie

[agmantoo]

I know how to "fade" the new wood if that would help!

[harrisjnet]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

I know how to "fade" the new wood if that would help!

I would like to lighten the faded and fade the new to make them both look alike. We like the weathered look, but would like to lighten it a little. If that isn't possible, we just want it to match. My camera batteries were down today. I will post a picture of the old and new side by side that bothers me.

[T Rice]

Originally Posted by NWoods_Hippie

I can recommend some products that are more "earth" friendly than Thompson's if you are interested.

Margie

Please do

[NWoods_Hippie]

T Rice, I will get some links a bit later this morning.

[harrisjnet]

I finally got a picture uploaded. You can see my problem. There are two places on the house where new and old siding meet. If there is a way of getting them looking more the same, I am all ears.

[vicker]

How old it the older siding? They will look the same in a couple years. Put sealer on the older one then let the newer on fade before sealing it.
Now that is a cute kid with good fashion taste.

[harrisjnet]

Originally Posted by vicker

How old it the older siding? They will look the same in a couple years. Put sealer on the older one then let the newer on fade before sealing it.
Now that is a cute kid with good fashion taste.

The Kid is my 4 yr old Granddaughter. She didn't think I needed to take a picture without her in it. The siding was put on when she was tiny, so it has been up around 4 years.

[vicker]

And smart too!!? Why waist pictures