Cedar Siding...pros/cons?

[Wes Crawford]

Hello;
I am pondering buying a Fuqua home with their cedar siding option. What are the pros and cons of cedar siding?
What is the best way to take care of cedar siding? How long will it last?
Thanks,
Wes

[Rschmitt]

The siding has been sealed front and back from the factory which is very good. Weather and sun will deteriorate the oil finish and will need regular maintenance to keep siding from becoming weather damaged and splitting. Sun is the worst culprit. The more pigment in the stain, the more resistance to UV rays. This is why paint lasts longer than stain. Consumer Reports regularly tests paints and stains and I would defer to their knowledge about longevity.I believe they rate Cabot Stains the best. A good rule of thumb would be that you will need to restain or seal every 2-3 years to keep original appearance. The sun exposed side will weather and breakdown faster. If after many years the difference between sides of home are unbearbly noticeable, you can always pressure wash with bleach and start the whole process over. Some people start with natural clear stain, then progress to a lightly pigmented stain, then to a highly pigmented stain (which looks more like a paint color yet the grain is very much noticeable) and then finally give in to paint. This is what you have to do if you want the wood look.
I have wood siding and my home is 19 years old. I last bleached and oil stained it (with lightly pigmented stain) 3 years ago and now it needs to be redone in the fourth year. I live in CA in the redwoods but on a south facing slope and get plenty of sun. To me the ascetics are worth the maintenance.

The Certainteed cement lap siding will hold paint much longer because it does not absorb moisture and expand and contract as much as wood. Also, it will never rot or get attacked by bugs.

[Wes Crawford]

Hey, I think we are neighbors: I live in redwood country too, Hoopa to be exact.
Thanks for your input and knowledge on the siding. I just talked to a contractor yesterday about the siding and he said to make sure it was treated on both sides like you said it was. My lot is bare; I will be pounded by the sun for the entire day.
Maybe you can answer this question: I was told by a "jack of all trades" fella that I should wait one year before treating the cedar. He said that the wood needed to be exposed to all the elements before applying anything to it. Is this correct?
Again, thanks,
Wes