Leaving Siding Untreated

Wood siding that is too close to the ground or that does not have a rain screen or some other form of protection is particularly prone to these issues.

Leaving siding untreated.

By al rubin pages 24 26 journal of light construction april 1992. Wet conditions make for a nice breeding ground on untreated wood being used outdoors. This is going to cause the wood to decay rot and grow fungus over time. Treated and untreated wood siding can benefit from periodic washing with a pressure washer.

Untreated wood becoming wet can be the first problem. Cedar has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping rotting and cracking. Pressure washing removes ground in dirt insects and other debris. Leaving cedar untreated and exposed to the elements causes its natural honey color to become weathered and gray.

It should always be performed on new. In siding as in much else the natural look is in vogue these days with many customers wanting to leave their cedar or redwood siding unpainted and unstained. Most customers however want their houses to retain this natural took with all its honey toned brightness and without the natural graying that untreated wood sidings take on when exposed to sun and weather. Too much direct sun causes the siding to dry out warp and crack.

Most typically when using untreated woods outdoors you are going to run into several potential issues. It does weather though changing color throughout time offering a much more rugged look than stained cedar siding offers.