Stain
Cedar Staining in Wanaka
Faded cedar brought back to a deep, even colour, using penetrating oil stains built for high country sun.
Why cedar fades so fast here
Wanaka sits at altitude with thin, clear air and long summer days. UV is the thing that kills a cedar finish, not rain, and we get a lot of it. North and west walls take the brunt and will often be visibly lighter than the south side of the same house within a couple of years.
Once the coating gives up, UV starts breaking down the timber surface itself. That is when cedar goes silver grey and a bit furry to touch. Left long enough you lose real timber, not just colour, and the fix stops being a re-stain and starts being a full restoration.
What we use and why
We only use penetrating oil stains on cedar. They soak into the timber and wear back gradually, so the next coat goes straight over the top after a wash. Film forming products look great for a while, then crack and peel, and every future recoat means stripping the lot off.
For most homes here that means Dryden WoodOil or Colourtone for premium jobs, or Resene Woodsman where the budget is tighter. Both are proven in Central Otago conditions. We will talk you through the trade offs on site rather than pushing one product at every house.
Proper wash first
Chemical clean to lift dirt, mould and chalked coating, then dry back to under 18 percent moisture before anything goes on.
Sanding where it counts
Grey, weathered boards get sanded back to fresh timber so the stain actually holds colour.
Two coats, wet on wet
Cedar drinks the first coat. A single coat looks fine on day one and patchy by summer.
Everything masked
Windows, joinery, decks and gardens covered before we open a tin.
How it runs
The cedar staining process
The same person who quotes your job runs it, from the first walk around to the last one. No handovers, nothing lost in between.
- Step 01
Site visit and quote
We walk the house, check moisture, elevation by elevation, and tell you honestly whether it needs a re-stain or a full restoration.
- Step 02
Wash and dry
Chemical wash to remove mould and old chalked coating, then a few days drying depending on weather.
- Step 03
Prep and sand
Sand back weathered areas, spot fill and treat any damaged boards, mask all joinery.
- Step 04
Stain
Two coats of penetrating oil stain, brushed and backed off so there are no lap marks on long boards.
- Step 05
Clean up and walk through
Masking off, site tidy, then we walk the job with you before we send the invoice.
Seen it in the flesh
Cedar restoration in Northlake
The original coating had failed on the sunny elevations and was peeling in sheets. We sanded the cladding back to raw timber and rebuilt the finish from bare.
- Chemical wash and full dry down
- Failed coating removed and cladding sanded to bare timber
- End grain sealed, damaged boards made good
- Two coats of penetrating oil stain, extra on north and west walls
Reviews
What people say once we have left
Bradley and his partner were excellent to work with. So obliging and did such a fantastic job. So easy to recommend and I will be using for any further work I need done. They did exterior staining on my property.
Bradley and team were reliable, easy to communicate with, and did a great job.
Thanks to Brad for doing such an amazing job on our Wanaka house. The newly stained cedar looks beautiful and the whole house has had a lift. It was very easy to work with Brad as out-of-town home owners. Highly recommended!
Answers
Cedar Staining questions
How often should cedar be re-stained in Wanaka?
Every 2 to 3 years for north and west facing walls, and 3 to 4 years for sheltered south elevations. It is normal to do the sunny sides more often than the rest of the house.
What is the best stain for cedar in Central Otago?
A penetrating oil stain with strong UV blockers. We mostly use Dryden Colourtone or WoodOil for premium jobs and Resene Woodsman as a solid mid range option. We avoid film forming products on cedar cladding.
Can I change the colour of my cedar?
Within reason. You can go darker easily. Going lighter usually means sanding the whole house back first, which adds cost. We will show you samples on your own timber before you commit.
How much does cedar staining cost?
Most single storey homes with full cedar cladding come in around $6,000 to $7,000 when the prep work is reasonable. Heavily weathered cedar needing a full sand back costs more. Every quote is priced off your actual house, and photos are enough for a ballpark.
Get in touch
Not sure what your cedar needs?
Send three photos: the whole house, the sunniest wall, and a close up of the worst boards. We will tell you straight whether it wants a wash, a recoat or the full job.