How to Apply Stain to Rough-Cut Cedar

Clean off the cedar surface by brushing away dirt and debris with a stiff bristled brush.

Apply a layer of primer, using an alkyd primer specifically recommended by its manufacturer as a stain-blocking cedar primer. Brush the primer in place with a paintbrush, applying the primer along with the grain of the wood and using long strokes. Overlap each paint stroke with the next, always working from an already wet point on the wood over dry area and covering small sections of the wood at a time, for example a single board of siding. Cover the entire surface with the primer using two thin layers rather than a single thick coat in order to avoid gaps in coverage. Wait 48 hours for the primer to dry.

Check on any rising in the wood grain due to absorption of the primer into the wood’s surface. If the grain has risen, then sand the primed surface smooth with medium-grit sandpaper. Wipe away any residue left after sanding with a clean cloth before continuing.

Apply the stain as you did the primer, brushing it on along the grain of the wood and using two thin layers to create a single coat. Cover the primer with two coats of stain to make certain that you conceal the primer color. Wait 24 hours for the first coat to dry before applying the second, and then wait 72 hours for the second coat to dry before touching the surface.