DIY Outdoor Cedar Plank Wall Panel

Acclimate your cedar wall panels to the moisture conditions in the area if they are "finished." Store them vertically by stacking them on separators in a dry storage area. Keep them in storage for one week to 10 days. If your wall panels are "green," or unseasoned, they will also need to be acclimatized by vertically stacking them, but it will take a minimum of 30 days to prepare the siding. More than 30 days may be needed in humid conditions.

Stain or paint the wall panels if needed, including the ends. This helps seal the panels and prevents mold. Be sure to use a high quality stain or paint that will help the panels resist both heat and moisture.

Install flashing to prevent moisture from collecting behind the walls and to direct the flow of water away from the building. Flashing helps prevent leaking. Add flashing to window and door headers to flow water away from the openings.

Attach the wall panels with galvanized fasteners, nails and staples.These types of fasteners are treated to resist moisture invasion from extreme weather conditions.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully during installation. Tongue and groove panels can sometimes be installed vertically or horizontally. Siding panels up to 6-inches wide can be attached with one siding nail. Wider panels should have at least two nails per piece.