Asked on Jun 15, 2019

How do I restain my cedar porch posts?

SusieQ
by SusieQ

My outdoor porch has two cedar posts and trim that the builder insisisted needed a stain to protect it. I tried to choose a color that most resembled natural cedar, but the semi transparent stain came out very orange. Now that the stain is showing wear, (six years later), I want to stain it a darker color. Can I put a grey a or brown stain over the orangish one and have it come out okay?

  3 answers
  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Jun 15, 2019

    you can stain it any color clear will accentuate the color of the cedar which is orange. do not seal them it will mask the qualities of the cedar like bug repelling which is one reason cedar is used. here is great article for you to read on this https://satoridesignforliving.com/the-orange-fence-is-gone/

    • SusieQ SusieQ on Jun 16, 2019

      Thanks, the article was very helpful and encouraging!

  • Dee Dee on Jun 15, 2019

    I used exterior Sherwin Williams paint and painted my cedar porch posts.

    • SusieQ SusieQ on Jun 16, 2019

      I'd like to stick with stain but good to know you can paint over stain.

  • Gk Gk on Jun 15, 2019

    I would think that putting a darker stain over the orange looking stain would work fine. If the previous stain was the variety that soaked into the wood and you don't have any peeling or bubbling to clean off first you should be able to just clean off the posts with hose and high spray, let dry for a day or so and then stain.

    • See 1 previous
    • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Jun 16, 2019

      water/water base stain/paint pulls the tannins out of wood, Knotted pine and cedar can be a challenge exposing yellow or orange bleed through. And ALL types of wood can be tenacious if grease/oil or water stains start surfacing from the existing finish. so if you paint make sure they are really dry after cleaning and prime/paint with a sealer so the tannin or stain can’t penetrate through.Good remedy for bleed through/stains is shellac or shellac based primer.Other stain blockers that also work are oil based primer/paints, spray shellac, polyurethane. By applying any of these products, the stain or bleed through will be sealed and won’t penetrate through your next coat of paint.Kilx High Bonding Adhesion primer works well