With a porous material like cedar the main idea is to apply a greater quantity of paint to the wood and hand brushing is the best way to accomplish this.
How to paint new cedar siding.
Reach the high areas or apply cleaner to the less dirty areas using a roller with an extension pole which doesn t allow you to apply as much pressure or elbow grease as a paint brush.
Although there are a few acrylic primers on the market capable of blocking tannin bleed thru you really can t go wrong with the oil primer in it s stead.
Step 4 let the cleaner sit on the cedar siding for 15 to 30 minutes.
With new cedar wood siding starting from scratch as in an artisan s canvas this surface area should be cleaned and dried.
Do prime the exposed wood whether new or previously painted with oil primer.
Allow it to dry for the amount of time specified on the instruction label.
Solid color stains have solid particles but not nearly as many as paint.
First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding.
Using a stiff bristled brush scrub the siding.
To refinish the old surface first scrape away all loose cracked or peeling finish.
Apply one even thorough coat of water repellant preservative to the cedar siding with a paint brush or roller.
Then apply 2 coats of quality acrylic finish and you re good to go for many years.
Gymschu gave you the consummate advice for painting new cedar siding.
Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks.
When painting or staining new cedar.
Choose the optimal window of time for painting cedar it is recommended that you paint within two weeks of installing the cedar.
What you get is a very uniform opaque color.
Mildew must be killed and removed before western red cedar is refinished or the mildew will grow through the new paint coat or solid color stain.
Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes.
Choose a paint and primer.
Staining cedar with a solid color stain.
If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation.
Thus solid color stains let some of the cedar s grain show through but none of the color.
Once done let the wood dry completely for approximately two weeks.
Brand new cedar wood and cedar siding freshly milled could have a moisture content too high accepting much of the product coatings your attempting to use.
The upside is that solid color stains will block most damaging ultraviolet light.
Cedar siding painting will only be successful if you have a clean slate.
Sand the bare wood and any remaining finish to feather the edges smooth with the bare wood.
Do not allow peeling paint to remain on the cedar siding before painting.
Do not however use a power washer because cedar can t withstand the pressure.