Indoor Preparation

For optimal results, Real Cedar needs to acclimatize to the humidity conditions of your indoor space before installation. This will enable the cedar to achieve equilibrium moisture content with its surroundings. Which is important because Western Red Cedar is a natural material and as such tends to react to the humidity content of a new environment either by shrinking or swelling. Typically speaking, kiln dried clear cedar will take 3-5 days, dry knotty cedar will take 7-10 days and green (unseasoned) cedar will take at least 30 days.

Feel Out Your Finish

Depending on its texture, Real Cedar wood may require a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper to remove any minor surface characteristics. It’s also good practice to experiment with the proposed finish on a small sample of wood identical to the product to be finished. This will ensure that the coating will achieve the desired effect. Once a choice has been made about the finish, the same brand name should used throughout to avoid incompatible formulations and color inconsistencies.