I would say the most important factor would be the stain. If you are going with a colored stain, check to see if you can purchase a 100% oil base stain, not latex, something that will soak in the wood, to help preserve it. I will have to say it is better for bonding to the wood also. I'd advise not to buy the less expensive brand to save a few bucks, it could come back to bite you. The first oil stain that was put on, was made by Sherwin-Williams, and was great stain. Sometime in the 80's, they quit making it, probably due to the aluminum, and vinyl siding craze. A local hardware carried a decent brand oil stain, and it also seemed to hold up well. About 8 years ago, I went back to the same hardware, and got what I thought was the same product. Within 5 years, everything facing direct sun exposure, started rolling off. It wasn't due to high humidity, it was put on in Sept., our usual painting time when the humidity in low. Every other side of the house that doesn't get direct exposure was fine.
Are you referring to the old creosote-based stains they had 50-odd years ago? Yeah, they stood up well, but they were pretty toxic too. Back in the early-ish 60s my father had the bright idea to rent a sprayer to re-stain their house. Got the job done much faster, but the overspray droplets did a number on my mother's flower gardens (she was not happy), and I recall getting some on my skin and it burned for several days and didn't wash off.
Much as with lead-based vs today's paint, modern stains may not be as durable but they're less hazardous too.
I agree, you do need to shop carefully for a fully penetrating stain...it seems most "stains" these days are non-penetrating and don't work well on shakes.
Plan on getting a lot of stain...it soaks right in and you get a lot less coverage than you would for a similar amount of paint.
This 289 year old house (built 1730), has never had any exterior siding other than white cedar shingles, allowed to naturally weather.
On South and West exposures, cedar shingles can last 40 years before requiring replacement.
On North and East exposures, up to 50 years.
Who could ask for more?
Absolutely NO MAINTENANCE,..... unless..... they have been either stained, or painted!
My house is about 100 years newer than yours. Dunno what it started out with for siding, but I'd say the shakes that are on it now go back a good 60-70 years. They're getting a little thin on the SW side, but the rest are in great shape. Even that side of the house will likely outlast me. They have been kept stained over the years.
When I re-sided my garage I left the shakes there natural. Wife kind of wants to stain them, but I like 'em the way they are. This far inland they don't turn that beautiful gray color they do near the coast, but still they weather nicely.
no maintenance is a FALLACY when it comes to cedar!. if it's stained, it gets bleached by the sun, and you'd think bugs and woodpeckers, and carpenter bees would stay away from it?, not a chance, My house has cedar shakes, and I get major problems from all three!.. Vinyl siding is the answer!.. forget cedar.. btw, forget trolls.. just noticed..
Vinyl siding, ugh. Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh! Maybe OK on a house built in the last 40 years or so, but anyone who puts vinyl siding on a vintage house should face criminal charges.
I've never had problems with bees or woodpeckers, don't think we have carpenter bees this far north and the woodpeckers stay in the trees.
Someone mentioned brick. That seems popular in the south and parts of the midwest, probably makes sense where termites are a problem but it seems like it would be hideously expensive and not practical to install unless it's new construction.
