Cedar Siding Painting in Michigan
Cedar is beautiful, but keeping it that way can mean re-staining every few summers. Our cedar siding painting seals cedar siding and shakes under Rhino Shield’s ceramic coating, with tannin-blocking prep and a 25-year warranty.
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Keep the Cedar, Lose the Re-Staining Schedule
Cedar siding and cedar shakes are some of the best-looking exteriors on any Michigan street. They’re also some of the most demanding. Sun grays the wood, lake-effect moisture feeds mildew, and most stains and paints start to break down in three to five years.
Cedar also has its own chemistry. The natural oils and tannins that make it rot-resistant can bleed through ordinary paint as brown or orange stains, especially after rain.
Our cedar siding painting deals with both problems. We clean and prep the wood, use a stain-blocking primer to lock in tannins, and finish with Rhino Shield, a flexible ceramic coating that lets the wood breathe while keeping water out. You keep the texture and shadow lines of cedar, in a color that lasts.
Table of Contents
Cedar Siding Problems We Fix
Graying and Weathered Cedar
Unprotected cedar turns silver-gray and the surface fibers break down. We wash and prep it back to a sound surface before priming.
Tannin Bleed
Brown streaks coming through light colors are tannins from the wood. A stain-blocking primer stops them before the finish coat goes on.
Peeling Stain or Paint
Old coatings that are flaking or patchy are scraped and cleaned off so the new system bonds properly.
Cupped, Split or Loose Shakes
Cedar shakes take a beating from freeze-thaw. Damaged pieces are repaired or replaced before coating.
Mildew and Black Spotting
Shaded cedar near trees and water holds moisture. Cleaning and sealing the surface keeps it from coming back as fast.
Why Choose Rhino Shield for Cedar Siding
Tannin-blocking prep. Cedar needs a primer that holds back its natural oils. Skipping it is why so many painted cedar homes look streaky.
A breathable, flexible finish. The coating moves with cedar as it swells and shrinks, and it lets vapor escape instead of trapping it.
25-year warranty. Coverage against cracking, chipping and peeling, compared with the few years you get from most stains.
Texture stays visible. Shakes and lap cedar keep their character. The coating follows the grain and profile.
A local family business. Marc and Sheryl Mercier run Rhino Shield of Michigan from Brighton, fully licensed and insured.
Our Cedar Siding Painting Process
- Inspection. We look at the cedar, the condition of any shakes and the existing finish.
- Cleaning. Gentle but thorough washing removes dirt, mildew and loose material.
- Repairs. Split or rotted boards and shakes are replaced or fixed.
- Scraping and caulking. Loose coatings are removed and gaps are sealed.
- Stain-blocking primer and top coat. Tannins are sealed in, then the Rhino Shield ceramic finish is applied.
- Walkthrough. We do the detail work, clean up and inspect the result with you.
Cedar Siding Painting Cost in Michigan
For a home with about 2,000 square feet of wall area, a Rhino Shield system generally runs $13,000 to $18,000, or roughly $6.50 to $9.00 per square foot. Shake homes and houses that need more repair or more height access can land higher.
Re-staining cedar every three to five years adds up fast over a couple of decades. The coating costs more once, then lasts. Details are on our pricing page.
Areas We Serve Across Michigan
Cedar homes and cottages are common up north, so we spend a lot of time around Traverse City, Petoskey, Harbor Springs and along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Closer to home, we serve Brighton, Livingston County and Southeast Michigan, including Ann Arbor and Bloomfield Hills, as well as the Lansing and Grand Rapids areas.
Shoreline homes see wind-driven rain and humidity that wear cedar out quickly, which is exactly where a long-life coating makes the most sense.
Related Coating Services
- All surfaces we coat
- Wood siding painting
- Wood and substrate repairs
- Our color selection process
- Our 25-year warranty
What Our Customers Say
“Eduardo and his crew were fantastic. Thorough, professional, courteous, thoughtful and careful. Top notch work. The product looks fantastic.” David Lansky, Google review
“We have had so many compliments on how nice the house looks.” Don Sims, Google review
“Exceptional all around! He even left his cell number if I had concerns or questions when the job was in progress.” Yolanda Ludington, Google review
Cedar Siding Painting FAQs
Yes. Cedar siding and shakes can be painted or coated once they are clean, dry and primed with a stain-blocking primer. That primer is what keeps the natural tannins in cedar from bleeding through the finish.
Stain shows more of the wood grain but usually needs recoating every three to five years. An opaque coating covers the grain color while keeping the texture, and lasts much longer. If low maintenance matters most, coating is the stronger option.
Tannins are natural compounds in cedar that dissolve in water and move to the surface, leaving brown or orange stains on light colors. A proper stain-blocking primer seals them in.
Rhino Shield is backed by a 25-year warranty against cracking, chipping and peeling. Most stains and paints on cedar need attention within a few years.
Yes. Shakes need careful cleaning and repair of any split or loose pieces, and the coating has to be worked into the rough texture. We handle both shake and lap cedar.
For a typical home with about 2,000 square feet of wall area, expect about $13,000 to $18,000 for the full Rhino Shield system, plus any repairs. We confirm the price after an in-home visit.
No. Because the coating follows the grain and profile, cedar keeps its depth and shadow lines. What changes is the color and how long it stays clean and sharp.
Book Your Cedar Siding Painting Estimate
Let your cedar keep its character without the constant re-staining. Schedule a free estimate and color consultation, and we’ll walk the house with you.
Rhino Shield of Michigan
Contractor ID: MI Lic: #2102200455
Address: 2150 Pless Dr #7A, Brighton, MI 48114
Service Area: Southeast Michigan, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Traverse City
Phone: 810-360-6583
Hours: Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Email: rhinoshieldmi@gmail.com
License & Insurance: Fully Licensed & Insured in Michigan