A nice bit of news landed in the inbox this month. One of our cedar staining jobs was featured in Resene's Trade Talk newsletter, the one that goes out to professional painters and decorators all over New Zealand.
The job they picked was our cedar exterior restoration and stain refresh in Wānaka, where we took a weathered, unevenly greyed cedar home to a deep black using Resene Woodsman penetrating oil stain in Pitch Black. Resene called it a "super satisfying stain transformation", which is a fair way to put it. It was one of those jobs where the before and after photos really speak for themselves.
The job that caught their eye
The cedar on this home had greyed unevenly, especially around the front entry and the most exposed walls. That's normal for cedar in Central Otago. Our UV is harsh, the summers are dry and the frosts are hard, so any stain slowly breaks down and the timber underneath starts to silver.
The owners didn't want to fight the greying with a like-for-like recoat. Instead they chose to take the cedar to a deep black for a bold, modern look.
The process was the same careful prep we bring to every cedar job. A soft wash with Resene Moss & Mould Killer first, then Resene Timber and Deck Wash to strip back the weathered grey surface. Once everything was dry, a light sand to open up the timber, then two coats of oil-based Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain in Resene Pitch Black. Woodsman soaks into the timber rather than sitting on top, so it won't peel or flake the way a film-forming coating can.
The owners were thrilled with the result, which is what matters most. Being noticed by Resene on top of that was a nice bonus.
Why this means a lot to us
Trade Talk is written for the trade, not for homeowners. It's painters talking to painters about products, prep and workmanship. So when Resene picks out one of our jobs to share with painting professionals around the country, that's a nod to the quality of the work itself, not just a pretty photo.
We use Resene stains and paints on most of our exterior work here in Wānaka because they're made for New Zealand conditions, and it's good to know the team behind those products rates how we're using them.
Thinking about your own cedar?
If your cedar has gone grey or patchy, it can almost always be brought back. Have a look at the full project to see what's possible, or read our guide on cedar staining in Wānaka.
Want a straight answer on your own place? Get in touch and we'll come take a look. No pressure, no jargon, just an honest assessment of what your timber needs.
