Cedar Screen Door Finishes

Cedar is a classic material in home construction because of its durability, affordability, and design versatility. If you have recently purchased a new cedar screen door, you may be wondering how to finish it. While some homeowners opt to paint cedar doors, others decide to stain them.

Both paint and stain offer protection and visual appeal and which you choose ultimately boils down to a matter of personal preference. Here are some things to keep in mind, though, when you are making your decision.

Many property owners love the natural look of wood. With stain, you can preserve the rustic appearance of your cedar while safeguarding it against rot and fading. There are several affordable options for staining your door: transparent, semi-transparent, and opaque stain.

Since you don’t have to scrape or prime your cedar prior to staining it, this finish requires less work than painting it. However, stain is thinner than paint. So stain will need to be reapplied more frequently than paint would.

With paint, of course, you can select whichever color best fits your home design. Typically, paint is a little more expensive per gallon than stain. Paint acts as a film over the wood, so it performs more effectively against sunlight and moisture. And since paint is thicker, it will better conceal any blemishes, which may be useful as your cedar door ages over time.