- 1). Wash the exterior cedar with a pressure washer. Hold the washer's spraying nozzle no closer than 3 feet from the softwood, or splintering could result. Spray in the direction of the cedar wood grain to prevent unexpected damage. Let the cedar dry for a full day.
- 2). Add painter's masking tape to surfaces adjacent to the cedar. Cover the ground beneath the softwood, using canvas drop cloths.
- 3). Add no more than 3 gallons of acrylic primer to a 5-gallon bucket. Apply a base coat of primer to the cedar, using a roller. Roll vertically, priming no more than a 4-foot-wide portion of cedar at a time. Stop and use a 3- to 4-inch nylon-bristled synthetic paintbrush to touch up the softwood. Continue this application procedure until all of the cedar is primed. Let the softwood dry for 2 hours.
- 4). Wash the nylon-bristled synthetic paintbrush and roller twice, using a water hose.
- 5). Paint the cedar as you primed it. Use an exterior acrylic paint. Let the softwood dry for 2 hours. Do not add a second coat unless the primer base bleeds through.
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