Questions about staining exterior siding.

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Has anyone done this? I've been told that 2 leading brands are Sikkens and Penofin.

My house has rough finish cedar siding. The plan is to pressure wash, bleach, let it dry and then apply stain. I don’t know yet if this is done with a brush or spray bottle. Given the surface, it would be far easier to spray it on, but probably very messy and I'm not enthusiastic about wearing a chemical proof outfit while doing the work.

Comments?

[PaulC]

I'd be less enthusiastic about trashing my liver. Wear the outfit.

[AdvisorGuy]

I made the mistake or trying to spray a stockade fence 10 years ago.. I dunno if it was my particular sprayer but it was uneven & streaky. By the 3rd section, I stopped with the sprayer & went back over them with a brush, then finished the whole fence by brush...

[dynalow]

Just curious.
Why pressure wash then bleach, instead of the other way around?
When I paint, I spray bleach (50/50), then wash. Then, I'm painting a clean surface. Mildew residue and buildup is my biggest concern.
Will bleach leave any residue that may react with paint or stain? Or does it "dry up and blow away?"
What about the "objects" of the bleaching? Or are you bleaching for coloration effects only?

(I'm not a painter, so I don't know right from wrong.)