What is the best treatment for half-log pine siding on my cabin?  I
would like it to look good.  It was treated with clear polyurethane
last year and it is weathering already and looks like it needs to be
recoated especially where sun hits it.  PLease be specific on brands
of paint and treatments.

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Request for Question Clarification by leapinglizard-ga on 10 Sep 2004 09:57 PDT

Regarding your comment below, I'll tell you what they do. They
periodically apply a weather-proof stain to the wood. This is how
suburban home owners can keep their decks nice and brown while others'
turn gray. Horizontal surfaces require staining at least biannually,
but vertical surfaces with little rain exposure can get away with five
years between staining. Should I post this as an answer with
additional details on brands and product names?

leapinglizard

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Clarification of Question by skimartin-ga on 10 Sep 2004 11:57 PDT

Hi leapinglizard.  Applying stain would mean removing the polyirethane
first.  Also I was told the darker the stain the better protection,
but I would like to keep it light- like this picture
http://www.rushcreekrealty.com/805.htm  Give your thoughts on this.  I
was suggested Behr waterproofing #82.
Anyway, if you have a suggestion for how to prep it (strip it) and
what to apply for stain, go ahead and post it as an answer.

skimartin-ga: Unfortunately, there are no consumer applied CLEAR
coatings that are truly durable. (I speak from 45 years experience in
the coatings industry)
The reason is that clear coats, even those with UV blockers, transmit
harmful UV rays which deteriorate the SURFACE upon which the clear
rests, causing the clear coat to detach. It is possible in an
industrial situation to put a UV resistant undercoat on metal, then
finish with a clear which will weather well.
This type of application requires high oven temperatures, cannot be
applied to wood. I recommend that you strip off the polyurethane clear
on your logs and allow them to weather naturally.
monroe22

monroe22, I appreciate your comment.  If I let it weather it will turn
gray though.  Out west they have many log lodges, that look really
nice and have been there for a long time.  I wonder what they do.