If you live in Queenstown or Wanaka, you already know cedar cladding looks incredible on day one—and bleached and tired by year three if you ignore it. Our dry climate, altitude, and hard UV punish cedar faster than almost anywhere else in New Zealand. Skip maintenance for a season and you’ll be budgeting for scaffolding, stripping, and two full coats before you can say “sunstrike.”

This guide pulls together the local rates I see every week, the prep steps that actually matter, and an interactive calculator so you can forecast the budget before you book a painter. Whether you’re maintaining a newer build in Shotover Country or reviving a lakeside stunner in Peninsula Bay, use this to get accurate, Central Otago-specific numbers.

Why Cedar Costs Swing So Much Here

• UV intensity is extreme. At 300–400 metres above sea level, UV breaks down stain resins faster, especially on west facades hammered by the nor'wester.
• Humidity is low. Cedar dries out, opens the grain, and soaks up more product—so you need more litres and more labour.
• Wind exposure. Lakeside gusts force scaffold tie-downs, wind skirts, and extra labour time just to stay safe.
• Access is rarely easy. Split-level sections, steep slopes, and decks over schist walls add set-up time before anyone even touches a brush.

Add it up and a “simple” restain can triple in cost compared with the same area in Auckland. That’s why a dedicated cost tool makes sense for our region.

Quick Reference: Where the Money Goes

| Cost Driver | Typical Range | Notes | |-------------|---------------|-------| | Labour (2-painter crew) | $65–$80 per hour each | Includes wash, prep, stain. Travel adds if you’re out in Glenorchy or Hawea. | | Scaffold / access | $0–$2,500 | Zero for single-storey with decks, up to $5,000 for full-wrap lakeside homes exposed to wind. | | Stain product | $33–$44 per litre | Dryden WoodOil, Resene Woodsman, Sikkens systems—each with different coat counts & coverage. | | Prep chemicals | $1.50–$2.40 per m² | Softwash surfactants, oxalic brightener, mould treatments. | | Weather buffers | 8–10% of total | Spring wind and autumn frosts slow progress; build it into the budget. |

Plug In Your Numbers

How to use it:

• Measure the square meterage of cladding (length × height, add gables and any feature walls). A typical two-storey Arrowtown cedar home is 140–180 m².
• Choose the condition that best matches your cedar:
  • Maintenance coat: Colour still strong, just dry.
  • Sun-faded & patchy: Dark patches, uneven tone.
  • Grey & dry: Fully silvered off, black mould around knots.
• Access level matters more than you think; steep sections or lakefront winds need more staging and tie-downs.
• Window/door sets count toward masking time—glass sliders eat hours if you don’t budget for them.

The tool gives you a realistic total range (including contingency) based on Queenstown/Wanaka hourly rates and product usage. Present the breakdown when you’re briefing painters so you’re comparing like-for-like.

Scenario Benchmarks (So You Can Sanity-Check Quotes)

1. Kelvin Heights Maintenance Coat — 120 m²

• Single storey with deck access, Dryden WoodOil, cedar washed annually.
• Expect: 65 labour hours, 14 litres of stain, no scaffold.
• Budget range: $7,800 – $9,100 including contingency.
• Timeline: Two painters, 4 productive days (plus 1 day weather reserve).

2. Lake Hawea Weathered Facade — 160 m²

• Split level, partial scaffold, Resene Woodsman two-coat system.
• Expect: 120 labour hours, 28 litres of stain.
• Budget range: $13,900 – $16,200 (scaffold allowance ~$1,400).
• Timeline: Five to six crew days depending on wind.

3. Fernhill Grey Cedars — 95 m²

• Full strip back, Sikkens 3-coat system, steep driveway.
• Expect: 110 labour hours, 32 litres (including primer/topcoat), scaffold ~$1,600.
• Budget range: $14,500 – $17,600.
• Timeline: Allow two weeks due to multiple drying windows.

Prep Checklist Before You Bring in a Painter

1. Wash early. Book a soft wash 7–10 days before staining so surfaces dry. Painters can do it, but pre-washing saves at least a day of labour.
2. Confirm product history. Switching from oil to film-forming sistems (e.g. Sikkens) can require full strip. Have leftover tins or old invoices ready.
3. Plan landscaping clearance. Trim shrubs back 300 mm from walls. Painters bill for hacking through foliage if you leave it.
4. Sort access now. If scaffold sits on shared driveways or council berms near the lakefront, permits need a week.
5. Lock in power and water. Softwash systems, sanders, and lights need reliable supply—especially on sites running off tank water.

Timing: Best Months for Staining Cedar in Central Otago

• October – December: Sweet spot. Long days, low rainfall, warmer nights for drying.
• January – February: Still good, but UV is brutal—plan shorter working windows.
• March – April: Cooler nights mean slower cure; build in extra days and watch morning dew.
• May – September: Only tackle small maintenance areas; full re-stains struggle with frost and short daylight hours.

Aim to refresh cedar every 2–3 years on high-sun facades, 4 years on sheltered sides. Leave it beyond that and you’re back to full restoration pricing.

How to Brief Painters (and Keep Quotes Comparable)

• Provide the tool output. Share the labour hours and scaffold allowances the calculator generated.
• Specify product system. Painters get trade pricing, but you should know if they’re using Dryden, Resene, or Sikkens so you can cross-check coverage.
• Confirm wash & brightener steps. A stain without oxalic brightener on grey cedar will flash badly within months.
• Ask for wet film thickness or spread rates. Real pros will state how many square metres per litre they achieve—compare to the tool’s assumptions.
• Request maintenance notes. Lock in a light wash every 12 months and you’ll double the life of this re-stain.

FAQs

Can I DIY the re-stain?
Yes for small sections. Budget 2–3x the hours you think. Prep chemicals can burn skin—use PPE and never water blast cedar.

Why is scaffold so expensive?
Queenstown/Wanaka hire rates include travel, wind bracing, and certified installers. Expect $28–$32 per square metre of footprint plus weekly hire.

Do darker stains fail faster?
In Central Otago, yes. Dark stains overheat, causing resin bleed. Choose mid-tones or natural oils if you want a 3-year maintenance cycle.

What about cedar garages and fences?
Use the same tool. Area is smaller, but access is often easier. Expect $28–$35 per m² for maintenance coats when bundled with the house.

Take the calculator figures, walk the property with at least two painters, and ask them to explain any major difference to the budget ranges above. You’ll quickly spot who understands cedar in our climate—and who’s guessing. Maintain it routinely and your cedar will keep that warm Central Otago glow for decades.