Zing,
For some of the tips you are looking for use the search found at the top of the page. I did a cedar house a couple of weeks ago. Made easy by this BB. Like Dan said use a stripper (sodium hydroxide) let dwell. This stuff is dangerous so use carefully. I protected myself accordingly, everything but my forehead, burned like a son of a gun. The stripper will cause cedar to darken so therfore use oxalic acid to brighten. Again more information and maybe some of the questions you have not thought to ask can be answered by a search of this BB. As far as the estimate how big is the house. Remember to price the sodium hydroxide and the oxalic acid before you give the estimate. Another mistake I made, under estimated the price of the material. Good Luck.
Steve
Blown Away