Cedar shake siding has fantastic qualities that make it an ideal selection for exterior cladding. Perhaps one of the biggest advantages for many homeowners is its distinctive and attractive appearance. This rustic and natural looking cladding differs from cedar shingles in several important ways, while costs are nearly identical at $3.50 and $6.50 per square foot which includes both product and installation.
Cedar Shake Siding Basics
This cladding differs from shingles in that shakes are more rustic, grooved and not uniform in thickness, usually ½” – ¾” thick at butt. There are two types of shakes however – hand-split shakes are less uniform and more rustic looking, while taper-sawn shakes look more like a shingle because they are more refined. Shingles, on the other hand, have a more refined look, the same uniform thickness, and have a more smooth surface.
Cedar Shake Siding Costs
Entry To Mid Range: $3.50 – $5 psf installed
Each square (100 ft.) will cost roughly $350 and $500 fully installed.
Mid To High Range: $5 – $6.50 psf installed
Each square (100 ft.) will cost roughly $500 and $650 fully installed.
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Cedar Shake Siding Benefits
Real Charm
This cladding has amazing charm, especially for homeowners who love natural wood siding. It can augment architectural details of a home through the use of eyebrow dormers, sweeping buttresses, arched buttresses and rolling shingle corners. Finally, cedar shake siding “works” on many different types of homes such as Craftsman, Colonial, Victorian, Contemporary and Modern.
A Natural, Rustic Look
A natural wood cedar shake siding looks great on homes in rural areas, as well as those in the urban jungle.This natural appearance is important for homeowners who place a high value on integrating the look of the outdoors into their homes. The rich red color of cedar creates a very distinctive look for a home can be placed across the entire house, or simply used on one or more walls as an accent.
Natrual Insulator
Wood siding is a good insulation for a home in siding has wonderful insulating properties homes which have cedar shake siding effectively contain the heat in the winter months and keep the house cool during the summer. The result for homeowners is reduction in energy costs last for the life of the site because siding lasts 15 to 25 years this can add up to big money saved
A Green Alternative
Because wood is a renewable resource, this cladding is a green alternative to engineered wood siding or vinyl. Home with proper siding insulation reduce the amount of waste they produce into the environment and reduce the carbon footprint. Any leftover materials can be chopped up to use in the garden or has kindling for the fire. In addition, with proper installation and maintenance this cladding can last for 30 years, which means less replacement siding is needed and therefore less materials used, transportation, etc. The result is less consumption and waste and therefore it can make a great green building product.
Disadvantages
Insect Damage And Rotting
Cedar shake siding is prone to insect damage, rotting and warping. Any of these conditions can effectively shorten its longevity as a viable siding on the home. The materials must be properly treated either before installation or once installed. Many manufacturers add a protective coating to the product before it is shipped out. Alternatively, it may be stained by siding contractors to protect the exterior coating — it must be stained every 3 to 5 years in order to preserve the integrity of the material.
Periodic Maintenance
The cladding must be properly maintained by hosing off the exterior of the home at least once every six months. Homeowners should avoid using a power washer so that they don’t damage the wood. Typically Cedar shake siding is treated prior to installation. Homeowners may have to stain the product every 3 to 5 years.
