Cedar Shake Siding Installation in Northern NJ
Real Cedar. Hand-Selected. Properly Installed.
Western Red Cedar shakes and lap siding — installed with proper rainscreen detail, stainless fasteners, and breathable underlayment for decades of natural beauty.
What We Install
Cedar shake and shingle come in several grades and cut styles. The right choice depends on the look you want, your budget, and the architectural style of your home.
Hand-Split Cedar Shake
Thicker at the butt, tapered toward the top. Split face has a rough, rustic texture that weathers to a natural gray or holds stain beautifully. The most traditional and distinctive option.
Sawn Cedar Shingles
Smooth, uniform face with consistent thickness. Cleaner and more refined than hand-split shake. Often used on Craftsman, Shingle Style, and Colonial homes.
Fancy-Cut Shingles
Decorative shingle profiles — diamond, fishscale, square, and arrow cuts — used as accent bands, gable fills, and Victorian-style siding details.
Cedar Shake Panels
Factory-assembled cedar shake panels on a backer board for faster installation. Same natural look as individual shakes with more dimensional stability.
Preservative-Treated Cedar
Cedar pre-treated with borate or stain-impregnated finishes for extended lifespan. Recommended for high-moisture zones and heavily shaded exposures prone to mold.
Cedar Accent & Gable Work
Cedar shake used as an accent — dormer faces, gable ends, bay window cheeks — paired with vinyl or fiber cement on the main body of the house. Popular for adding premium detail without full cedar pricing.
Cedar Done Wrong Fails Fast
Cedar shake is a natural material. It moves with moisture and temperature changes. Installed with incorrect spacing, without breathable housewrap, or without proper end-grain sealing, it will check, split, and rot in 5–10 years regardless of cedar quality.
We install cedar with the spacing, stagger, and ventilation it needs to breathe. Every course gets proper overlap. All penetrations get step flashing. End cuts get sealed before they go up. Cedar installed correctly and maintained properly will last 25–40 years.
- Natural material — breathes and performs differently than manufactured products
- 25–40 year lifespan with proper installation and maintenance
- Curb appeal and character no synthetic material replicates
- Accepts stain and paint — change the look over time
Our Cedar Installation Process
Cedar done right, from estimate to final walkthrough.
Free In-Home Estimate
We assess the home, discuss cedar grade and style options, and give you a written estimate with materials and labor broken out.
Grade & Style Selection
We walk you through shake grades, shingle profiles, and treatment options so you’re confident in what’s going on your home before we order.
Substrate Prep
Existing siding removed, sheathing inspected for damage, breathable housewrap installed, and all flashing set before the first shake goes up.
Installation & Sealing
Cedar installed with proper spacing and stagger. End cuts sealed. Penetrations step-flashed. Full cleanup and walkthrough at completion.
Cedar Siding FAQ
What homeowners ask before choosing cedar shake.
Cedar is the highest-maintenance siding material. It should be re-stained or re-painted every 5–10 years depending on sun exposure and finish type. Shaded areas that stay damp can develop mold and require cleaning. Cracked or checked shingles should be replaced promptly to prevent moisture entry. Homeowners who stay on top of maintenance get 25–40 years. Those who don’t may see problems in 10–15.
Both work. Stain penetrates the wood and is easier to reapply — no peeling, just clean and recoat. Semi-transparent stain shows wood grain; solid-color stain is more like paint. Paint provides more color options and better UV protection but will eventually peel and require stripping before recoating. Many homeowners start with stain for easier maintenance.
LP SmartSide shake profile gives a similar visual appearance with significantly less maintenance. It won’t split, check, or require periodic staining. Real cedar has a depth and natural variation that engineered wood can’t fully replicate — but LP SmartSide is close. The right choice depends on how much you value authenticity vs. low maintenance. We’ll walk you through both.
Cedar shake works beautifully as a full siding material, but the maintenance commitment is real. Many homeowners compromise: fiber cement or vinyl on the main body, real cedar on dormers, gable ends, or bay windows. This gives you the character detail where it shows most without maintaining cedar on every square foot of the house.
Get a Free Cedar Siding Estimate
We come to you, discuss cedar grade and style options, and give you a written price with no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7am-8pm | Sat 7am-6pm | nailforcecontracting@gmail.com