Cedar siding has been a preferred exterior cladding material for homes across North America for decades, prized for its dimensional stability, natural resistance to decay and rich visual appearance. The wood comes from several species of Thuja trees, with Western Red Cedar being the most common variety used in siding applications. Homeowners exploring easy shingle siding installation techniques will find that cedar’s workability makes it one of the more approachable wood siding materials for both professional contractors and experienced DIY installers seeking a natural exterior finish.
Natural Wood Properties of Cedar Cladding
Cedar contains natural oils called thujaplicins that act as fungicides and insecticides, giving the wood inherent resistance to rot, decay and insect infestation without chemical treatment. This sets it apart from other wood siding species such as pine or spruce, which typically require pressure treatment or regular preservative application to achieve comparable longevity. When comparing metal siding for homes key pros and cons, cedar offers the advantage of natural insulation properties, as wood has a lower thermal conductivity than steel or aluminum, reducing heat transfer through the wall assembly and contributing to modest energy savings in heating and cooling seasons.
Dimensional Stability
Cedar has a low shrinkage ratio compared to other softwoods, which means it stays dimensionally stable through seasonal humidity and temperature changes. The wood moves less than pine or fir when wet and dry cycles occur, reducing the risk of warping, twisting or cupping after installation. This stability allows cedar to be installed with tighter gaps than many other wood siding options, creating a cleaner finished appearance with fewer visible seams.
Moisture Management Properties
The cellular structure of cedar resists capillary water uptake, meaning liquid water does not wick into the wood as readily as it does into other species. Rainwater beads on the surface and runs off rather than soaking in, which keeps the siding drier between weather events. This low moisture absorption rate is the primary reason cedar resists rot better than other softwoods even in rainy climates with limited direct sunlight exposure on north-facing walls.
Cost Comparison Across Siding Options
Cedar siding carries a higher upfront cost than vinyl, engineered wood or fiber cement products. Material prices typically range from $4 to $12 per square foot depending on grade, thickness and profile, with installation labor adding another $3 to $8 per square foot. By contrast, vinyl siding costs $2 to $7 per square foot installed, while fiber cement runs $5 to $13 per square foot installed. According to a review of metal siding pros and cons from Family Handyman, metal options such as aluminum and steel fall in the $4 to $10 per square foot installed range, making them a mid-market alternative between budget vinyl and premium cedar.
| Siding Material | Material Cost per Sq Ft | Installed Cost per Sq Ft | Expected Lifespan | Annual Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar | $4 to $12 | $7 to $20 | 20 to 40 years | $0.20 to $0.50 |
| Vinyl | $1 to $4 | $2 to $7 | 20 to 30 years | $0.05 to $0.10 |
| Fiber Cement | $2 to $6 | $5 to $13 | 40 to 80 years | $0.10 to $0.20 |
| Aluminum / Steel | $2 to $5 | $4 to $10 | 30 to 50 years | $0.05 to $0.15 |
| Engineered Wood | $2 to $5 | $4 to $10 | 15 to 30 years | $0.15 to $0.30 |
Resale value recoup rates for cedar siding tend to be higher than for vinyl. Homeowners who install cedar siding typically recover 70 to 80 percent of the cost at resale, compared to 60 to 70 percent for vinyl. This higher recoup rate partially offsets the greater upfront expense, especially in markets where natural wood exteriors command a premium in home valuations and buyer preferences.
Installation Techniques for Cedar Siding
Installing cedar siding correctly requires attention to fastener selection, spacing and back-priming that differs from the installation methods used for vinyl or fiber cement products. Mastering blind nailing techniques for cedar clapboard siding is one of the more important skills for achieving a clean finish, as exposed nail heads on cedar are prone to rust streaking even with galvanized fasteners unless proper installation practices are followed.
Fastener Selection
Never use iron or standard steel nails with cedar siding. Natural tannins in the wood react with iron to produce black staining within months, and iron corrosion accelerates decay around the fastener hole. Aluminum nails, stainless steel nails or hot-dipped galvanized nails rated for cedar are the only acceptable choices. Ring-shank or spiral-shank nails provide better holding power than smooth-shank nails because cedar fibers do not grip fasteners as tightly as denser hardwoods.
Back-Priming Requirements
Every piece of cedar siding must be back-primed before installation to prevent moisture from wicking into the exposed end grain and rear face. Unprimed cedar absorbs moisture from rain and condensation that collects behind the siding, leading to cupping, checking and premature decay. Use a high-quality exterior primer on all six sides of each board, paying special attention to the butt joints where end grain is most exposed to moisture infiltration.
Maintenance Requirements Through the Service Life
Cedar siding demands more maintenance than vinyl or fiber cement. Homeowners should plan to clean, inspect and re-coat cedar siding every three to five years depending on climate and exposure. UV radiation from direct sunlight breaks down the lignin in cedar within two to three years if the surface is not protected by paint, stain or clear sealer. Understanding how to approach installing vinyl siding correctly provides useful context for comparing the maintenance burden, since vinyl requires only occasional washing with a garden hose and no refinishing over its service life.
The natural gray patina that develops on unfinished cedar is a protective layer that shields the underlying wood from UV damage, but it also signals that the surface coating has failed. Homeowners who prefer the original warm brown and red tones of cedar must reapply stain or sealer before the wood begins to gray, typically every two to three years in sunny exposures. Paint systems last longer on cedar, with repainting intervals of five to seven years on properly prepared surfaces, assuming the paint was applied over a compatible primer system.
Weather Resistance and Moisture Performance
Cedar siding performs well in windy and rainy conditions when properly installed, but the material has specific vulnerabilities that homeowners should understand before choosing it. The natural stability of cedar resists wind-driven rain infiltration better than many wood species, but the siding still requires a proper rainscreen drainage gap behind it in wet climates. Understanding cupping in vertical cedar siding causes and moisture dynamics helps installers design wall assemblies that prevent the moisture trapping that leads to premature siding failure and rot behind the cladding. Cedar also offers environmental advantages over petroleum-based siding products, as it is a renewable resource harvested from managed forests and fully biodegradable at end of life, eliminating the landfill persistence of vinyl or composite materials.
Fire Resistance Considerations
Cedar is combustible and burns more readily than fiber cement or metal siding. In wildfire-prone areas, building codes may restrict the use of wood siding or require fire-retardant treatment. Treated cedar products are available that meet Class A fire ratings, but the treatment adds cost and may need reapplication over the life of the siding. Homeowners in high-risk fire zones typically pay a premium for treated cedar or choose non-combustible alternatives such as fiber cement or stucco for exterior cladding applications.
Selecting the Right Siding for Your Climate
The choice between cedar and alternative siding materials depends on local climate conditions, budget constraints and the homeowner’s tolerance for ongoing maintenance. Cedar excels in temperate marine climates where moderate temperatures and regular rainfall allow the wood to perform as intended. In hot, arid climates, UV exposure accelerates surface degradation and requires more frequent recoating intervals. A comprehensive approach to exterior siding installation for long-lasting results should account for climate-specific factors such as solar exposure, annual rainfall and average humidity ranges before final material selection begins.
For homeowners who prioritize natural appearance and are willing to invest in periodic maintenance, cedar remains one of the most visually distinctive siding options available. Those seeking lower maintenance or operating within tighter budgets will find that modern vinyl, fiber cement and metal products offer improved aesthetics compared to earlier generations of these materials, though none replicate the grain pattern and depth of color that real cedar provides over the course of its service life. The decision ultimately comes down to balancing the initial investment against the expected duration of ownership and the value placed on natural wood grain versus maintenance-free convenience. Consulting with a local siding contractor experienced in cedar installation provides region-specific guidance on material selection and project planning.