Cedar Shake Siding vs. Low-Maintenance Wood-Look Siding

Cedar shake siding has long been a favorite for creating warm, natural exteriors with rustic texture and strong curb appeal. It works especially well on cabins, cottages, lake homes, mountain homes, and accent areas where homeowners want the character of real wood.

However, cedar also comes with several maintenance needs, weathering concerns, and long-term upkeep requirements to consider before choosing it for a home exterior.

This guide covers everything you need to know before investing in real cedar. We’ll go over what cedar shakes are, how they compare to cedar shingles, how long they last, and what alternatives are available for homeowners who want the look of wood without the headaches. 

What Is Cedar Shake Siding?

Cedar shake siding is a type of exterior cladding made from individual pieces of split wood. Each piece is traditionally made from cedar logs, giving them a thick, wedge-shaped profile with a rough, textured face. 

This split surface is part of the appeal. It creates a handcrafted look that fits naturally with rustic, traditional, and cabin-inspired homes.

Cedar shakes are made from a variety of types of cedars — although interestingly, they’re not generally made using the wood of true cedars of the Cedrus genus, which are generally only native to the Mediterranean and Himalayan regions. 

Instead, most cedar shakes in North America come from native false cedar species. Western red cedar is the most common of these, though white cedar and other species, such as redwood or Douglas fir, may also be used. These woods are popular for shakes, decking, shingles, and other outdoor building projects because they come from coniferous trees that are naturally aromatic, have attractive color and grain patterns, and offer greater decay resistance than many other types of wood.

High-quality cedar shakes may be kiln-dried, graded for consistency, and manufactured for use on sidewalls.

What’s the Difference Between Cedar Shakes and Cedar Shingles?

Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are often mentioned together, but they’re not exactly the same. Shakes are typically thicker and more irregular. They may be split on one or both sides, by hand or machine, giving them a rougher, more natural face. 

Cedar shingles are generally thinner, smoother, and more uniform. Western red cedar shingles, for example, are often sawn on both sides for a cleaner, more tailored look. 

In terms of similarities, both shakes and shingles are thinner at the butt (the top) than at the bottom. Both are also often rebutted and rejointed, meaning that they’re trimmed for more consistent sizing and cleaner installation. 

What Are the Advantages of Real Cedar Shake Siding?

The biggest advantage of cedar shake siding is its appearance. Real cedar has natural warmth, depth, and variation that can be difficult to match with other materials. Each shake has its own grain pattern and texture, which gives the exterior a dimensional look.

Other advantages include:

• Design flexibility: Cedar shake siding can be used on the entire exterior of a rustic home or added as an accent on gables, dormers, porches, and entryways.
• Natural pairings: As a natural-looking material, cedar shake siding pairs well with stone, log siding, exposed beams, and other natural materials.
• Decay resistance: While not immune to decay, most cedar woods have natural decay-resistant properties that make them a little more resistant to rot and moisture than other wood species.
• Colors: Cedar shake siding can be left to age to a silvery gray, stained in any number of natural wood tones, or painted for a more finished yet still rustic look.

Essentially, good looks are why cedar shake siding is a popular choice for cabin projects or exterior accents added during home renovations.

What Are the Drawbacks of Real Cedar Shake Siding?

While cedar shakes are beautiful, the biggest overarching drawback is that they’re not low-maintenance. Real wood needs regular attention to stay in good condition. 

• Regular inspections: Cedar shake siding should be inspected several times yearly for splitting, cupping, loose fasteners, moisture damage, and signs of decay or pest damage.
• Refinishing: Stains and sealers protect the wood — and they wear down over time, especially in climates with strong sun, heavy rain, high humidity, or freeze-thaw cycles. Most types of wood siding should be refinished or repainted every three to five years.
• Weathering: While some homeowners love the gray patina that unfinished cedar shakes develop over time, that patina doesn’t always form evenly. Differing levels of sun exposure or moisture around the home’s exterior can make the patina patchy, and that’s not to mention the fact that unfinished wood decays relatively quickly, sometimes in just a few years.
• Moisture: Poorly draining foundations, damp areas caused by shade, or even high humidity can contribute to warping, cracking, mildew, and rot.
• Fire risk: Natural cedar is combustible, which may make it a poor fit in wildfire-prone areas or regions with strict fire-resistance requirements. 
• Cost: High-quality split shakes, especially in premium grades, can be expensive per sq. ft., and installation is often more labor-intensive than for shingle panels or related products.

While cedar shake siding is beautiful in certain applications, it’s also one that requires devoted care and a larger budget compared to many other siding alternatives. 

Common Questions About Cedar Shake Siding

If you’re considering cedar shake siding for your home, there are probably a few more questions that you’ll want to answer before you make a decision. We’ll cover some of the top questions homeowners have below.

How Long Does Cedar Shake Siding Last?

The lifespan of cedar shake siding depends on the quality of the wood, the cedar species, the installation, the local climate, and the regularity of maintenance. Well-maintained cedar shake siding made of the highest-quality wood can last for decades, especially when properly installed and well protected from excessive moisture. 

However, neglected cedar shakes can deteriorate much faster — a decade or less with poor maintenance, high moisture, and harsh weather conditions. On average, wood siding in general lasts between 30 and 50 years with intensive maintenance.

Does Cedar Shake Siding Need to Be Stained or Sealed?

Technically, no — and in rare cases, homeowners actually avoid staining or sealing cedar shakes because they want it to develop a gray or silvery patina.

However, keep in mind that the patina often develops unevenly due to varying levels of exposure to moisture and sunlight. On top of that, the shakes won’t last nearly as long as properly sealed and finished shakes. A quality stain or sealer will help slow moisture absorption, reduce UV damage, and protect the wood from premature wear.

Where Does Cedar Shake Siding Work Best?

Cedar shake siding is a good fit for homeowners who value natural materials and who do not mind a lot of ongoing maintenance. It works especially well on cabins, cottages, lake homes, mountain retreats, and anywhere else where you might want rustic styling. 

It can also be a beautiful accent material. Many homeowners get the look of shakes while reducing some of the maintenance load by using shakes on gables, dormers, entryways, or porch areas, and siding the rest of the home with something more durable.

What Are Good Alternatives to Cedar Shake Siding?

There are several great alternatives if you love the look of cedar but are concerned about maintenance.

• Fiber cement: Fiber cement products like Hardie Shingles can mimic the shape of cedar shakes while requiring less wood-related upkeep. It’s more resistant to pests and rot than real cedar, though installation can be pricey, and it’ll still need re-painting every few years. 
• Vinyl: Vinyl shake siding is a panelized product that requires very little maintenance. While it’s moisture-resistant and doesn’t require staining or sealing, it’s more prone to puncture damage, warping, and cracking in extreme weather.
• Steel siding: Wood-look steel offers the warmth of real wood without the drawbacks of cedar or other siding materials. It’s moisture-, fire-, pest-, and weather-resistant, won’t warp or crack, and doesn’t require staining or sealing.

In fact, of all the alternatives available, steel siding products like TruLog are among the best if you want the warmth of real wood without the maintenance headaches that come with it. 

Take the lakeside cabin featured above as an example: TruLog’s TruGrain siding in both log and board and batten profiles to create a beautifully warm and rustic look that’ll hold up for decades, even in Minnesota’s harsh climate. It may not have the exact look of shakes, but it has all the beauty and charm of real cedar without any of the concerns.

Get the Cedar Look Without the Maintenance

Many homeowners are drawn to the core features of real cedar shake siding: warm color, rustic texture, and natural-looking curb appeal. The challenge is getting that look without committing to a lifetime of demanding, expensive maintenance.

TruLog steel siding offers a low-maintenance alternative for homeowners who want the wood-look warmth with long-term durability. Instead of real cedar wood that must be stained, sealed, monitored, and repaired over time, TruLog siding is made from durable steel designed to go the distance. To see how it will look on your home, check it out in our Visualizer.