Cedar is the go-to choice for homeowners looking for attractive wood siding.
This option is unparalleled in its beauty and longevity. However, there are several factors to consider before investing in cedar siding.
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What Is Cedar Siding?
Cedar siding is a natural wood siding made from white or red cedar.
This siding option comes in various styles, including shakes, shingles, and horizontal lap panels.
Cedar is highly popular among homeowners and homebuilders for its durability and resistance to common issues plaguing other wood species.
Average Cedar Siding Cost
On average, installing cedar siding costs between $3 and $10 per square foot.
The national average to install cedar siding on a 1,500-square-foot home is between $7,500 and $15,000, with most homeowners spending around $13,000.
However, the total cost for a cedar siding installation can vary considerably based on the cedar grade used.
At the lower end, homeowners should expect to pay between $3,000 and $7,000 for siding using knotty grade cedar on a 1,500-square-foot home.
Mid-grade cedar will run from $4,500 to $15,000 for the same project.
Finally, premium-grade cedar will cost at least $15,000, with the best-of-the-best cedar costing up to $45,000 for a 1,500-square-foot home.
| Cedar Grade | Average Material Cost per Square Foot | Average Labor Cost per Square Foot | Average Total Cost for a 1,500-Square-Foot House |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knotty Grade | $1-$1,5 | $1-$3 | $3,000-$6,750 |
| Mid Grade | $2-$5 | $1-$4 | $4,500-$15,000 |
| Premium Grade | $7-$24 | $3-$6 | $15,000 -$45,000 |
Cedar Siding Cost Breakdown
When installing cedar siding, homeowners must factor in material and labor costs.
The range of these costs is dictated by the quality and complexity of the project.
On average, the materials for a cedar siding project cost from $1.5 to $5 per square foot. However, they can go well over $20 per square foot if you opt for a premium grade of cedar.
As for labor, it usually costs between $1 and $6, depending on the home’s shape and design and the material used.
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Cedar Siding Benefits
There are many reasons homeowners and homebuilders choose cedar for their siding projects.
Cedar Is Durable and Long-Lasting
Cedar wood is naturally decay- and moisture-resistant, so homeowners don’t have to worry about weather damage.
Plus, this wood has excellent insect and rodent-repellant properties thanks to a substance called tannin.
As a result, cedar is one of the most long-lasting siding options. With proper maintenance, it can last up to 75 years.
Cedar Is Naturally Insulating
Most siding options contribute very little to your home’s insulation.
However, cedar is naturally an excellent insulator.
It will keep your home warm during the winter and help cool the air during the summer months.
For these reasons, cedar siding is an excellent option for homeowners who want to save money on utility bills.
Cedar Siding Is Eco-Friendly
Cedar is a great choice for environmentally-conscious homeowners.
Like all natural wood, cedar is bio-degradable.
In addition, it requires minimal processing during manufacturing, which means it has a smaller carbon footprint than other siding options.
Finally, cedar siding won’t have to be replaced as frequently as other siding types.
Cedar Siding Looks Aesthetically Pleasing
The appearance of cedar siding is often the reason homeowners choose to go with this option.
For most people, no other siding material can match the timeless beauty and rich texture of natural wood.
Since cedar can be stained and painted, it offers excellent design flexibility.
The siding itself also comes in various styles, allowing homeowners a high level of customization.
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Disadvantages Of Cedar Siding
While cedar siding has many advantages, a few downsides can deter homeowners from using this material.
Cedar Siding Requires Significant Maintenance
Maintaining cedar siding properly is an extensive process that requires significant investments.
This siding type must be cleaned regularly, power-washed frequently, and repainted or restained every few years.
Plus, homeowners must keep an eye out for any signs of damage and repair it before the issue escalates.
Cedar Siding Is a Fire Risk
On its own, natural wood isn’t flame resistant or retardant.
Homeowners can treat their cedar siding with a flame retardant for safety reasons, which adds to the overall cost.
Some areas actually ban the use of cedar siding because of the fire hazard.
Cedar Siding Is Prone to Rot
If debris and moisture are allowed to adhere to cedar siding, mold and mildew might appear.
If not removed promptly, these can gradually weaken the wood, ultimately resulting in rot.
Pro Tip: Besides regular maintenance, you can minimize the risk of rot by keeping iron away from your cedar siding. Iron is a huge threat to cedar, and it will make the planks start to rot. For this reason, avoid using iron nails when installing cedar siding.
Cedar Siding Grades
Cedar siding grades indicate its quality and appearance.
This ranking is based on several factors. The most crucial factors are the milling done on the face and edges and the number of knots in the wood.
The more knots, the lower the wood’s quality.
This results from knots receiving paint differently than the surrounding wood, being prone to shrinkage and falling out, and being challenging to work with.
Grading in the lumber industry is quite complex, but here are the basics of cedar siding grading.
Premium Grades
Premium grades of cedar siding are often called clear grades.
This grade indicates that the siding was made using an older tree, free from defects like knots.
Premium grades usually encompass the following grades:
- Clear Heart cedar
- Clear Vertical Grain Heart cedar
- Grade A Clear cedar
The Clear Heart cedar is the best of the best and is entirely knot-free.
Grade A Clear cedar doesn’t show any apparent knots but may have some growth characteristics, such as rings.
Naturally, premium-grade cedar is the most expensive siding option.
Mid Grades
Mid grades of cedar include Grade B through Grade D Clear cedar.
Their appearance becomes progressively less clear with each grade.
The same goes for the prices, which go down with the grade.
These grades have minor visible imperfections.
Knotty Grades
Knotty grades of cedar siding are best suited for homeowners going for a rustic appearance.
They are made from fast-growth trees, so they have many visible knots and similar defects. As a result, this is by far the most affordable option for cedar siding.
Knotty grades typically include the following cedar:
- Select Tight Knot cedar
- Select Knotty cedar
- Quality Knotty cedar
Quality Knotty cedar is the most inferior grade of cedar, containing many voids, streaks, and open knots. Due to its many flaws, it’s more appropriate for decorative installations inside the home.
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Maintenance Of Cedar Siding
The natural oils in cedar siding help preserve its beauty by repelling insects, pests, mildew, and rot.
However, if this siding isn’t maintained correctly, it can lose these oils and, thus, their protective properties.
Therefore, cedar siding requires regular maintenance to remain in top shape and last longer.
Here’s how to maintain cedar siding correctly:
- Clean it annually to remove dust and dirt accumulation.
- Power-wash it every two to four years to remove mold, mildew, and extractive bleeding stains.
- Stain or paint it every three to five years.
Your local climate will dictate how often you should perform these maintenance tasks.
In addition, you’ll have to inspect your siding closely and react promptly to signs of any damage.
This may include using a commercial cleaner to remove rust stains or repairing and repainting damaged areas.
What Is the Best Way to Clean Cedar Siding?
Cedar siding should be cleaned regularly, especially in moist and dusty climates that foster mold and moss growth.
Power washing is the most efficient way of cleaning cedar siding.
If the siding is dirty, use a non-phosphate detergent with the power washer. A mild solution with oxygen bleach will do the trick if there’s mold or mildew.
What Is the Best Exterior Stain for Cedar Siding?
Semi-transparent stain is the best exterior stain for cedar siding.
This stain type will emphasize cedar’s natural color and allow the wood grain to peek through.
It will also prevent water from penetrating the wood fibers.
Alternatives To Cedar Siding
Since wood is the gold standard in construction, many siding types are designed to imitate its appearance.
In general, artificial alternatives are less expensive than cedar siding. However, they are also less eco-friendly and often less durable.
Let’s take a look at how cedar fares compared to its siding alternatives.
Cedar Siding vs Vinyl
Vinyl is the most commonly used siding option across the U.S. due to its low cost.
Vinyl is also reasonably easy to install and requires little maintenance.
Under the right conditions, vinyl can outlast cedar in cool climates.
However, in most conditions, vinyl will become brittle and crack when exposed to severe weather or impacted by outdoor activity.
Also, the appearance of vinyl usually can’t even come close to the look of authentic wood, as hard as the manufacturer tries to mimic it.
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Cedar Siding vs Hardie Board
Hardie Board siding is a siding product from the James Hardie company.
It’s manufactured using cement, clay, sand, and cellulose fibers.
This combination of natural materials makes the Hardie Board an exceptionally strong and durable siding option
. The Hardie Board is typically molded to imitate wood siding, and it does an excellent job at it.
Did you know? Hardie Board siding resembles wood siding so closely that it has been approved for use in restoring historic properties.
Hardie Board has the upper hand in several more aspects.
For starters, it’s fire-resistant without added chemical treatments.
Also, it requires less maintenance. Power washing and repainting every few years will do the trick.
And finally, at $3 to $7 per square foot, Hardie Board is a less expensive option than cedar siding.
Cedar Siding vs Cement Board
Hardie Board Siding is a type of fiber cement siding, so the same pros and cons apply here.
Fiber cement siding can successfully mimic the natural appearance of wood at a lower price.
It requires less maintenance, resists weather damage better, and is rated as non-combustible.
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Cedar Siding vs Pine
Pine is often used as an alternative to cedar due to its lower cost.
However, pine can’t resist insects and rot like cedar can.
It’s also more likely to expand, contract, warp, or crack.
Pro Tip: To determine whether pine boards are suitable for siding in your area, let them cure outside. Then check how they behave after acclimatizing to the humidity levels.
Pine siding must be painted before use. While white pine takes paint well, yellow pine will show streaks even after multiple paint coats and a sealant.
Cedar Siding vs LP SmartSide
LP SmartSide siding is an engineered wood product made from wood fibers and adhesive resins.
This combination of materials creates a product that looks and feels like natural wood yet offers significantly more strength and durability.
With the water-resistant waxes that come with the product, LP SmartSide siding becomes resistant to the common enemies of natural wood, such as termites and decay.
This siding option is also pre-primed to hold paint. As a result, it doesn’t have to be repainted for at least 10 years.
Finally, like all engineered wood, LP SmartSide siding is more affordable than cedar siding. In addition, it’s less expensive to maintain over time.
Cedar vs Aluminum
Aluminum siding resembles vinyl siding when installed.
This means that it usually fails at mimicking the appearance of natural wood.
However, aluminum siding is a far more cost-effective option. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest siding options after vinyl.
Moreover, aluminum isn’t prone to insect damage or moisture.
It’s also easy to install, not requiring specialized tools and extreme safety precautions.
Pro Tip: On its own, aluminum isn’t a good insulator. So, if you opt for this siding option, you should install an insulation underlayment, thus increasing your home’s R-value, which measures the level of insulation.
How To Tell If Your Siding Is Cedar
In general, wood siding is pretty easy to distinguish from other siding types, especially when stained.
You’ll see the distinctive wood grain texture, some imperfections, and even knots.
If you already know that you have wood siding but are unsure if it’s cedar, try smelling it. Unlike most wood species used for siding, cedar has a strong aromatic smell.
Pro Tip: If your siding is painted, it might be hard to tell if it’s cedar. So, try removing a piece of siding, using sandpaper to rough up its back, and then smelling it.
How Many Years Does Cedar Siding Last?
On average, cedar siding has a lifespan of 20 to 40 years.
However, it can last up to 75 years when well-maintained and pre-stained to add additional weatherproofing.
How Long Does Untreated Cedar Siding Last?
Leaving outdoor elements untreated is usually a recipe for disaster.
The same goes for cedar siding.
Prolonged exposure to the elements will cause untreated cedar wood to slowly rot after as little as five years.
The first signs will be the wood softening and its color fading away.
When To Replace Cedar Siding
Cedar is a highly durable siding option. However, it’s still prone to damage.
If you spot any of these signs on your cedar siding, it might be time for a replacement:
- Warping. Cedar is highly resistant to warping but can change its shape due to moisture damage.
- Mold and mildew. If you notice mold or mildew growing on your home, you should act quickly and consult a professional. Since mold results from water damage, it’s only a matter of time before wood starts to rot. Besides replacing the affected siding, the contractor should address its cause to prevent recurring mold issues.
- Rot. Rot might be challenging to notice in time since the siding’s top layer is often the last to be affected. However, you can insert a screwdriver beneath the boards and look for soft areas. In addition, you can tap the siding to check for crumbling.
- Loose Shingles. After severe weather, it’s common for some cedar shingles to become loose or go missing. This is one of the most evident signs that a replacement is needed.
- Holes and cracks. Different occurrences can cause holes and cracks in your cedar siding. Whether you’ve hit it with a ball or pesky insects swarmed it, you should address the affected elements swiftly.
Did you know? Unlike many siding options, cedar siding can be repaired and replaced without redoing the entire house. A professional contractor can remove individual rotten or warped pieces and replace them relatively quickly.
Which Is Better: Cedar Or Vinyl Siding?
The beauty of cedar siding is second to none.
However, that beauty also comes with a high cost and an extensive list of maintenance tasks.
For this reason, homeowners on a budget should consider vinyl siding. Besides being less expensive, vinyl siding requires less care.
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Is Cedar Siding Expensive?
Yes, cedar siding is typically more expensive than other siding options.
Its cost can be prohibitive for homeowners on a tight budget.
However, this option is also more long-lasting than most alternatives, making it a prudent long-term investment.
Is Cedar Good For Exterior Siding?
Yes, cedar is an excellent choice for exterior siding.
It’s the most popular choice among homeowners who prefer to use wood for exterior siding.
Cedar siding is highly valuable, both functionally and aesthetically.
Beauty Comes With A Price
Cedar siding is a beautiful and durable option that will never go out of style.
The beauty of the wood entices many homeowners, who often select this siding option without considering its overall cost.
Unfortunately, cedar siding is quite expensive to install and requires equally costly maintenance.
However, if the cost isn’t an issue, cedar siding will be your pride and joy for decades to come.
