A high-end cedar shake siding estimate should separate the cost of No. 1 Grade Western Red Cedar shingles, hand-split or specialty texture, stainless steel ring-shank nails, a breathable wall wrap, flashing and trim, labor, and factory pre-staining. Hand-split shingles usually increase labor and material cost because of their irregular texture and more demanding layout. Factory pre-staining generally costs more at installation than field staining, but it can provide more uniform coverage and reduce on-site finishing work. Require bids to state bundle coverage, waste allowance, stain system, wall preparation, and maintenance responsibilities before comparing totals.
What the installation cost includes
A cedar shake siding price is a complete cladding-system cost, not simply the price of shingles. A responsible estimate should identify the existing siding removal or preparation, substrate repairs, water-resistive barrier, window and door flashing, corner details, cedar shingles, trim, fasteners, finish, labor, cleanup, and access equipment.
Ask whether the contractor is pricing the wall area or the amount of material purchased. Shingles are sold in bundles or squares, and coverage varies with shingle width, exposure, course layout, and the manufacturer's published installation method. Waste also increases when the design includes gables, dormers, many corners, windows, or irregular wall sections.
For a high-end project, the lowest initial material quote may not be comparable to a premium quote. One bid may include unfinished shingles and field staining, while another includes factory pre-staining, upgraded trim, stainless fasteners, and a new breathable wall wrap.
How No. 1 Western Red Cedar affects the estimate
No. 1 Grade Western Red Cedar is selected for appearance, durability characteristics, and a cleaner visual field than lower grades. The exact grading terminology, bundle coverage, thickness, width distribution, and allowable characteristics should be confirmed with the supplier or manufacturer. A contractor should not describe a lower grade as No. 1 merely because it has a cedar appearance.
Bundle pricing is affected by several variables:
- Grade and species, such as Western Red Cedar versus another cedar product.
- Shingle thickness, width, exposure, and texture.
- Whether the product is sawn, sanded, resawn, or hand-split.
- Factory-applied stain, primer, or preservative treatment.
- Shipping distance, availability, color selection, and order size.
- Expected waste from the home's geometry and the selected layout.
Have the proposal state the product name, grade, bundle coverage, intended exposure, and finish status. If the contractor supplies only a generic description such as premium cedar shakes, the homeowner may have difficulty verifying what was actually ordered.
Hand-split shingles versus standard cedar shakes
Hand-split shingles have a more pronounced, irregular face and can create the deep shadow lines associated with a rustic or high-end traditional exterior. That appearance can require more careful sorting, alignment, cutting, and installation than a more uniform shingle product.
The added cost can come from both material and labor. Irregular pieces may require more time to establish consistent courses and avoid awkward joints. The installer may also need additional material for selection and waste. Corners, window heads, transitions, and gable ends deserve special attention because inconsistent exposure is easier to see in a textured wall.
Ask the contractor these questions before approving a hand-split specification:
- Is the product genuinely hand-split, or is it a machine-textured shingle marketed as a shake?
- What exposure and course layout will be used?
- Does the quoted quantity include sorting and installation waste?
- How will corners, window openings, rake edges, and transitions be finished?
- Will the product be stained before installation, after installation, or both?
Hand-split siding is not automatically a better weather barrier. Its performance depends on the complete drainage plane, flashing, shingle overlap, penetrations, and installation instructions.
Why stainless steel ring-shank nails matter
Cedar contains extractives that can react with unsuitable metals and create staining or corrosion. Stainless steel ring-shank nails are commonly specified for premium cedar exteriors because the ringed shank improves withdrawal resistance and stainless steel provides strong corrosion resistance. The required nail length, diameter, head, and alloy still depend on the shingle thickness, sheathing, exposure, climate, and product instructions.
Do not treat a fastener upgrade as a universal code rule without checking the applicable jurisdiction and product requirements. Local building officials, the siding manufacturer, and the fastener manufacturer may govern different parts of the installation. The proposal should identify the fastener material and type instead of saying only corrosion-resistant nails.
Fasteners are a relatively small portion of many siding bids, but replacing corroded or staining nails later can require removing finished shingles. Confirm that nails are compatible with the cedar and with any preservative or stain system used on the project.
The cost of a breathable wall wrap
A breathable wall wrap is a water-resistive barrier, or WRB, that helps limit rainwater entry behind the siding while allowing water vapor to move through the wall assembly. It is part of the drainage plane. The wrap does not replace properly integrated flashing around windows, doors, roof intersections, decks, utility penetrations, and other openings.
Pricing depends on whether the existing siding is removed, whether the sheathing needs repair, how many penetrations must be detailed, and whether the contractor installs a standard wrap or a more specialized drainage or rainscreen assembly. A project that exposes the sheathing may also reveal rot, missing flashing, or framing irregularities that were not visible during the initial estimate.
Get the scope in writing for:
- Removal of existing cladding and disposal.
- Sheathing inspection and repair allowances.
- WRB type and vapor-permeability characteristics.
- Sealing and lapping at openings and penetrations.
- Head flashing, sill flashing, kick-out flashing, and other required transitions.
- Whether furring or a rainscreen cavity is included.
The appropriate assembly varies by climate, wall design, local requirements, and manufacturer instructions. Ask the local building department or a qualified building professional to review unusual wall assemblies, especially when combining cedar with exterior insulation or a rainscreen.
Factory pre-staining versus staining on site
Factory pre-staining means the cedar receives a controlled coating before delivery, often on multiple faces or on the exposed face and selected edges according to the product system. The exact process varies, so the contractor should provide the finish manufacturer's product name, application limits, and maintenance instructions.
Factory finishing can add cost through coating materials, handling, color selection, shipping, and the need to protect finished pieces during installation. It can also reduce on-site labor and provide more consistent color than work performed in changing weather. It does not eliminate field touch-up. Cut ends, damaged areas, fastener locations, and some trim pieces may still require treatment approved by the finish manufacturer.
Field staining may have a lower initial finish cost, but labor conditions become important. Cedar must be clean and suitably dry, and application temperature, moisture, sunlight, and weather exposure can affect the result. The finish may also be applied after installation, which can increase labor on ladders and lifts and make consistent coverage more difficult.
When comparing the two choices, ask for a written answer to these questions:
- Which faces and edges receive the factory coating?
- Is the product stain, paint, semi-transparent stain, or another finish?
- Who performs field touch-up and when?
- What preparation is required before future recoating?
- What maintenance interval does the manufacturer recommend for the selected exposure?
How to compare cedar shake siding bids
Use a scope comparison rather than selecting the lowest total. Request at least two or three itemized proposals when practical, and give each contractor the same drawings, elevations, product requirements, and finish expectations.
- Verify the measured area. Confirm whether the estimate includes gables, soffit returns, dormers, porch walls, and areas behind removable features.
- Verify the cedar specification. Record species, grade, texture, thickness, exposure, bundle coverage, and waste allowance.
- Verify the wall assembly. Identify demolition, sheathing repairs, WRB, flashing, furring, ventilation details, and trim.
- Verify fasteners. Require the specified stainless steel ring-shank nail type, not an undefined corrosion-resistant substitute.
- Verify the finish. State whether staining is factory-applied or field-applied, which faces are coated, and who handles touch-up.
- Separate allowances from fixed scope. Rot repair, substrate correction, lift rental, and unusual flashing should be clearly labeled as allowances or exclusions.
- Confirm maintenance responsibility. Cedar siding and its finish require periodic inspection and maintenance based on exposure and the finish manufacturer's instructions.
Window replacement can materially change siding labor around openings. If your project also includes windows, compare the siding scope with guidance on installing insert windows without removing exterior siding so the bids use the same assumption about trim removal and flashing.
Cost-control and quality checklist
- Order samples of the actual No. 1 cedar product and proposed stain color.
- Confirm whether hand-split texture is a product characteristic or a separate labor operation.
- Require a mock-up on the house before full installation when appearance is important.
- Keep cedar protected from ground contact, standing water, and uncontrolled weather exposure before installation.
- Use compatible flashing, sealants, and fasteners rather than mixing unapproved materials.
- Document hidden-condition allowances for rot, sheathing damage, and framing repairs.
- Inspect installed courses, openings, corners, and touch-up before final payment.
- Obtain care instructions and remaining product labels for future maintenance.
For a luxury exterior, consistent installation quality often matters as much as the initial cedar selection. A detailed scope makes it easier to preserve the intended appearance and reduces disputes about whether a premium feature was actually included.
Cedar shake siding FAQs
Is hand-split cedar siding always more expensive?
No. It often costs more because the material may be more specialized and the irregular texture can require additional sorting and labor, but the difference depends on product availability, wall complexity, exposure, and the contractor's installation method.
Is factory pre-staining worth the added cost?
It can be worthwhile when uniform color, controlled application, and reduced on-site finishing are priorities. Compare the coating coverage, field touch-up requirements, warranty terms, and future maintenance instructions rather than comparing only the stain line item.
Do cedar shingles require stainless steel nails?
Stainless steel ring-shank nails are a common premium specification for cedar because they resist corrosion and help reduce staining risk. The exact fastener requirements are product and project dependent, so verify them with the siding manufacturer, fastener manufacturer, and local authority having jurisdiction.
Does a breathable wall wrap prevent all moisture problems?
No. A WRB helps form the drainage plane, but performance also depends on flashing, laps, penetrations, shingle installation, roof and deck transitions, and the wall assembly. It is not a substitute for proper water management.
What should a cedar shake siding quote include?
It should identify demolition, substrate repairs, WRB, flashing, trim, cedar grade and coverage, hand-split or other texture, waste, fasteners, finish method, labor, access equipment, cleanup, allowances, exclusions, and maintenance responsibilities.