Cedar shake siding uses individual wood shingles, either hand-split shakes or smoother sawn shingles, applied in overlapping courses for a textured, natural exterior. It's a traditional look on Long Island, especially in coastal and older neighborhood settings where a wood-shingle aesthetic is part of the area's character.
It's chosen by homeowners who want a natural material and a specific textured look that vinyl and fiber cement can only approximate, and who are prepared for the maintenance that comes with real wood exposed to Long Island's coastal, humid climate. It's also used selectively as an accent on gables and dormers rather than the full exterior.
Cedar shake delivers a look that manufactured materials can't fully replicate, but it requires ongoing maintenance — periodic staining or sealing, and attention to ventilation behind the shingles to prevent moisture retention. Coastal salt air and humidity on Long Island make proper installation detail and airflow especially important for shake longevity.
Thicker, more rustic-textured shingles split by hand for a pronounced grain and shadow line, giving the most traditional rugged shake look.
Machine-sawn on both sides for a smoother, more uniform appearance, often preferred for a cleaner, more tailored look than hand-split shakes.
Shingles cut to a uniform edge and applied in straight, consistent courses for a more formal, orderly appearance.
Alternating or decoratively shaped shingle edges for a more textured, custom look, sometimes used as a decorative band or accent area.
Cedar shake can cover the entire exterior or be limited to gables, dormers, or a front-facing accent wall to mix material and manage maintenance scope.
We talk through hand-split versus sawn shingles, application style, and whether shake will cover the whole house or serve as an accent, based on your goals and the home's design.
Existing siding is removed and the wall is prepared, since proper ventilation behind the shingles starts with the substrate layer, not the shingles themselves.
A ventilated furring or rain-screen system is installed over the house wrap to let moisture drain and air circulate behind the shingles, which is critical for shake longevity.
Shingles are applied in overlapping courses with correct exposure and fastening, working carefully around corners, window trim, and roof transitions.
Corner boards and trim are fitted to complement the shingle texture, with attention to keeping water from tracking behind the trim at joints.
If not pre-finished, shingles are stained or sealed as part of project completion, followed by a full walkthrough of the finished exterior.
Cedar shake is more labor-intensive to install than panel siding because each shingle is applied individually, and material cost varies by grade and whether shakes are hand-split or sawn. A rain-screen ventilation layer adds a step that panel siding doesn't need. Because labor time scales directly with wall area and detail complexity, we walk the home and measure before quoting.
Get an EstimateMost cedar shake problems trace back to trapped moisture, not the wood itself, so we prioritize ventilation and drainage detailing as much as the visible shingle work.
Tell us about your home and we’ll come out, measure, and give you a written price with the scope spelled out. Prefer to talk it through? Call (631) 972-0873.
(631) 972-0873No obligation. We usually get back to you within one business day.