When you need a new siding installation to protect and improve the home, choosing cedar shakes is an excellent way to stand out among the neighbors. This natural material provides an excellent boost to the home's curb appeal and can even help you save money. Here are the most significant advantages that it offers. 

Why Should You Install Cedar Shake Siding?

1. Durability

Cedar siding has a strength that is similar to vinyl and outperforms other types of wood. Generally, it only requires you to clean the exterior once or twice a year and seal it every few years to ensure it looks beautiful. With this maintenance routine, cedar siding can last for up to 40 years or longer.

Additionally, cedar contains natural oils called phenols, which give it a distinctive scent and increase water resistance. These phenols also mean cedar is less likely to rot, warp, or crack than other types of wood, as well as reduce the chance that pests or fungus will damage the siding.

2. Environmentally Friendly

If you want to make the home more “green,” cedar is a natural, renewable material. Plus, the wood is biodegradable, which helps reduce reliance on landfills when you need to replace it. In fact, cedar requires less processing than other types of wood, which reduces the overall impact of your siding installation project in terms of greenhouse gas production and waste. Also, you can recycle the shakes easily, turning them into mulch or using them for other building projects.

3. Variety in Appearance 

A new siding installation should improve the home's appearance, as well as protect it from the elements. Cedar shakes offer more versatility appearance than other materials, allowing you to customize the home's exterior. For example, you can paint the wood or allow it to remain natural so that it weathers and turns white or gray. You can even cut the shape of the boards to create a variety of patterns.

4. Excellent Insulation

Cedar siding provides more insulation than other types of wood. It even has a higher R-value than vinyl, which is the measurement that signals how well it prevents heat transfer. Cedar's R-value averages about 1.09, while vinyl without insulation backing is only about 0.61. This is because cedar is a low density softwood with an open cell structure. This helps manage heat flow, preventing conditioned air from leaving the home.

If you are considering new siding for your home, contact Cjones Exteriors in Willoughby, OH, to explore your options. Specializing in home exteriors, these contractors provide roofing repair, window and siding installations, and tuckpointing. They pride themselves on providing efficient service that meets your exact needs at budget-friendly rates. Visit them online to learn more about their services, and call (440) 622-8422 to schedule a free estimate.