Cedar Shake Siding Installation in Boston and Greater New England
What Cedar Shake Brings to a New England Exterior
Capital Construction Contracting has handled cedar shake siding installation across Boston and Greater New England since 2005. Cedar shake brings a natural look and a level of performance that synthetic materials can't replicate, and it holds up well to New England winters and coastal weather when it's installed and maintained properly. Our approach puts quality installation ahead of speed because, with cedar, the difference between a wall that lasts and one that fails is almost always in the details of how it was installed.
Cedar Shake Siding Options We Install
Cedar shake comes in a range of appearances and performance profiles for different home styles and exposures across New England.
White Cedar Siding
White cedar is a traditional choice for New England exteriors and colonial homes. It's lighter in color, takes stain well, and weathers gracefully as the years go by. It's a natural fit for colonial and cape-style homes, as well as cottages, and it handles coastal humidity and salt air without trouble.
Red Cedar Shake
Red cedar brings a warmer tone and denser grain than white cedar. Homeowners tend to choose it where they want a stronger visual contrast, and it performs well in high-exposure locations, including larger wall profiles and commercial applications.
Pre-Finished Cedar (Including Cape Cod Grey)
Pre-finished cedar arrives with a factory-applied finish, which ensures consistent penetration and protection without field variability. Cape Cod Grey mimics naturally weathered cedar without the years of exposure, holding its appearance with minim
Cedar Shake vs. Other Siding Options
Cedar shake offers natural character and wood-grain variation that factory-made materials can't replicate. That grain and the way it shifts over time appeal to many homeowners, but the look comes with upkeep: periodic inspections and refinishing, plus year-round maintenance.
Fiber cement, including James Hardie siding, resists moisture and insects with less maintenance than cedar. Vinyl, including Alside vinyl siding, carries the lowest maintenance burden and holds its color without refinishing. If the natural wood look matters to you and you're ready to maintain it, cedar earns its place. If the upkeep gives you pause, we'll talk it through honestly. Our post on the best siding for New England homes covers this comparison in depth.
How We Install Cedar Shake Siding
Substrate Assessment
We check the existing wall for moisture damage or rot, along with any irregularities that would compromise the installation or how it performs over the long term.
Layout Planning
We establish consistent coursing lines and exposure across all wall planes for a uniform appearance and proper water management.
Material Acclimation
We stage materials on site to account for moisture variation before installation begins, letting the cedar stabilize.
Final review
We walk through the completed project, answer questions, and follow up after the work is finished.
Installation
We work course by course, holding consistent exposure with the right fasteners and weather-resistant barriers that protect against moisture infiltration.
Finishing Coordination
For raw cedar, we coordinate stain or paint application at the right phase of installation to ensure proper adhesion and protection.
We put factory-trained installers on cedar projects and keep the focus on process discipline over speed. Getting it right depends on executing each step in the correct order, with real attention to detail.
Siding Installation as Part of a Larger Exterior Project
Many homeowners pair cedar shake with broader exterior work for cohesive protection and visual impact. We coordinate exterior painting after cedar installation to protect the finish and preserve its appearance. For targeted work, our siding repair page outlines the scope, and for cedar roofing questions, see our cedar shake roofing page.
Areas We Serve for Cedar Shake Siding Installation
We install cedar shake siding across New England, with Boston as our operational base. Service areas cover eastern and central Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and southern New Hampshire, with the flexibility to take on select projects beyond these regions.
Prominent areas include:
Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and Quincy
North Shore and South Shore communities
Cape Cod region
Rhode Island and Connecticut
Southern New Hampshire
Common Questions About Cedar Shake Siding Installation
White cedar is lighter in tone, offers natural moisture resistance, and weathers well in coastal conditions.
Red cedar is denser with a warmer tone and suits homes where you want a stronger visual contrast.
The right choice comes down to your home's palette and exposure level, along with the finish direction you're after.
Cedar handles freeze-thaw cycles and coastal humidity well when it's installed and finished properly. The variables that matter most are installation quality, the weather-resistive barrier, and consistent finish maintenance. Coastal installations deserve extra attention to water management details.
Pre-finished cedar receives its finish at the factory, ensuring controlled penetration and adhesion. For you, that means a consistent appearance on day one and a more predictable maintenance cycle. Cape Cod Grey and other colorways give you a finished look without waiting for field-painted cedar to cure.
Historically, it's what these homes were built with. Victorian-era single-family homes and colonials, along with triple-deckers, feature natural cedar profiles. We assess the wall assembly before installation rather than covering up existing moisture issues that would only resurface later.
Get a Cedar Shake Siding Estimate for Your Boston-Area Home
Cedar shake siding is a considered investment, and getting both the estimate and the installation right matters. If you're weighing cedar shake siding installation for a Boston home, or anywhere across Greater New England, we'll be straight with you about the scope, cost, and what to expect from us. Reach out to start a conversation about your home's exterior.
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I was immediately impressed with this company from when I first called them. They were informative, flexible to my schedule and a solid reputable company. I've dealt with a lot of different contractors and Capital Construction was a dream come true! From their office staff to production team and crew. Their crew done a fantastic job and finished sooner than projected. They followed all the covid guidelines and were amazing from start to finish. I 100% recommend this company to anyone. We are already planning our next spring project!
- Lydia S.
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What Our Customers Have To Say
We wanted to change our tube to a walk-in shower. The proposed change was well explained, and we decided to go with it. The work was completed in 1 day and was done cleanly and efficiently. No regrets
Our experience has been phenomenal from start to finish! From sales, office, project manager, and the great guys that installed our roof. Communication was outstanding all around. Our roof was finished in one day!Definitely recommend this company!
I don’t write reviews often but I must say that Michael Gagnon and his team did a great job with my project! I have an older home with a lot of character and they did an outstanding job with my roofing installation!
I couldn't be happier with Capital Construction! Their team was professional, efficient, and did an outstanding job on my new roof. The quality of their work is top-notch, and they left my property spotless. Highly recommend!
We are very pleased with the outcome! Our house’s curb appeal has gone up exponentially and we would definitely use Capital Construction again for other projects, and we would recommend this company to others. Thank you!
