Board and batten siding installation in Wellesley, MA
Serving Wellesley, MA5 (22+ reviews)

Professional Cedar Shake Contractor in Wellesley, MA

Western Red Cedar shake and shingle siding installation and replacement across Massachusetts. Alfa Construction re-sides your home's full exterior in hand-split shakes or machine-cut shingles for that classic Cape Cod and historic New England look. We take full-exterior re-sides, not patch jobs.

Licensed #19234820+ YearsFree EstimatesFully Insured

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No pressureLicensed & Insured20+ Years5.0 · 22 reviews
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Cedar Shake & Shingle Siding in Wellesley

Why Choose Professional Cedar Shake in Wellesley, Massachusetts?

In Wellesley, where shingle-style cottages and weathered clapboard homes define the streetscape, cedar is not just a siding choice — it is part of the town's architectural language. Alfa Construction serves Wellesley homeowners with Western Red Cedar shake and shingle siding that carries forward the look generations of New England builders established. We match exposure, reveal, and corner detailing so a new wall reads as though it has always belonged.

Past cedar patch jobs on Wellesley historic homes tend to stand out badly. Mismatched exposure, shingles instead of shakes, and a different stain color create a patchwork that undermines the home's character. Finding a contractor who can re-side an entire wall so it reads as a single, authentic cedar exterior takes skill many installers simply do not have.

When Wellesley homeowners choose a full cedar re-side, we treat it as a chance to rebuild the entire wall assembly. We install modern housewrap, replace damaged flashing, add the rear-ventilation layer the original wall lacked, and set the cedar with stainless fasteners. The result looks historically right, sheds water properly, and lasts decades instead of years.

Give your Wellesley historic home the cedar exterior it was meant to wear — installed the right way, with the ventilation and detailing the original wall never had. Alfa Construction combines historic sensitivity with sound modern wall assembly to deliver Western Red Cedar siding that looks authentic and lasts for decades. Schedule your free exterior inspection today.

Common Challenges

What Are Common Cedar Shake Problems in Wellesley, MA?

Common Problems

  • 1

    Aging cedar shakes that have cupped, split, or worked loose, leaving gaps where wind-driven rain gets behind the wall

  • 2

    Cedar siding that was face-nailed flat against the sheathing with no ventilation, trapping moisture and rotting the courses from behind

  • 3

    Rust streaks bleeding down the wall because the previous installer used cheap fasteners instead of stainless steel on a coastal home

  • 4

    A blotchy, half-stained, half-bare exterior because re-staining was deferred well past the five-to-seven-year window cedar needs

  • 5

    Insect-damaged or decayed lower courses where splash-back and ground contact overwhelmed the cedar's natural resistance

Our Solutions

  • 1

    Full-exterior installation in hand-split Western Red Cedar shakes for a thick, rugged, deeply shadowed wall with maximum texture and character

  • 2

    Machine-cut cedar shingle installation for a smoother, tighter, more uniform reveal suited to refined Cape Cod and shingle-style homes

  • 3

    Rear-ventilated furring-strip systems that hold the cedar off the wall so every course can dry from behind — the single biggest factor in a wood wall's lifespan

  • 4

    Stainless steel fastening throughout on coastal and salt-air exposures so the wall stays clean and never bleeds rust down a fresh course

  • 5

    Complete cedar re-sides with proper housewrap, flashing, and a factory-applied or job-site stain finish ready to maintain on a predictable schedule

How It Works

How Does Cedar Shake Work in Wellesley, MA?

We follow a proven step-by-step process to deliver outstanding cedar shake & shingle siding results for every Wellesley homeowner.

1

Free Exterior Inspection & Estimate

We inspect your existing cedar wall, probe for soft or decayed courses, and check the sheathing and moisture barrier beneath. We evaluate your home's exposure — coastal salt air, shaded north walls, ground-level splash-back — and discuss whether shakes or shingles best suit the home. You receive a detailed written estimate covering materials, labor, timeline, and warranty.

2

Shake or Shingle Selection & Finish

We help you choose between hand-split shakes for rugged texture and machine-cut shingles for a tighter, uniform line, and we explain grades of Western Red Cedar. We discuss finish direction — a warm semi-transparent stain you maintain every five to seven years, or letting the wall weather naturally to silver-gray — and bring samples so you can see the look against your roof and trim.

3

Removal & Substrate Preparation

Our crew removes the old cladding, disposes of debris, and inspects the sheathing for rot or prior water damage. We correct what we find, then install or replace housewrap and flashing for a continuous moisture barrier. We add the rear-ventilation furring layer so the new cedar will sit off the wall and dry from behind.

4

Professional Cedar Installation

We install the shakes or shingles course by course at the correct exposure, staggering joints and maintaining consistent reveal lines. Every piece is set with stainless steel fasteners — mandatory near the coast — and we detail corners, windows, and transitions with the woven or mitered corners and flashing that keep wind-driven rain out of a wood wall.

5

Finishing, Final Inspection & Warranty

We apply or confirm the stain finish, seal penetrations, and inspect every course for tight, weathertight coverage. We walk you through the completed wall, explain the re-stain schedule that protects your investment, and provide warranty documentation covering both materials and our labor.

Why Choose Us

What Are the Benefits of Professional Cedar Shake in Wellesley?

The authentic Cape Cod and historic New England look that no vinyl or fiber cement product can truly replicate

Naturally insect- and decay-resistant cedar oils that protect the wall without relying on chemical treatments

A 30-to-40-year lifespan when the cedar is ventilated, fastened, and re-stained the way it should be

The freedom to choose your look — keep the warm stained tone or let the wall weather gracefully to a coastal silver-gray

Deep, three-dimensional shadow lines from hand-split shakes that give your home unmatched curb-appeal character

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Shake in Wellesley, MA

What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
Both are Western Red Cedar, but they are made differently and create a different look. Shakes are hand-split, which leaves them thicker and gives the wall a rugged, textured surface with deep shadow lines. Shingles are machine-cut on both faces, so they are thinner, smoother, and produce a tighter, more uniform reveal. Shakes read as rustic and substantial; shingles read as refined and crisp. We help you choose based on your home's architecture and the look you want.
How long does cedar shake siding last in Massachusetts?
A properly installed Western Red Cedar wall lasts 30 to 40 years with maintenance. The two factors that decide whether you reach the top of that range are ventilation and finish. Cedar set on rear-ventilation furring strips so it can dry from behind dramatically outlasts cedar nailed flat against the sheathing, and re-staining every five to seven years keeps moisture and UV from breaking the wood down. We install for the long end of that lifespan.
Does cedar siding require a lot of maintenance?
Cedar needs more care than synthetic siding, but the schedule is predictable. If you want to keep a warm stained color, plan to re-stain every five to seven years. If you prefer the natural silver-gray patina cedar develops, you can let it weather with far less intervention while still keeping the wall clean and watching for any damaged courses. Either way, the natural oils in Western Red Cedar resist insects and decay, so maintenance is about finish and moisture rather than constant upkeep.
Why does coastal cedar siding need stainless steel fasteners?
Salt air corrodes ordinary fasteners, and a corroding nail does two things you do not want: it loses its grip on the cedar, and it bleeds rust streaks down the face of a fresh wall. Stainless steel fasteners do neither. On any coastal or salt-exposed Massachusetts home we fasten the entire cedar wall in stainless so the courses stay tight and the finish stays clean for the life of the siding. It is a detail that separates a wall that ages beautifully from one that streaks within a few years.
Do you take on small cedar jobs or patch work?
No. Alfa Construction specializes exclusively in complete full-home cedar siding installation and replacement. We strip the old cladding to the sheathing, correct any moisture or rot, install a proper weather-resistant barrier and rear-ventilation furring, and re-side the entire exterior in shakes or shingles. We do not take patch jobs, single-course swaps, or partial sections. If your home needs a full cedar re-side, that is exactly what we do — and we do it right.
Siding Materials

Siding Materials We Install in Wellesley, MA

Every Wellesley re-side is a complete full-home installation. Choose the material that fits your home and budget — we handle the entire exterior.

Cedar Shake Services Near Wellesley, Massachusetts

We also provide professional cedar shake & shingle siding in cities near Wellesley, MA. Serving all of Norfolk County and surrounding areas.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Real reviews from Massachusetts homeowners who trust Alfa Construction Inc for their cedar shake & shingle siding projects.

Service Area

Service Area: Wellesley, Massachusetts

Based in Bellingham, MA, Alfa Construction Inc provides cedar shake & shingle siding services to Wellesley and all surrounding Norfolk County communities.

Get a Free Cedar Shake Estimate in Wellesley

Ready for professional cedar shake & shingle siding in Wellesley, MA? Contact Alfa Construction Inc today. Licensed (#192348), insured, and backed by 20+ years of experience.

Licensed & Insured20+ Years ExperienceFree Estimates

Free Estimate

Get your project quoted

No pressureLicensed & Insured20+ Years5.0 · 22 reviews
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