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Cedar Shake & Shingle Siding in Massachusetts

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.

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Cedar shake and shingle siding is the material that built New England's coastal cottages, Cape Cods, and shingle-style homes — and it remains the most timeless wood cladding a homeowner can choose. At Alfa Construction, we install and replace full exteriors in Western Red Cedar, working with both hand-split shakes for a thick, rugged, deeply textured wall and machine-cut shingles for a smoother, tighter, more uniform line. Cedar's natural oils make it inherently resistant to insects and decay, and a properly installed wall will protect your home for 30 to 40 years with periodic care. Our process starts beneath the surface: we inspect the existing wall and sheathing, install a continuous moisture barrier, and — critically for wood siding — set the cedar on a rear-ventilated furring layer so the back of every course can breathe and dry. On coastal and salt-air exposures we fasten exclusively with stainless steel so the wall never bleeds rust streaks down a fresh course. Whether you want to keep your cedar a warm honey tone with re-staining every five to seven years, or you love the silver-gray patina cedar earns as it weathers, we deliver an exterior with the depth and character no synthetic product can imitate. Every full re-side comes with a detailed warranty and our commitment to your complete satisfaction.

Common Problems We Solve

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

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

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

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

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

Our Cedar Shake Process

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Alfa Construction

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

Verified Standards

Industry Standards & Materials We Use

Every Alfa install meets manufacturer specs, ENERGY STAR efficiency standards, and Massachusetts building code. Verify each independently.

Siding Materials

We install James Hardie fiber cement (ASTM C1186 Type A Grade II rated, Class A fire rated), premium vinyl siding (ASTM D3679 certified), and authentic cedar shake on a properly fastened DuPont Tyvek HouseWrap weather-resistant barrier with Z-flashing at every penetration.

Windows & Energy

Andersen 400 Series windows with low-E glass (U-factor under 0.30, NFRC certified), ENERGY STAR qualified for the Northern climate zone. Continuous-wall EnergyShield insulation pairs with windows to deliver R-13 effective wall R-value.

License & Insurance

Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license ##192348, valid through 04/2027. Verifiable through the MA Division of Professional Licensure. Full general liability and workers' compensation insurance — Certificate of Insurance issued per project.

Code Compliance

Every project pulled to the local MA State Building Code (780 CMR) with proper permits, inspections, and final sign-off. Hardie installs follow manufacturer best practices to maintain the 30-year limited transferable product warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Customer Reviews

Cedar Shake Service Area

Service Area

Cedar Shake Services Across Massachusetts

We provide professional cedar shake services in 109 cities across Massachusetts. Click your city for local details and a free estimate.

Marlborough, MA Hudson, MA Framingham, MA Westborough, MA Northborough, MA Southborough, MA Shrewsbury, MA Natick, MA Ashland, MA Sudbury, MA Hopkinton, MA Milford, MA Wayland, MA Holliston, MA Grafton, MA Clinton, MA Maynard, MA Stow, MA Acton, MA Concord, MA Berlin, MA Bolton, MA Lincoln, MA Weston, MA Wellesley, MA Needham, MA Dover, MA Medfield, MA Millis, MA Sherborn, MA Boxborough, MA Boylston, MA West Boylston, MA Holden, MA Sterling, MA Lancaster, MA Harvard, MA Upton, MA Mendon, MA Hopedale, MA Littleton, MA Westford, MA Carlisle, MA Chelmsford, MA Groton, MA Ayer, MA Shirley, MA Lunenburg, MA Leominster, MA Fitchburg, MA Princeton, MA Paxton, MA Rutland, MA Leicester, MA Spencer, MA Charlton, MA Dudley, MA Northbridge, MA Uxbridge, MA Douglas, MA Blackstone, MA Medway, MA Norfolk, MA Wrentham, MA Lexington, MA Bedford, MA Burlington, MA Waltham, MA Newton, MA Brookline, MA Dedham, MA Norwood, MA Franklin, MA Bellingham, MA Cambridge, MA Somerville, MA Medford, MA Malden, MA Melrose, MA Wakefield, MA Reading, MA Stoneham, MA Woburn, MA Winchester, MA Arlington, MA Belmont, MA Watertown, MA Quincy, MA Braintree, MA Weymouth, MA Milton, MA Canton, MA Randolph, MA Stoughton, MA Sharon, MA Walpole, MA Foxborough, MA Lynn, MA Saugus, MA Peabody, MA Salem, MA Beverly, MA Danvers, MA Worcester, MA Auburn, MA Millbury, MA Oxford, MA Sutton, MA Webster, MA

Get Your Free Cedar Shake Estimate

Contact Alfa Construction Inc today for a free estimate. Licensed & insured with 20+ years of experience serving Massachusetts homeowners.

Call (508) 590-9193 Get Free Estimate

Licensed & Insured20+ Years ExperienceFree Estimates

Free Estimate

Get your project quoted

No pressureLicensed & Insured20+ Years5.0 · 22 reviews

By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Privacy.SSL secured