Faux Cedar Shake Siding: 11 Design Ideas to Consider

Cedar shingle siding and cedar wood shake siding has always been a popular option for homes of all kinds. Whether you want a classic rustic wood shake look or something more modern, wood siding is a good choice. However, even within the category of wood siding and cedar siding, there are different options to consider like artificial cedar shakes, imitation shake shingles and even synthetic roofing products.

One option that has become an increasingly popular style of wood siding is shingle style and artificial synthetic cedar shakes.

Why Choose Cedar Shingle Siding?

When you think about wood shingles, you likely think of roofing. This is the main use for wood shingles, but it is certainly not the only one. In fact, many homeowners have begun using wood shingles as siding to create a unique look on the exterior of their home. This can provide a rustic or modern look to a home, with overlapping shingles that allow for endless design possibilities.

However, regular wood shingles require a certain level of maintenance, which is part of why some homeowners avoid them as a design option. This includes regular application of protective chemicals to prevent water intrusion and vulnerability to rot. 

Fortunately, there are now companies on the market that offer faux cedar shake siding that looks natural, but is much easier to maintain.

Benefits of Faux Cedar Shakes and Cedar Shake Siding

Low Maintenance

The biggest benefit to faux cedar shake siding is that it has minimal maintenance requirements. Unlike real wood, once faux cedar shake siding is installed, there is virtually no maintenance required beyond cleaning it with a hose and water every so often. In comparison, real wood has vulnerabilities to insects, water intrusion, rot, mold, warping, buckling, UV rays, and other dangers.

Very Durable

Another benefit to faux cedar shake siding is that it is much more durable than traditional cedar wood shakes. Cedar shake faux siding offers Class A Fire Ratings, the highest fire rating possible, as well as a Class 4 Impact Rating, which makes it resistant to elements such as hail and falling branches. This durability means it will not crack, chip, or warp from exposure to high temperatures, heavy winds, or other harsh environments. Synthetic cedar shakes from CeDUR can even last an entire lifetime in a best case scenario.

Real Wood Shake Look

Faux wood products of the past could be easily spotted as fake, but today’s products have a more natural look. Now, faux cedar shake siding looks natural, is easy to find, is usually molded from actual cedar or redwood planks, and has realistic grain and paint that will not chip, crack, or fade.

Insurance Benefits

States like California, Arizona, and New Mexico, where wildfires are prevalent, have put a ban on natural wood products due to their flammability. Instead, states and insurance companies have begun offering special incentives for people to make the switch to alternative, fire-rated materials.  Faux cedar shake siding allows homeowners to maintain the look of wood while also taking advantage of the insurance benefits.

Synthetic Cedar Faux Shake From CeDUR

CeDUR is a company that makes faux cedar shakes that while geared towards roofing, also make great siding that looks natural. Their product is made using a unique polyurethane manufacturing process that molds the shingles from real wood. This gives CeDUR shingles an incredibly realistic real-wood look by using a lightweight and durable material and special paints.

The faux cedar shake siding offered by CeDUR has a Class A Fire Rating, a Class 4 Impact Rating, and can withstand winds up to 115 mph. These shingles will not crack, chip, warm, or fade — even when exposed to harsher conditions — and can last the entire lifetime of a home.

11 Cedar Faux Shake Siding Design Ideas

1. Mix it with Vinyl

If you don’t want your whole home covered in faux cedar shake siding, then consider breaking it up with another type of siding material, such as vinyl. This will allow you to include some faux wood siding, but also have something else to help lighten the overall look and feel of the home.

2. Mix it with Brick

If vinyl isn’t your thing, you can also combine faux cedar shake siding with other materials such as brick. Brick is as durable as faux cedar shingles, which will provide your home with extra protection. Bricks can also easily be painted if you ever decide to change up your home’s exterior, and can make updating the look a lot easier.

3. Match the Roof and Siding

The great thing about faux wood shingles is that they can be used anywhere on a home. If you’re into a streamlined, single material option to keep things simple, consider using the same faux cedar shake as roofing as well as siding. You can save a lot of time in designing your home’s exterior while also creating a simple, clean-looking home.

4. Add Lots of Windows

Windows always have a way of bringing light into a home and they can even make it feel much bigger. Consider breaking up your faux cedar shake siding with a lot of windows. This can add more light and help to keep the look of faux wood siding from being too overwhelming.

5. Go Lighter than the Roof Color

Since faux cedar shake siding that looks natural can be found in different shades, you have a number of different options. If you already have a dark roof, consider using a lighter faux wood siding. This can brighten up your home, create contrast, and also add interest to your home’s exterior.

6. Combine Panels and Shingles

Wood siding comes in different styles, so why not combine your favorites? Instead of having your whole home covered in cedar shake faux siding, make it an accent piece for the outside of your home and combine it with either real or faux wood planks.

7. Mix Colors

Faux wood shingles come in different colors, so it’s easy to mix and match them to create an interesting, different look. Consider choosing one color for the main part of your home, while having another to accent certain areas.

Faux wood shingles do not have to be limited to just your roof. They can easily double as faux cedar shake siding, and can create a truly unique and eye-catching exterior for any home. While they are traditionally seen as a rustic option, with the right design,  faux wood shingles can look good even on more modern-style homes.

8. Combine Blue Siding with Walden Roofing

Using synthetic cedar shake of a gray-ish blue or ash color in combination with a Walden roof can create a unique contrast that is pleasing to the eye. Especially when paired with some shrubbery around the house, blue siding and Walden roofing can be a perfect pair.

9. Dark House with Green Landscape

Using darker colored synthetic cedar shingles in combination with both a similar colored roof as well as a lush green landscape is another great style you might consider. You can use a uniform look with the same type of roofing and siding or just similar dark colors, but in comparison with a lush green yard and landscape around it, this style is sure to stand out.

10. Speckled Siding with a Shiloh Roof

Utilizing speckled siding is another way to put a twist on synthetic cedar shake siding styles. You can opt for multiple different colors and layer them in amongst each other, while pairing it with a shiloh roof to provide some contrast and aesthetic consistency.

11. Shiloh Roofing with Charred Faux Cedar

Charred wood isn’t just for natural materials, it can be replicated in synthetic material as well. Here we see lighter tones of charring mixed in with golden warm faux cedar shakes. A shiloh roof adds a good color contrast, while a scraggly pine tree and distressed brick pillars finish off the aesthetic. 

Synthetic Cedar Shake Siding Can Look Good in Many Ways

If you’re interested in faux cedar shake siding that looks natural, consider CeDUR, a company that offers high-quality, realistic faux cedar products that are sure to impress and last for years to come. With various different colors and styles such as Walden, Shiloh, Golden Cedar, and Live Oak, there are numerous different ways to achieve a unique and magnificent home exterior with synthetic cedar.