Portland Cedar Siding: The Only Wood Siding

In Portland, cedar siding is the most common and one of the only viable forms of wood siding. Natural oils in the cedar repel water and protect the wood from the ever-present moisture of the Pacific Northwest. As long as you keep the siding in good condition, it will provide ample protection for your home for many, many years.

Benefits of Cedar Siding in Portland, OR
If you ask any homeowner why they chose to install cedar siding, nine times out of 10 the answer will be looks, but cedar siding has other benefits as well. Air particles within the wood create a superb insulating buffer, dramatically reducing heat and cold air exchange between your home and the outside air. Affordable to both install and repair, should anything happen to your siding, you'll be able to cheaply patch it up with new shingles or panels.

Portland Cedar Shake Siding
When choosing cedar siding for your home, you'll soon discover you have quite a few options. Of these options, cedar shake siding is the most popular. Cedar shake is created with split rather than sawn shingles. Alternatives include beveled, channeled, and tongue and groove cedar siding. Each type has a distinctive look and various installation methods. In Portland, cedar shake siding is most coveted for its look, but other forms of cedar siding may last longer. Talk to a contractor about these options, their relative advantages and disadvantages, and your needs and preferences.

Cost of Portland Cedar Siding
Often, the initial cost of cedar siding installation is well below the average for other siding materials such as vinyl or cement. For an average-sized home, anything less than $10,000 is considered quite economical. Of course, the cost of resealing your cedar siding every few years will eat up much of these savings. If you're willing and able to reseal your siding yourself, you can save some money, but between the cost of sealant and its relatively short lifespan, cedar siding is not generally considered to be the most cost-effective siding in the long run. Still, if you're willing to put up with the required maintenance, you'll have one of the most beautiful homes out there.

Portland Cedar Siding Installation
Cedar siding shouldn't be particularly difficult or time-consuming compared to other siding materials, but it's still not for the DIYer. Proper installation involves fastening the wood shingles or panels in such a way so as not to damage the wood or create seams between the wood where rain or moisture can get behind the siding. Finding a reliable and knowledgeable contractor is imperative to the long-term success of your siding. ServiceMagic can help you find the right contractor for installation and for future upkeep. Our contractors are put through a rigorous 10-step screening process. You'll also be able to view our online customer ratings and reviews so you can confidently see what other homeowners have thought about their experience with individual Portland cedar siding contractors.

Portland Cedar Siding Alternatives
If you're looking for something a little more practical and something that doesn't require annual or biannual maintenance, fiber-cement siding in Portland is the best alternative to wood siding. Engineered specifically to imitate the look of wood siding, fiber-cement shingles will fool all but the trained eye and can last for several decades with minimal maintenance. If you like the look of cedar, you can still use the wood for your decking, patio furniture, fencing, or other outdoor applications. You can even match these authentic wood features with your fiber-cement siding.

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