Cedar has been used in construction for thousands of years and, in ancient times, was used to build temples, ships, and homes. However, its popularity as a roofing material started in the late 1800s. Since that time, cedar shake has been used for roofs and siding and continues to grow in popularity.
Crafted from either red or white cedar and hand split (or machine split to attain the same look), cedar shakes continue to maintain their rustic natural appeal due to the slight variations in color, size, and thickness of each shake.
Wood Shake Siding
Did you know that cedar shake isn’t just for the roof? Cedar shake provides a charming alternative for siding, whether you want to accent one area or cover the whole house. The main problem with wood shake siding is that it is not quite as sturdy and long-lasting as some other options. It requires regular maintenance, painting, staining, and sealing every few years to keep looking its best.
Do you love the cedar-shake siding look but don’t have the time or money for all that upkeep? We have good news! At Brava, our cedar shake roofing gives you the authentic appearance of cedar shake without the high maintenance and short life span. The best cedar shake siding isn’t made of wood!
The Problems with Wood Shake Siding
Before we dive into the benefits of making the switch to synthetic cedar shake roofing, let’s take a second to talk about the problems with real cedar shake.
Quality: The best natural cedar shakes are produced from old-growth timber. Since the late 1900s, old growth is much more difficult to obtain, so most of today’s cedar shakes are produced from new growth timber, which is not as dense or stable.
Water Damage/Aging: Depending on the type of wood siding, shingles, or panels installed, water damage can become a serious problem. If your shake shingles or siding panels have rot, cracks, or holes from animals, it will begin to deteriorate, and mold will start to grow inside your walls. In addition, as the wood shingles age, they can split, become dislodged, and fall off the home. This can become a difficult problem to repair if the loose shingles fall from the second story.
Harvesting: For years, environmentalists have been working hard to preserve trees and our forests. Since 1986, the use of wood siding as an exterior surface has been decreasing dramatically. It’s estimated that less than 5% of homes use wood siding. Artificial cedar shake siding is better for our homes and our environment.
Synthetic Shake Siding is the Solution
Brava Roof Tile produces faux cedar shake siding that rivals the natural product for beauty and authenticity, but far surpasses it in durability. Our composite shake shingles are made of compressed post-industrial recycled plastics and other sustainable materials that are built to last a lifetime. Brava shake shingles won’t crack, rot, fade, grow mold or algae, attract pests or animals... the list goes on.
Our shakes are manufactured from synthetic materials formulated to stand up to extreme freeze/thaw cycles and can be installed in the cold -faux cedar shake siding. Some wood products will crack or split when installed in freezing temperatures.
Brava Faux Cedar Shake Sidings are Beautiful and Durable
Our synthetic cedar shake comes in a stunning variety of colors, including Aspen, Charcoal, Natural, and Weathered, just to name a few. To simulate the appearance of natural wood shake siding, our patented coloring process provides variegation throughout the product. When compared to a natural wood shingle, you’ll face a challenge trying to determine which shingle is natural and which is synthetic. Faux cedar shake siding is the future!
To further imitate the natural appearance of cedar shake, our synthetic siding shingles come in three different widths, 5”, 7”, and 12”. The thickness of our shingles varies. They feature the split texture typical of natural cedar.
If you’re feeling really creative and want to give your house a truly unique look, we offer custom coloring at Brava. The colors you can create are limited only by your imagination.
The Best Cedar Shake Siding Alternatives
When homeowners start exploring cedar shake siding alternatives, they quickly discover that the market offers several different materials, each with its own strengths and limitations.
Fiber Cement Shingles: Fiber cement is a popular choice for siding that looks like wood shingles. It's durable and fire-resistant, but it's also heavy and can be brittle.
Vinyl Shake Siding: Vinyl is an affordable option that mimics the cedar shake look that homeowners want. However, vinyl can fade in direct sunlight, become brittle in extreme cold, and warp in high heat. It also lacks the depth and texture of premium alternatives.
Composite Shingles: This is where Brava excels. Our composite cedar shake siding combines the realistic appearance of natural wood with exceptional durability and weather resistance. Unlike fiber cement, our shingles are lightweight. And unlike vinyl, they maintain their color and structural integrity across temperature extremes.
Durability and Performance: What Sets Synthetic Siding Apart
One of the biggest reasons homeowners choose faux cedar shingle siding over natural wood is durability. While natural cedar requires constant attention to stay in good condition, synthetic cedar siding is engineered to perform year after year with minimal effort. Here’s what sets it apart:
Impact Resistance: Brava shake shingles received the industry's top certification for hail performance, a Class 4 impact rating.
Wind Resistance: Our composite siding shingles have a wind rating of up to 188 MPH with ring-shank nails and up to 211 MPH with high-wind screw installation.
Fire Safety: Our shake shingles are available with Class A and Class C fire ratings for added safety. Class A fire-rated shingles have a flame spread rating of 0-25, making them effective against severe fire exposure.
UV Protection: Our shakes feature a UV-protective formulation to shield against the sun's rays.
How Climate Affects Your Siding Choice
Your local climate should play a significant role in choosing between natural wood and faux shake siding. Different environments create different challenges, and synthetic shake siding is designed to handle them all.
Cold Climates
In regions with harsh winters, freeze-thaw cycles wreak havoc on natural wood. Water seeps into the grain, freezes, expands, and eventually causes splitting and cracking. Brava's plastic cedar shake siding is formulated to withstand extreme freeze-thaw cycles without damage. It can even be installed in freezing temperatures, unlike natural wood products that may crack or split during cold-weather installation.
Hot and Sunny Climates
Intense UV exposure and high temperatures cause natural cedar to dry out, crack, and fade. Our simulated cedar siding resists heat and UV damage, maintaining its appearance even in desert climates. Plus, our shakes can be manufactured in brilliant white, making them an extremely reflective surface that significantly reduces radiant heat absorption.
Humid and Rainy Climates
Moisture is the enemy of natural wood siding. High humidity promotes mold, algae, and rot, requiring constant treatment and maintenance. At Brava, our shake siding is non-absorptive, so it won't grow mold, attract fungi, or deteriorate from moisture exposure.
Coastal Environments
Salt air accelerates the deterioration of natural wood and can corrode many building materials. Our imitation cedar siding stands up to salt exposure without the degradation that affects natural cedar in beachfront applications.
Lifespan: How Long Will Your Siding Last?
The difference between natural wood and fake wood siding products is substantial. Natural cedar shake siding, with diligent maintenance including regular staining, sealing, and repairs, has an average useful life of 25 to 30 years. Without consistent care, that lifespan can drop to 15 years or less. The wood will split, warp, rot, and lose its aesthetic appeal much faster than most homeowners expect.
Brava synthetic cedar shake siding comes with a 50-year limited warranty and never requires staining. Our composite shingle siding will last up to twice as long as conventional cedar shakes while maintaining its beauty throughout its lifespan. That's not just a long-lasting roof. That’s decades of avoided maintenance, repairs, and eventual replacement costs.
Brava Synthetic Cedar Shakes Save Money Over the Life of the Siding
The average cost to install faux cedar shake siding ranges from $8.50 to $14.50 per square foot, depending on job complexity and location. You can expect to pay between $17,000 and $29,000 for a contractor to install new cedar shake siding on a typical house with 2,000 square feet of siding. Add an extra $1,000 to $3,000 if you need your old siding removed and disposed of.
Add the cost of re-staining the wood cedar shake every 5-7 years, and you’ve increased the cost of natural cedar siding by another $1.69 to $4.02 per square foot, depending on your location and local labor.
Back to the calculator one more time. Now add the cost of installation again, because natural cedar shakes only have an average useful life of 25-30 years.
Brava Synthetic Cedar Shake siding can save up to 50% over the lifetime of the product. Our composite shakes have a 50-year limited warranty and never require staining. Brava cedar shakes will last up to twice as long as conventional cedar shakes.
When Does Faux Cedar Siding Make Sense?
While artificial cedar siding offers clear advantages, it's helpful to understand the specific situations where it makes the most sense as a long-term exterior solution. Here are the situations where you might consider switching to faux cedar shake siding:
You Want the Look Without the Work: If you love the aesthetic of siding shakes design but don't want to spend weekends on maintenance or pay for regular professional treatments, fake shingle siding delivers the beauty without the burden.
You're Building in a Challenging Climate: Whether you're dealing with coastal salt air, desert heat, mountain freeze-thaw cycles, or humid conditions, plastic cedar siding outperforms natural wood in every extreme environment.
You're Planning to Stay Long-Term: If this is your forever home, investing in composite cedar shake siding means you won't have to think about replacement for decades.
You Want Fire Protection: In fire-prone regions, natural cedar is a liability. Faux shingle siding with Class A fire ratings provides protection that natural wood simply cannot match, and may even qualify you for insurance discounts.
You Value Sustainability: Brava shingles are crafted from recycled materials and are fully recyclable at the end of their life. Instead of contributing to deforestation, you're repurposing materials that would otherwise become waste.
Maintenance
Our synthetic cedar shakes are maintenance-free! Compare that to natural shakes that require regular staining, sealing, and repairs to maintain their appearance and structural integrity.
Installing Brava Cedar Shakes
One of the advantages of using Brava shakes is that the installation is simple and fast. Our products are installed using standard industry practices. Here are some quick tips for installation:
Mix Widths: We manufacture them in varying widths, and as you install them, you can mix widths to achieve the most natural look.
Separate Shingles: Since the shakes are manufactured with natural color variations, the installer will want to create a cohesive blend. This can be accomplished as the shingles are being taken off the pallet by separating them into groups that the contractor can choose from as the work progresses.
Use Whatever Tools You Like: Brava shakes can be hand-nailed or gun-nailed.
Pay Attention to Spacing: There should be a minimum space between each shake of ⅜” to allow for expansion and to create the look of natural cedar shakes.
Use Corrosion-Resistant Fasteners: They should be installed with 2 corrosion-resistant fasteners per shake.
Preventing Leaks: To prevent leaks, ensure that the joints in each course are no less than 1 ½” apart from each other.
Additional Brava Shake Siding Advantages
We’re thrilled (and hope you will be too) with the authentic look and feel of our synthetic shake siding shingles. We’re really proud of their performance. Here are some of the other advantages of choosing Brava Shake Siding:
Customer Satisfaction: Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction, so we test regularly with the aim of achieving it.
Energy Efficiency: Most people are concerned about energy efficiency, and the color of the roofing and siding products on your home can affect your utility bills. Natural cedar is a light color, and Brava’s synthetic cedar shakes can be manufactured in brilliant white, making it an extremely reflective surface and significantly reducing the amount of radiant heat absorbed by the shake.
Low Utility Bills: Considering that your exterior walls usually constitute the largest exposed surface on your home, having the ability to install white siding can result in lower utility bills.
Recyclability: Our synthetic shake shingles are environmentally friendly and manufactured in the U.S. They’re crafted from recycled materials and, if you decide to replace them, the shingles themselves are fully recyclable. These are not to be confused with the toxic cedar shake siding that Home Depot and other competitors sell! Instead of turning plastic into trash, Brava recycles and re-purposes it into beautiful, durable siding (and roofing) products that enhance your home’s curb appeal.
Natural Wood-Look: They have the authentic look of natural wood, but perform even better than the real thing. If you’re committed to the unique look of shake siding but refuse to commit to the high-maintenance of natural cedar wood, keep in mind that the best shake siding isn’t made of wood, it’s Brava’s synthetic shake.
Request a Sample
Contact us today to learn more about our synthetic shake siding and additional product offerings. All of our composite products are made in the U.S. They’re available in unlimited colors, with a lightweight, easy-to-install design that doesn’t require special tools or structural modifications.
To request a sample, receive more information, or find an experienced contractor in your area, please complete a sample request form or call us at (844) 290-4196.
