Composite cedar shake siding is factory-made cladding—fiber cement, wood-fiber, or PVC—engineered to copy the texture of natural cedar shakes without solid wood.
The catch: “composite” is a product class, not one recipe, and the differences between the three main types decide cost, installation, and durability.
What Is Composite Cedar Shake Siding Made Of?
Composite cedar shake siding covers three genuinely different products, and treating them as interchangeable is the most common mistake buyers make.
Fiber-cement shake presses a cedar-grain face into cement-and-cellulose panels.
Wood-fiber composite blends wood strands with resin.
PVC polymer shake extrudes vinyl into shingle shapes.
All three promise less upkeep and better resistance to insects, rot, moisture, and fire than untreated wood.
How Much Does Composite Cedar Shake Siding Cost?
These are market estimates from published figures, not manufacturer list prices.
Confirm whether your quote includes removal, trim, flashing, substrate repairs, painting, permits, and disposal—those line items routinely swing a project’s total by more than the siding choice itself.
If you are weighing specific brands, this roundup of the best composite shake siding compares tested options side by side.
| Product Type | Typical Installed Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Wood-fiber composite | $5–$12 per sq ft | Warm cedar texture on dry-climate homes |
| Fiber-cement shake | $5–$12 per sq ft | Fire-rated rebuilds and wet regions |
| Fiber-cement select (interlocking) | $8–$14 per sq ft | Half-round and octagon detail work |
| PVC polymer shake | $8–$14 per sq ft | Ground and roofline contact zones |
| Engineered wood siding | $10–$16 per sq ft | Premium profiles with factory finish |
| Touch-up coating on cut ends | Add-on material | Every coated wood-fiber install |
| Flashing and trim package | Add-on material | Windows, doors, corners, transitions |
What Goes Into A Correct Installation?
A correct installation follows the same sequence every manufacturer expects, and skipping a step voids the warranty long before it shows on the wall.
Verify the exact product, approved substrate, exposure, fastening schedule, wind rating, and temperature limits. Install approved structural sheathing where required, then a water-resistive barrier with drainage to the exterior.
Use corrosion-resistant nails, staples, or screws in the manufacturer’s specified dimensions and pattern. Follow movement allowances: Tando requires elongated nailing slots and positioning aids because polymer expands and contracts with temperature.
Install panels or shingles to the manufacturer’s layout, exposure, overlap, and corner details. Woodtone requires selecting straight, undamaged boards and following both siding and substrate instructions. Apply touch-up coating to field-cut surfaces and ends where required, and respect temperature, humidity, and ventilation limits—Woodtone warns against installations outside them.
Two limits matter most. Grayne’s evaluation states its product is not evaluated for positive wind pressure, so structural sheathing must resist the required positive design pressure. Those are product-specific limits, not universal rules.
What Do People Get Wrong?
The fastest way to ruin a composite shake job is assuming ratings transfer between products. Common errors include confusing fiber cement with polymer composite, using the wrong exposure width, fastening too tightly, blocking movement slots, skipping edge sealing on field cuts, neglecting drainage, and buying on appearance without reading the evaluation report. Fiber-cement panels are heavier and need different cutting and handling than PVC or wood-fiber boards.
Never install over an unapproved substrate, omit the water-resistive barrier or flashing, or mix fastening schedules between brands. Check whether local code, coastal wind requirements, wildfire provisions, or the warranty add conditions.
Common Questions
Is composite shake siding the same as fiber cement?
No. Fiber cement is one type of composite, but the category also includes wood-fiber panels and PVC polymer shingles. Each has its own installation rules, weight, and warranty terms. Fiber cement is heavier and typically carries a Class A fire rating, while PVC shake suits ground-contact and damp zones.
Does composite shake siding need to be painted?
Factory-finished products arrive coated, but field-cut ends usually need touch-up coating to protect the exposed core. Woodtone specifically requires touch-up on cut ends. Unfinished fiber-cement panels must be painted after installation to seal the surface and satisfy warranty conditions.
Can composite shake siding go over existing siding?
Rarely without evaluation. Most manufacturers require approved structural sheathing and a water-resistive barrier underneath. Grayne specifies sheathing meeting DOC PS 1, DOC PS 2, or ANSI/APA PRP 210. Installing over an unapproved substrate voids the warranty and can fail inspection.
Sources
- Woodtone. “RusticSeries Specification 2025.” Supplies the 12-inch profile, 7/16-inch thickness, and field-cut coating requirements.
- Tando Composites. “Tando Three Part Specification.” Details elongated nailing slots, Kynar coating, and ASTM D7254 weather compliance.
- Grayne. “Grayne Evaluation Report.” Covers PVC composite exposure widths, sheathing standards, and the 40-foot and 100-mph wind limits.