Eastern White Cedar Shingles in Massachusetts | Cape Cod and Coastal Siding

The Architectural Soul of Coastal Massachusetts: Eastern White Cedar

For over three centuries, Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) shingles have defined the architectural character of coastal Massachusetts, from the sea captain mansions of Marblehead and historic cottages of Chatham to the shingle-style summer estates of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Sustainably harvested from northern Maine and eastern Canadian forests, Eastern White Cedar is renowned for its tight grain, dimensional stability, and natural biological defense against wood-destroying fungi and insects.

At MA Siding Pros, our master coastal carpenters install premium Certigrade® #1 Blue Label Eastern White Cedar shingles and bevel clapboard. Every course is installed with museum-grade precision, hand-woven outside corners, flared water tables, and eyebrow dormers that honor New England maritime history while incorporating modern rainscreen building science to double the operational lifespan of your exterior.

Certigrade® #1 Blue Label Standards & Material Grades

Not all cedar shingles are created equal. Inferior grades like Red Label or Black Label contain sapwood, flat grain, and knot defects that warp, cup, and split within just a few seasons. We exclusively specify and install Certigrade® #1 Blue Label cedar:

• 100% Heartwood: Contains the highest concentration of natural preservative thujaplicin oils, ensuring maximum rot and fungal resistance.
• 100% Clear Timber: Completely free of knots, bark inclusions, wormholes, or cross-grain defects.
• 100% Edge-Grain (Vertical Grain): Cut strictly perpendicular to annual growth rings so the wood expands and contracts uniformly without cupping or curling during severe weather swings.

The 3 Pillars of Coastal Massachusetts Cedar Installation

Finish and Weathering Options for White Cedar

Depending on your home's microclimate and aesthetic preference, we offer three proven finish methods:

1. Natural Weathering: Shingles are installed untreated and allowed to weather under natural sunlight and coastal salt spray, maturing from a warm golden-amber hue into that celebrated, soft driftwood silver-gray sheen.
2. Bleaching Oil Treatment: Shingles are pre-dipped in Cabot's Bleaching Oil, accelerating the weathering process and guaranteeing a uniform, even silver-gray color across shaded north walls and sun-drenched south gables alike.
3. Factory Pre-Stained Solid or Semi-Transparent Stains: Shingles are machine-coated on all six sides with two coats of Olympic or Benjamin Moore exterior stain, offering vibrant color protection with a 15-year warranty against peeling.

Integrating Rot-Proof AZEK® Trim with Cedar Shingles

Because cedar shingles are naturally combustible and moisture-sensitive at ground contact, pairing cedar walls with AZEK® cellular PVC water tables and cornerboards creates the optimal hybrid system: authentic cedar warmth on the walls, paired with rot-proof, zero-maintenance architectural trim at vulnerable rooflines and foundation perimeters.