cedar-siding / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

A classic home with a pitched roof and siding made of warm-toned cedar shingles.
Roof coverings

Cedar shingles & shakes: A comprehensive guide for sustainable roofing & siding

Cedar shingles & shakes: a homeowner's & pro's guide Cedar shingles and shakes give a home a very natural feel that enhances any home's curb appeal. Known for their durability and insulation properties, these roofing and siding materials provide a beautiful, sustainable option for both new builds and renovation...

Cómo restaurar una terraza de madera de cedro fácilmente
Decks, porches and gazebos

How to restore a cedar wood deck easily

Restoring a weathered cedar deck easily, step by step  Cedar decking boards turn gray in a few short years if untreated, and can make your deck look much older and closer to the end of its life than it actually is. There are easy tips for restoring an old deck and bringing back the original color of cedar decking. Deck...

Freshly Stained Cedar Wood Deck after Renovating old Decking to Look Like New
Decks, porches and gazebos

How to stain or paint cedar wood decking when renovating old decks

How to stain or paint an old cedar deck to make it look new and last longer. Staining or painting an old weathered cedar deck can be quite different than staining a new one. First, pressure wash the deck to remove the old gray color and all the build up of grit and stains. Try to always blast the water with the directi...

Siding Choices - Board and batten siding
Exterior cladding

Choosing the right exterior siding for fitting, cost comparisons & appearance

Siding is important! There is no stage of home construction that you should rush through, but if there were, it shouldn't be siding. Whatever type of siding product you choose, purchase and installation is not cheap, so you don't want to do it again anytime soon. Your siding needs to protect your home from the weather,...

Decks, porches and gazebos

Which is Better: Cedar, Pressure Treated or Composite Plastic Decking? a Homeowner's & Pro's Guide

Which is better: cedar, pressure treated or composite plastic decking? a homeowner's & pro's guide Building or renovating a deck is a big decision for any homeowner, and a critical one for professionals. The choice of material impacts everything from upfront costs and installation time to long-term maintenance, dur...

A beautiful well-maintained cedar shake roof should last for years if maintained
Roof assemblies - renovation

Cleaning and preserving cedar shake roofs, (and what not to do!)

The definitive guide to cleaning and preserving cedar roofs To maintain the unique beauty and longevity of a cedar shake roof, it is essential to have a definitive guide for cleaning and preservation that protects this premium, natural material. Unlike mass-produced roofing, cedar shakes and shingles require specific c...

Installing Siding Correctly so that walls can drain in timber frame homes
Exterior cladding

How to install siding

Siding installation The walls of your home are an environmental separator. Their job is to keep the inside in and the outside out. Exterior cladding or siding is your first line of defense against weather elements, and its job is to allow interior control layers (ie. the building envelope) to do their jobs without bei...

Home with metal siding and a metal roof
Exterior cladding

Metal Siding Guide: Durability, Cost, and Performance vs. Wood

  This guide provides a comprehensive look at the key aspects of this topic. Below is an overview of the sections we will cover, allowing you to jump directly to the information you need. Comparison: metal vs. wood and other home cladding types Durability and performance Profiles and aesthetics of metal siding Metal s...

Shou sugi ban carbonized wood siding
Exterior cladding

Shou sugi ban carbonized wood siding from Japan, what is it & how to make it?

What is Shou sugi ban siding? © Resawn Timber Co. Shou sugi ban is an ancient Japanese carbonized wood finish created by burning the surface of wood to preserve it. The final product is also known as Yakisugi (yaki means to cook/burn and sugi is the Japanese name for cedar), but shou-sugi-ban seems to have won as the...

A close-up view of a roof shingle with green moss and dark algae stains on it.
Roof assemblies - renovation

Eco-friendly Roof Cleaning and Treatments: The Complete Guide

Roof cleaning and treatments: a homeowner's and pro's guide To ensure the long life and peak performance of your home's primary shield, this homeowner's and pro's guide to roof cleaning and treatments outlines the most effective and eco-friendly maintenance strategies. A roof is often overlooked until a problem like a ...

How to Build a Beautiful Cedar Deck that Last - Our Top Tips & Photos
Decks, porches and gazebos

Building a deck? Our top tips to make your deck last longer

Deck building tips for a durable deck construction: Meeting setbacks and getting building permits in Canada & US Raised Deck frame specification - make sure the structure is strong enough Which raised deck foundations are best: cement pillars (Sonotubes), screw piles, floating deck blocks What's the best type of d...