Seven Pines Home Improvement
Seven Pines Home Improvement installs cedar shake siding in Shrewsbury, MA, on single-family homes, typically from $7 to $16 per square foot installed, with most full re-sides finishing in one to two weeks.
Cedar shake siding is a wood sidewall cladding of individual western red cedar shakes, laid in overlapping horizontal courses to shed water and throw the deep shadow lines that give the wall its texture. Homeowners choose it when they want a real wood exterior instead of vinyl or panel, on a center-entrance Colonial, a raised ranch, or one of the detached barn garages common out this way. Central Massachusetts freeze-thaw is hard on any exterior, and it is harder on a wood wall that was never vented to dry. That is the part we build around on every job.
Marcony Araujo and Romero Araujo have been doing this work in Shrewsbury and the surrounding communities since 2016, registered under HIC #205267.
This page covers cedar shake siding specifically: what the install includes, what it costs here, hand-split versus machine-split profiles, our seven-step sequence, and how long a project takes.
Real wood craftsmanship built for Central Massachusetts
Cedar Shake Siding
Cedar shake siding is a wood sidewall cladding of individual western red cedar shakes laid in overlapping horizontal courses to shed water and throw the deep shadow lines that give the wall its texture. Most full re-sides on Shrewsbury single-family homes finish in one to two weeks, and installed pricing typically runs from $7 to $16 per square foot depending on cedar grade, profile, and how much substrate repair the tear-off uncovers.
Central Massachusetts freeze-thaw is hard on any exterior, and it is harder on a wood wall that was never vented to dry. Every install we do includes a breathable housewrap and a rainscreen, thin furring strips that hold the shakes off the wall and leave a 3/8 to 1/2 inch air gap so water drains and air moves behind the cladding. That gap is what lets western red cedar survive a Shrewsbury winter instead of trapping meltwater against the sheathing.
Seven Pines Home Improvement handles cedar shake projects on center-entrance Colonials, raised ranches, Cape Cods, and the detached garages common to this part of Worcester County. If you are managing a property in Shrewsbury, Northborough, Grafton, or anywhere else in our service area, we quote after a site assessment where scope and material condition drive the price.
Cedar Shake Siding
Explore full cedar shake re-sides, accent and gable installations, spot repair, substrate work, and flashing at windows, doors, and penetrations for homes throughout Shrewsbury and MetroWest.
Full Re-Side
A full re-side replaces every course of cladding on the home, from the starter course up to the eaves. It is the right call when existing siding has aged past the point of patchwork repair, when rot has reached the sheathing, or when a homeowner is upgrading from vinyl or fiber cement to real wood. On Shrewsbury's 1970s and 1980s ranches and split-entries, tear-off often reveals sheathing issues we address in the same scope.
Spot Repair
Spot replacement addresses cracked, split, or rotted shakes without disturbing the surrounding field. It is the right scope when damage is limited to a small cluster of shakes over a sound substrate. We inspect the substrate and moisture readings before recommending repair over re-side, because patches that sit against a wet wall just fail again.
Accent Installation
Cedar shake is a common accent material on gable ends, dormers, and upper story panels where the texture reads against a flat vinyl or fiber cement field below. Accent work uses the same housewrap, rainscreen, and flashing standards as a full install. It is one of the faster scopes we do, typically two to four days for a single gable section.
Hand-Split Shakes
Hand-split shakes produce a deeply textured, irregular surface with pronounced shadow lines. The rougher face is a natural fit for traditional colonials and older New England architecture throughout Worcester County. They carry a higher material cost than a sawn profile, but the look does not translate to any synthetic alternative.
Machine-Split Shakes
Machine-split tapersawn shakes have a cleaner sawn face and a more uniform exposure than hand-split profiles. They suit craftsman and contemporary home styles where a more refined texture is the right call. The consistent coursing also simplifies corner and trim detail work on complex elevations.
Storm Restoration
Wind, ice, and freeze-thaw cycling are the main forces that break apart a cedar shake wall in Central Massachusetts. Ice dam events drive water behind courses and rot the sheathing before the damage is visible from the street. We assess the full scope of storm damage before quoting, because what is visible at the surface rarely tells the whole story.
Trim and Flashing
Fascia boards, corner boards, window and door casing, and kick-out flashing are what hold a cedar shake wall together at every edge and transition. Trim rot is one of the most common findings on Shrewsbury homes with a history of ice dam damage or failed flashing at the rake. We replace trim as standalone work or as part of a larger cedar shake project.
Compare Your Options
The right service depends on what you have, what is failing, and how much of the exterior needs attention. Here is how the cedar shake options compare for homes in this part of Worcester County.
Swipe sideways to view the full comparison table.
| Option | Best for | Holds up to Central MA winters | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Cedar Shake Re-side | Homes with siding at end of life, elevated moisture readings, or coursing that has shifted across a wall section | Excellent when installed with a rainscreen, breathable housewrap, and correct flashing at all penetrations | Siding Contractor in Shrewsbury |
| Spot Replacement and Repair | Localized damage limited to a small cluster of shakes over sound, dry substrate | Extends the life of the existing cedar wall when the surrounding field is structurally sound | Siding Repair in Shrewsbury |
| Hand-Split Cedar Shakes | Traditional Colonials and older New England architecture where deep shadow lines and rough texture are the goal | Good with proper installation and maintenance; rough surface sheds water well when correctly flashed | Cedar Shake Siding in Shrewsbury |
| Machine-Split Tapersawn Shakes | Craftsman or contemporary profiles where a cleaner, more uniform exposure is preferred | Good; sawn face is smoother and holds stain more evenly, which supports longer maintenance cycles | Cedar Shake Siding in Shrewsbury |
| Gable or Accent-Only Installation | Adding cedar texture to a single gable, dormer, or facade panel without a full re-side | Good, smaller scope means faster completion and easier future maintenance access | Cedar Shake Siding in Shrewsbury |
| Storm Damage Shake Repair | Wind, ice, or impact damage after a weather event affecting cedar sidewalls | Restores envelope integrity; full substrate assessment before repair is essential in freeze-thaw climates | Siding Contractor in Shrewsbury |
| Exterior Trim Replacement | Rotted or failing fascia, corner boards, window and door casing alongside a cedar shake install | Good; trim rot from ice-dam water intrusion is common in this housing stock and should be addressed before new shakes go up | Siding Contractor in Shrewsbury |
2026 Project Pricing
Cedar shake siding in Shrewsbury typically runs $7 to $16 per square foot installed in 2026. An accent gable lands at the lower end of a project total; a full single-family re-side runs well into five figures. Every project is quoted after an on-site assessment, contact us to schedule yours.
On-site assessment before every written estimate
Swipe sideways to view the full pricing table.
| Service | Typical range in Shrewsbury (2026) | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Accent or Gable-Only Installation | $7 to $12 per sq. ft. installed | Cedar grade, profile type, flashing complexity at transitions |
| Average Single-Family Full Re-Side | $10 to $14 per sq. ft. installed | Wall area, old siding removal, substrate condition found at tear-off |
| Large or Complex Multi-Story Home | $12 to $16+ per sq. ft. installed | Height and access, extensive trim, substrate repair scope |
| Cedar Shake Spot Repair | $1,000 to $7,500 | Number of damaged shakes, extent of substrate rot found during removal |
| Storm Damage Cedar Shake Repair | $2,000 to $20,000 | Damage extent, hidden rot, flashing and trim replacement needed |
| No. 1 Blue Label Cedar Shake Install | $12 to $16+ per sq. ft. installed | Premium clear edge-grain material cost, hand-split profile option |
| No. 2 Red Label Cedar Shake Install | $7 to $12 per sq. ft. installed | Flat-grain material with some sapwood, machine-split profile typical |
Range reflects cedar shake siding installation services in the Shrewsbury and MetroWest market. Individual project quotes are issued after on-site assessment and substrate inspection.
Hiring Guide
The right cedar shake proposal should explain what gets removed, what goes behind the wood, which credentials apply, and how every transition and penetration is handled. These four details reveal whether an estimate covers the full sidewall assembly or only the shakes you can see from the street.
Before any shake goes up, a contractor should specify in writing what comes off: existing cladding, old felt or housewrap, damaged sheathing, and what condition the substrate needs to be in before new material is installed. On older MetroWest homes, rotted sheathing is common and often invisible until the old siding is stripped. A scope that skips this step leaves the homeowner absorbing the cost of surprises once the wall is already open.
Cedar shake siding is a wood wall. Without a breathable housewrap lapped shingle-style and a rainscreen gap behind the shakes, water and condensation have nowhere to go but into the sheathing. Ask to see the housewrap, furring strip, and flashing details called out in the written estimate. A price that omits them is not a lower price, it is a deferred rot problem that will surface years after the contractor has moved on.
Massachusetts requires a Home Improvement Contractor registration for any contractor performing exterior work on a residential property. The HIC number should appear on the written contract because state law requires it. It also means the contractor carries the legal accountability that registration demands. Seven Pines holds HIC number 205267. Verify any contractor's number at the state consumer affairs portal before you sign anything.
Cedar shake siding fails most often at transitions: around windows and doors, at corner boards, where the wall meets the foundation, and at every penetration such as electrical conduit, hose bibs, and dryer vents. An estimate that prices the field shakes and ignores trim fitting, kick-out flashing, and penetration sealing is incomplete. Ask how each transition is handled and what material is used at each one. The answer tells you immediately whether the crew has real sidewall experience.
Service Area
Seven Pines Home Improvement is based in Shrewsbury and installs cedar shake siding throughout Worcester County and the MetroWest corridor. We regularly work in Northborough, Grafton, and Shrewsbury itself, as well as further east into Newton, Needham, Dover, Weston, Concord, and Acton. The older housing stock and stricter local permitting across MetroWest call for the same careful substrate work and flashing detail we bring to every job. If you are outside these areas, call (857) 247-4667 and we will tell you directly whether we can help.
Helpful Information
Cedar shake siding replacement in Shrewsbury falls under 780 CMR, the Massachusetts State Building Code, and a building permit is typically required. We submit through the Town of Shrewsbury's online permitting system and coordinate the filing before the first shake goes up. Permit fees are scoped and quoted separately from the installation price so nothing catches you off guard.
We include material delivery, removal and disposal of the existing siding, housewrap and rainscreen installation, flashing at all windows, doors, corners, and penetrations, shake installation, trim fitting, and job-site cleanup. Structural or sheathing repair beyond minor rot, painting and staining, and permit fees are scoped separately so your written estimate reflects the actual project.
Hand-split shakes produce a rougher, deeply textured surface with pronounced shadow lines that read well on traditional colonials and older New England architecture. Machine-split tapersawn shakes have a cleaner sawn face and more uniform exposure, which suits craftsman or contemporary profiles. We assess the existing trim details and roofline during the site visit and walk through both options with you before any material is ordered.
Spot replacement works when damage is limited to a small cluster of shakes over sound substrate. We recommend a full re-side when rot has reached the sheathing, when moisture readings are elevated across a wall section, or when coursing has shifted enough that patches would read visibly against the surrounding field. We inspect the substrate before recommending either path.
A gable accent or small section typically takes two to four days. A full re-side on an average single-family home runs one to two weeks. Large or complex homes with multiple stories, extensive trim, or substrate repair that surfaces during tear-off can extend to three to four weeks or more. We confirm the schedule in writing after the site assessment.
We install Western red cedar in two grades: No. 1 Blue Label, a premium clear edge-grain shake, and No. 2 Red Label, a sound flat-grain option with some sapwood. Fasteners are stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized ring-shank nails. Barrier options include breathable housewrap or Grace Ice and Water Shield at vulnerable transitions such as window heads and kick-out zones.
We follow Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau guidelines on every install: a minimum 1.5 to 2 inches of headlap, a 3/8 to 1/2 inch rainscreen gap behind the shakes, fastener penetration of at least 3/4 inch into sheathing or studs, lumber moisture content checked before installation, and housewrap lapped shingle-style so water sheds rather than collects at seams.
We stand behind our workmanship with a 3-year warranty. If an issue is caused by our work, we'll return promptly to inspect it and make it right at no additional cost during the warranty period. Ongoing staining or sealing maintenance falls to the homeowner's maintenance cycle, and the cedar material itself is subject to its own manufacturer terms.
Start a Conversation
If you are still weighing cedar grades, comparing hand-split against machine-split profiles, or figuring out whether your wall needs a full re-side or spot repair, that is exactly the right time to reach out. We will schedule a free estimate, walk the property, inspect the substrate and moisture conditions, and give you a written scope before any material is ordered. Seven Pines Home Improvement has been doing this work in Shrewsbury since 2016, registered under HIC #205267. No pressure, just a clear picture of what the project involves and what it will cost.
Our Shrewsbury Base
Seven Pines Home Improvement is based at 14 Rice Avenue in Shrewsbury and carries out ice dam prevention work across Worcester County and MetroWest, from Shrewsbury and Worcester out to Natick, Newton, Needham, Weston, Concord, and Holliston.
Our crew works out of Shrewsbury on ice dam prevention projects across Worcester County and MetroWest, from Worcester, Westborough, and Northborough to the towns along Route 9 and Route 495. Most homes we service sit inside a 40 minute drive of the shop, which is what makes a follow-up inspection or a warranty call practical.
We are based in Shrewsbury at 14 Rice Avenue, on the north side of town near the Northborough line. The MetroWest and Worcester County towns where ice dam problems are most common in a hard winter are all within a short drive, letting us respond quickly when a homeowner calls after a freeze-thaw cycle opens up a leak.
Seven Pines Home Improvement holds a 5.0-star rating across 9 Google reviews , with homeowners highlighting workmanship, communication, professionalism, and a smooth experience from planning through completion.
6
Google
reviews
"Marconi and the team at Seven Pines are great people to work with. They have helped us with multiple home improvement projects and every time he's been informative, flexible, professional, and the results have been outstanding."
"Marcony and the Seven Pines team knock it out the park when it comes to home improvements and construction. They work with us from the planning process all the way through to finalizing the work."
"I couldn't be happier with the work Seven Pines Home Improvement did on my home. From start to finish, the entire experience was outstanding."
