Why People Still Choose Real Wood
Nothing manufactured quite matches cedar. The grain, the way it takes stain, the shadow lines on a bevel profile — vinyl and fiber cement imitate it, and they imitate it well, but side by side the real thing has a depth that copies do not. Homeowners who choose wood are choosing character, and they know what they are signing up for.
Because here is the honest part: wood siding in Southern Maryland is a commitment. Our humid summers are ideal for rot, mold, and carpenter bees. Wood siding here needs stain or paint on schedule, vegetation kept back, and prompt attention to any soft spot. If that sounds like a burden rather than a labor of love, fiber cement or engineered wood will give you most of the look with far less upkeep.
The Species and Profiles We Install
Western red cedar is the standard for a reason — naturally resistant to rot and insects, stable, and beautiful. We install it in bevel (clapboard), board-and-batten, and tongue-and-groove profiles. Eastern white cedar shingles are an option for accent walls and gables, though they demand the most maintenance of any profile.
We do not install untreated pine or fir as exterior siding in this climate. It is asking for a rot call within five years, and we will not put our name on it.
What Wood Needs That Other Sidings Do Not
Wood must dry. Every installation decision flows from that:
- Rain-screen gap. We install wood over furring strips or a drainage mat so air circulates behind the boards. Wood installed flat against sheathing in our humidity rots from the back — the most expensive wood failure there is.
- Back-priming. Every board gets primer or stain on all six sides before it goes up, including cut ends. The back face is where moisture attacks first.
- Clearances doubled. Eight inches above grade minimum, more near mulch beds. Splashback is wood's enemy.
- Stainless fasteners. Cedar reacts with plain steel and galvanized nails, leaving black streaks. Stainless ring-shank nails cost more and are non-negotiable.
Finish: Stain vs. Paint
Semi-transparent stain is wood's best friend — it soaks in, will not peel, and shows the grain. Expect to recoat every 3 to 5 years on sun-exposed walls, longer on shaded sides. Solid stain or paint gives more color options and slightly longer intervals but can peel when moisture gets behind it, which means more prep at recoat time. We will recommend based on your home's exposure and how much maintenance you honestly want to do.
What It Costs
Cedar siding installation generally runs $16,000 to $34,000 for a typical Waldorf home depending on species, profile, and finish — your written quote after our visit is the real number. Then budget for maintenance: a recoat every few years runs a fraction of the install but it is recurring for the life of the siding. Go in with eyes open and wood is wonderful. Go in expecting vinyl-level maintenance and you will be disappointed by year six.
Get a Quote
Send the form and tell us what look you are after. We will bring samples, talk through the maintenance reality for your specific lot — sun exposure, trees, drainage — and give you a written quote.