Cedar shingle siding is one of the more distinctive exterior choices a homeowner in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sudden Valley, or the surrounding islands can make. It has a warmth and texture that vinyl and fiber cement can't fully replicate, and in a region where a lot of homes lean toward Pacific Northwest craftsman or shingle-style architecture, it tends to look right at home. But cedar shingles are also one of the more labor-intensive siding systems to install correctly, and in a climate that delivers months of steady rain, wind-driven moisture off Bellingham Bay and the Strait of Georgia, and near-constant moss and algae pressure, the cost of doing the job right is tied directly to how much prep, ventilation detailing, and finish work goes into it. This page walks through what cedar shingle siding actually costs here, what drives the number up or down, what should be in a real quote, and how to compare bids without getting misled by a low number that leaves out half the job.
Because cedar shingle siding is priced by material grade, exposure width, wall prep, and labor intensity all at once, there isn't a single number that applies to every home. A single-story house with square walls, easy access, and sound sheathing underneath sits at the low end of the range. A two-story home with dormers, bay windows, wide eaves, or any amount of hidden rot behind the old siding sits at the high end, sometimes well beyond it. Whatcom County pricing also reflects the fact that qualified installers who understand rainscreen detailing and proper flashing sequencing are in shorter supply than crews who only install vinyl or lap siding, and that specialization shows up in the bid.
| Cost Factor | What It Covers | Typical Range Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-off and disposal of old siding | Removing existing siding, hauling debris, dump fees | Low if siding comes off in sheets; high if layered over old wood or asbestos-era material |
| Sheathing and structural repair | Cutting out and replacing rotted OSB, plywood, or framing found once the old siding is off | Can swing the whole project from the low end to the high end by itself |
| Weather-resistive barrier and rainscreen gap | House wrap, taped seams, furring strips or a drainage mat to let bulk water and vapor escape | Moderate add, but one of the most important line items for this climate |
| Cedar shingle grade and exposure | Number 1 vs. number 2 grade cedar, and how much of each shingle is left exposed to weather | Higher grade and tighter exposure both raise material cost |
| Flashing and trim detail | Corner boards, window and door flashing, kickout flashing at roof-wall intersections | Moderate to high depending on how many windows, dormers, and roof transitions the home has |
| Finish: stain, oil, or paint | Factory-primed or field-applied stain/sealer to slow graying, cupping, and moss colonization | Adds noticeably to the total but extends the life of the finish |
| Roof pitch, height, and access | Scaffolding, staging, or lift rental for steep gables, dormers, or three-story walls | Higher on complex rooflines and homes with limited driveway or yard access |
A handful of conditions specific to this part of Washington push cedar shingle siding jobs toward the higher end of the range more often than homeowners expect. The first is simply age and hidden damage. Whatcom County gets a lot of steady, low-intensity rain over long stretches of the year, and older siding systems without a proper rainscreen or drainage plane tend to trap moisture against the sheathing. When a crew pulls the old siding off a home built before rainscreen detailing was common practice, it is not unusual to find soft or delaminated sheathing, especially around window sills, at the base of walls near grade, and anywhere gutters have been overflowing for years. That repair work is priced separately because nobody can quote it accurately until the wall is opened up.
The second factor is exposure to wind-driven rain. Homes closer to Bellingham Bay, Birch Bay, Blaine, or the shoreline on the islands take rain sideways during winter storms, not just straight down. That means more attention to flashing at every penetration, tighter shingle coursing, and sometimes a heavier-grade underlayment behind the shingles, all of which add labor time. Homes further inland in Lynden or Sudden Valley are somewhat more sheltered but still deal with the same overall rainfall totals, just with less wind loading on the wall assembly.
Moss and algae growth is a constant in this climate, and it factors into both the shingle grade choice and the finish. Cedar that isn't properly primed and finished will gray and pick up moss and algae staining faster in the shaded, damp north- and west-facing walls that are common on wooded lots throughout the county. A better factory finish or a field-applied breathable stain costs more upfront but reduces how quickly the wall starts showing green and black streaking, which matters if the home sits under fir or cedar trees, as many do out toward Sudden Valley and the foothills.
Homes in the foothill areas east of Bellingham and toward the Mt. Baker corridor also see more freeze-thaw cycling than the immediate coastline. That doesn't change the shingle material itself, but it does put more stress on caulking, trim joints, and any exposed fastener heads, so those details need to be done correctly the first time rather than patched later.
Finally, the Washington State Energy Code plays a role whenever siding is being replaced down to the sheathing. Depending on the scope of the project and whether the wall assembly is being opened up, code may require continuous insulation or a specific water-resistive barrier and air sealing approach at the wall. That is not a cost every cedar shingle job carries, but on a full re-side it is worth asking your contractor whether the current code triggers apply to your scope, since it can change both the materials list and the sequencing of work.
A complete cedar shingle siding quote from Alpine Exteriors, or any contractor doing this work properly, should spell out more than just a total price. Look for these elements broken out clearly:
If a quote is a single lump sum with no breakdown, it's worth asking for one. Not because a lump sum is automatically wrong, but because you can't compare it to another bid unless you know what's actually inside it.
The biggest mistake homeowners make when comparing cedar shingle siding bids is assuming the lowest number is the best deal. In most cases, a low bid is missing something: a lower shingle grade, no rainscreen gap, no sheathing repair allowance, or a thinner finish that will need re-coating sooner. Before comparing dollar figures, line up each bid against the same checklist: same shingle grade, same exposure, same underlayment and drainage approach, same flashing scope, same finish. Once those match, the price difference usually comes down to labor quality, crew experience, and how much contingency the contractor built in for the unknowns behind your specific walls.
It's also reasonable to ask each contractor how they handle rot discovered mid-project, since that's the single most common reason a final invoice differs from the original estimate. A contractor who explains their process for documenting and pricing that work as it's found, ideally with photos before covering it back up, is giving you a more honest number than one who avoids the topic. Alpine Exteriors is a licensed Washington contractor, license ALPINI751OW, and part of giving a useful estimate is being upfront about where the range in a quote can move once the old siding comes off.
Cedar shingle siding is a larger investment than most exterior repairs, and financing options through your contractor or a third-party lender can spread that cost over time rather than requiring payment in full up front. Ask any contractor you're considering whether they offer financing directly or partner with a lender, and read the terms carefully, since promotional rates often step up after an introductory period.
On the insurance side, siding replacement is sometimes partially covered when it follows documented storm damage, such as wind-driven debris impact, rather than routine wear, moss staining, or age-related deterioration, which are generally considered maintenance issues and not covered. If you believe a specific storm event caused damage to your siding, document it with photos as soon as possible and check with your homeowner's insurance carrier before starting demolition, since most policies require the damage to be inspected or documented before repair work begins.
Cedar shingle siding can perform well here, but only when it's installed with a proper rainscreen gap or drainage plane, correct flashing at every penetration, and a finish that's maintained on a regular schedule. Without those details, the persistent rain and shaded, damp wall conditions common on wooded lots can lead to moisture problems, moss growth, and premature wear faster than in a drier climate.
Lifespan depends heavily on finish maintenance and how well the wall assembly manages moisture. A well-installed system with a rainscreen and a finish that's recoated on a reasonable cycle can last for decades, while shingles installed directly against the sheathing without ventilation, or left unfinished, tend to show rot and cupping much sooner.
Yes. Even a good factory finish or field-applied stain will need to be refreshed periodically to keep water repelling properly and to slow the graying and moss staining that's common on north- and west-facing walls in this climate. Skipping that maintenance is one of the most common reasons cedar siding wears out faster than expected.
In some cases, yes, if the damage is isolated and the surrounding shingles and sheathing are still sound. But cedar shingle color and weathering rarely match perfectly between old and new sections, and if there's hidden moisture damage nearby, a spot repair can end up costing more in the long run than addressing the full wall while it's already open.
Every home in Whatcom County carries a different combination of exposure, existing wall condition, and roofline complexity, which is exactly why cedar shingle siding costs vary as much as they do. The only way to know where your project actually falls in that range is a walk-through that looks at your specific walls, trim, and access. Alpine Exteriors serves Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Birch Bay, Sudden Valley, and the islands, and can put together a detailed, itemized quote so you know exactly what you're paying for before any tear-off begins.