Fraser Valley · Since 2007
Wood & Cedar Siding in the Fraser Valley
Real wood and cedar siding give a Fraser Valley home a warmth and depth that no manufactured product fully matches. Western red cedar is the regional favourite because it is naturally rot- and insect-resistant, stable in wet weather, and takes stain beautifully. Moonrise installs bevel and channel cedar, board-and-batten, and charred shou sugi ban cladding, along with the cedar accents and feature walls that lift a facade from ordinary to architectural. Cedar needs a rainscreen and periodic refinishing, typically every three to five years, to keep its colour and protect the wall. Installed and maintained properly, a cedar exterior lasts 30 to 40 years. We handle full cedar exteriors, accent sections, and the cedar soffit-and-cladding combinations seen on modern Fraser Valley custom homes.
What to know
Why choose real cedar over a wood-look product?
Wood-look fiber-cement and engineered products have improved, but real western red cedar still reads differently in person, the grain, the way it takes a semi-transparent stain, and the way it ages all feel genuine. For a high-end custom home or a feature wall, that authenticity is the whole point. Cedar is also naturally resistant to rot and insects thanks to its own oils, which is why it has been the coast's cladding of choice for generations. The trade-off is maintenance, and we are upfront about that before you commit.
What does cedar maintenance actually involve?
Cedar wants a refresh of its finish roughly every three to five years in the Fraser Valley, depending on sun and rain exposure. South- and west-facing walls weather faster. Maintenance usually means a clean and a fresh coat of semi-transparent stain or oil, straightforward, but real. If you love the look of cedar but want less upkeep, we will often pair real cedar on the protected, eye-level accents with a lower-maintenance cladding on the high, hard-to-reach walls.
Materials & options
What we work with.
Bevel (clapboard) cedar
Traditional tapered horizontal boards with a classic shadow line.
Best for: Heritage and west-coast traditional homes.
Channel & tongue-and-groove
Boards that interlock for a tight, clean horizontal or vertical run.
Best for: Modern and contemporary facades and soffits.
Board & batten
Wide vertical boards with narrow battens over the seams.
Best for: Modern-farmhouse and gable accents.
Shou sugi ban (charred cedar)
Cedar charred for a deep black, textured, low-maintenance finish.
Best for: Bold modern exteriors and dramatic accent walls.
Our process
How we do it.
Design & material selection
We help you choose species, profile and finish, and talk through the maintenance you are signing up for.
Rainscreen & prep
Cedar must breathe, we install it over a rainscreen with proper flashing so both faces can dry.
Install
We install with corrosion-resistant fasteners and careful reveals, mitres and corner detailing.
Finish & walkthrough
We apply or coordinate the initial stain or oil finish and walk the completed work with you.
Good to know
A few things worth knowing.
How often does cedar siding need refinishing?+
Plan on cleaning and re-coating cedar roughly every three to five years in the Fraser Valley. South- and west-facing walls weather faster from sun and rain. Charred shou sugi ban needs the least upkeep; clear-stained cedar on exposed walls needs the most.
Does cedar rot in our wet climate?+
Western red cedar resists rot and insects naturally because of its own oils, which is why it has been used on the coast for generations. It still needs a rainscreen so both faces can dry and a maintained finish. Installed and looked after properly, a cedar exterior lasts 30 to 40 years.
Can I mix cedar with Hardie or other cladding?+
Yes, and we often recommend it. Pairing real cedar on protected, eye-level accents with a lower-maintenance cladding on the high walls gives you the warmth of wood where it shows and less upkeep where it does not. It is a common, smart combination on Fraser Valley custom homes.
What is shou sugi ban?+
Shou sugi ban is a Japanese technique of charring the wood surface, which gives cedar a deep black, textured finish that is more weather- and rot-resistant and needs less maintenance than stained cedar. It is a striking choice for modern exteriors and feature walls.
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