Cedar shingle and shake siding shows up on a lot of Tampa Bay wish lists — it has a warmth and texture that fiber cement and vinyl can't fully copy, and it ages into a soft silver-gray that a lot of homeowners in Lutz and Land O' Lakes specifically ask for. But cedar is also a wood product going onto a house in a hot, humid, storm-prone part of Florida, and that changes both the installation details and the price. Below is an honest look at where the numbers usually land for Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O' Lakes, New Port Richey, Plant City, and Zephyrhills homes, what pushes a bid higher or lower, and what to look for in a quote before you sign anything.
There is no single number that fits every house, and any contractor who quotes a price over the phone without seeing the walls is guessing. Cedar shingle siding costs more than vinyl and generally lands in a similar range to fiber cement lap siding once you account for the labor-intensive installation, though the exact spread depends heavily on shingle grade, wall prep, and how much trim and detail work the house has. A simple single-story ranch with straight walls will price out very differently than a two-story home in Wesley Chapel with dormers, bays, and a lot of corner and window trim. The table below breaks out the major line items that make up a typical bid so you can see where the money actually goes.
| Cost Factor | Typical Low | Typical High |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar shingles or shakes (material only, per square) | Lower end for machine-sawn, undercourse-grade shingles | Higher end for premium No. 1 blue-label grade, hand-split shakes, or pre-stained panels |
| Rainscreen gap, weather-resistant barrier & furring | Modest add on simple, single-story walls | Higher on complex elevations or when upgrading from a non-vented assembly |
| Tear-off and disposal of existing siding | Lower when removing thin vinyl or old wood lap | Higher when stucco, sheathing repair, or wood rot remediation is involved |
| Trim, corner boards, and flashing details | Lower on simple rectangular homes | Higher on homes with many windows, dormers, or roof-to-wall transitions |
| Labor and installation complexity | Lower for single-story, easy-access walls | Higher for multi-story homes, steep pitches, or tight lot access |
| Permits and inspections | Modest fixed cost set by the local jurisdiction | Higher if the scope triggers additional plan review |
| Finish coat (stain, sealer, or paint) | Lower for pre-finished shingles installed as-is | Higher for field-applied stain or a painted finish on all elevations |
Because cedar is sold and labored by the "square" (100 square feet of coverage), a full re-side is usually quoted as a lump sum after a contractor measures every wall, deducts openings, and accounts for waste on cuts around windows and corners. Ask for that measurement to be shown to you, not just a final number.
The same cedar shingle job priced in a dry, mild climate would look different from one built for Tampa Bay, because several regional conditions change the assembly and the labor, not just the finish:
None of these are upsells — they're the difference between cedar siding that performs for decades in this climate and cedar siding that looks great for a year or two and then shows moisture staining, fastener rust, or termite damage. Alpine Exteriors builds these details into every cedar bid rather than treating them as add-ons discovered mid-project.
A quote that's just a single total dollar figure doesn't tell you much. A quote worth comparing should spell out:
If any of these items are missing, ask for them in writing before comparing price against another bid — otherwise you're not really comparing the same job.
The biggest mistake homeowners make with cedar siding bids is lining up three total numbers and picking the lowest one without checking whether all three contractors priced the same assembly. A bid that skips the rainscreen gap, uses a lower shingle grade, or specifies standard fasteners instead of corrosion-resistant ones will almost always come in lower — and will almost always cost more in repairs within a few years in this climate. Before comparing dollar totals, confirm that each contractor is quoting the same shingle grade and exposure, the same fastener type, and the same rainscreen or ventilation approach. Verify each contractor's Florida state license number and general liability/workers' compensation insurance directly, and ask whether the products being proposed carry current Florida Product Approval for the intended wall assembly and wind zone. A contractor who can't answer that question, or who bristles at being asked, is worth a second look. Alpine Exteriors holds Florida contractor license RB29003900 and will provide license and insurance documentation on request as part of any bid.
Many homeowners spread the cost of a full re-side over time rather than paying it in one lump sum, and Alpine Exteriors can walk through financing options as part of the estimate process; terms and eligibility vary by lender and by homeowner, so specifics should come from the actual financing application rather than a general estimate. On the insurance side, it's worth being clear-eyed about one point homeowners sometimes assume: the wind mitigation inspection and the OIR-B1-1802 form that Florida insurers use for premium credits are primarily about the roof — its covering, deck attachment, and roof-to-wall connections — not the wall siding. Replacing cedar shingle siding, by itself, typically doesn't generate a wind mitigation discount the way a roof retrofit can. What it can do is reduce the risk of water-intrusion claims down the road, since correctly flashed, code-compliant siding is one of the more common failure points insurers look at after a storm. If a final building permit inspection is required for the siding work, keep that documentation with your policy records — some insurers ask for it when underwriting or renewing coverage on a home with recent exterior work.
Vinyl siding is generally the least expensive option upfront, cedar shingles and fiber cement tend to land closer together, and where cedar falls within that range depends heavily on shingle grade, finish, and how much trim detail the house has. Cedar's advantage isn't the lowest sticker price — it's the look and texture homeowners want, along with the fact that a properly detailed installation for this climate can perform well for decades.
It can, but only when the assembly is built for it — a vented rainscreen gap to let the wood dry out, correct grade clearance and flashing at the base of the wall, and attention to termite exposure common across Hillsborough and Pasco County neighborhoods. Cedar installed the way it would be in a drier climate, nailed tight to a solid barrier with no drainage plane, is far more likely to develop moisture or pest problems here.
Timelines depend on the home's size, wall complexity, and whether tear-off and substrate repair are involved, so a straight single-story home moves faster than a multi-story house with dormers and heavy trim. Weather is also a factor during Tampa Bay's rainy season, since cedar and the barrier systems behind it need dry conditions to install correctly.
In most cases a residential siding replacement falls under the Florida Building Code and requires a permit from the local jurisdiction, though exact requirements can vary by city and county and by the scope of work involved. A licensed contractor should confirm the requirement for your specific address and handle the permit process as part of the job rather than leaving it to the homeowner.
The only way to know what cedar shingle siding will actually cost on your home is to have someone measure the walls, look at the current substrate, and price the assembly your climate and code require — not a phone estimate based on square footage alone. Alpine Exteriors serves Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O' Lakes, New Port Richey, Plant City, and Zephyrhills, and can walk your property, explain the rainscreen and flashing details that matter for your specific exposure, and provide a written, itemized quote before any work begins. Reach out to schedule a walkthrough and get a real number for your home.