Content updated September 25, 2026.
If you are wondering if your cedar siding needs to be replaced, then chances are, it does. Cedar is a softwood, and therefore susceptible to many pitfalls like insects, severe weather, moisture, and other damage.
Cedar siding requires a lot of constant care to keep it looking beautiful and in great condition. Cedar is known for its longevity, but it does need help to do so. However, your cedar siding should last at least twenty years.
How Do You Know When Cedar Siding Needs to be Replaced?
Even dedicated maintenance won’t make cedar last forever. It is easy to dent or scratch, and it can be greatly affected by severe weather, like moisture, fading, and even bugs. In Minnesota, freeze-thaw cycles and ice dams speed this process up.
Rotting or Warping
While cedar is usually resistant to warping, it can still get damp and that can start to cause warping. It can also cause rotting underneath the siding and even dry rot.
Once these issues start to occur, cedar siding needs to be replaced. It is difficult if not impossible to repair it. Covering it up doesn’t deal with the rot underneath. Learn more about the top causes of rot in wood siding.
Pro Tip: Press a screwdriver gently into any board that looks dark or stained. If the tip sinks in easily, the wood has lost its strength and moisture has likely spread beyond that spot.
Mold and Mildew
Unfortunately, cedar is also susceptible to fungus and mold. Not all of it is harmless, so if you do see some, it’s often an indication that there is moisture trapped in or behind your siding.
If it is too bad, then the siding will need to be replaced. Getting it cleaned once or twice a year can help stop it from growing too much, but once it has penetrated, then it needs to be replaced.
Cracks and Holes
Your cedar siding will need to be replaced if it is too far gone with damage. If there are large cracks or holes, it allows insects and moisture to get inside and cause even more problems.
Eventually, the siding will come loose and that leaves it open to more damage. It can be due to age, insects and other animals, or just weathering too many storms. Woodpecker damage is especially common on Minnesota cedar homes, since the birds are drawn to the soft wood and the insects living in it.
Damage Seeps Inside
You may be noticing that your wallpaper or paint inside the home is peeling or bubbling. Perhaps the humidity is higher and the windows have condensation. This could be a sign that the moisture is now seeping directly into the home.
Have it inspected right away, as there is a good chance the siding is damaged beyond repair. If it is failing to protect your home, it is no longer effective. Moisture inside the home is a definite sign cedar siding needs to be replaced.
Higher Energy Bills
Perhaps there has been a spike in your energy bills. This can also be an indication that your siding is allowing too many elements from outside. Your heat and air conditioning are seeping out and wasting energy.
Have the siding inspected to see if it has reached the end of its functioning life. Have everything checked, as well, like the roof and other areas of your home to determine if it is the cedar siding that needs to be replaced.
Key Takeaway: Soft wood, trapped moisture, and damage showing up inside the home are rarely cosmetic. They usually mean the problem has already reached the wall behind your siding.
Not sure if your cedar can be saved? Contact Craftsman’s Choice for a free consultation. We will walk your home and give you an honest answer.
Replace Your Cedar Siding with James Hardie Siding
As beautiful and durable as cedar is, it does need maintenance and regular care. Once it starts to fade, crack, or peel, or it gets wet underneath, then it will need to be replaced. Your best bet to replace your siding is with James Hardie fiber cement siding. James Hardie siding gives you the look of your existing cedar siding without the maintenance issues you currently have. It is also built for Minnesota’s climate.
Pro Tip: If you love the look of cedar, ask to see wood-grain textures and shake profiles side by side. Our lap siding and shake siding projects show how closely fiber cement matches the real thing.
You can browse our exterior remodeling project gallery for more ideas, or contact us here at Craftsman’s Choice. Our team of certified siding installers has completed thousands of siding projects.
