How much maintenance does exterior cedar need in Alberta?

If you want to hold the warm tone, plan on re-oiling every two to three years on sun-exposed elevations. If you are happy to let it silver naturally, it needs essentially nothing — that is a look, not neglect.

Will cedar grey out unevenly?

Yes, if exposure differs across the wall. We will point out which elevations will weather faster before you commit, and suggest where to place the feature so it ages evenly.

Is a cedar-look aluminum product worth considering?

For high, hard-to-reach elevations, often yes. Up close, real cedar still reads better. We usually recommend real wood at eye level and aluminum on upper soffits.

Can you add a cedar feature to an existing exterior?

Frequently. It is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost changes you can make to a plain elevation, and it can usually be done in two to three days.

Vertical western red cedar slat feature wall beside a black steel entry door

Wood Features & Cedar Accents

Cedar is unforgiving. That is why we like it.

A wood feature is the smallest part of an exterior and the part everyone stands closest to. Spacing, fastener lines, end grain and the way the boards meet a soffit are all visible from a metre away — there is nowhere to hide.

We work in clear and knotty western red cedar, thermally modified wood and cedar-look aluminum where maintenance is a concern.

Entry surrounds, soffits, privacy screens, garage-door surrounds, gable accents and full feature walls.

We will tell you honestly whether real cedar or an aluminum wood-look product is the better long-term decision for your specific exposure.

Why it matters

Consistent spacing, edge to edge
Slat gaps are jigged, not eyeballed, so the rhythm holds across the full elevation.
Concealed fastening where it shows
Clips and hidden fasteners on feature walls; stainless where exposure is unavoidable.
End grain sealed on all six sides
Boards are finished before they go up, including the cuts. This is the single biggest factor in how cedar ages.
Ventilated behind
Wood needs to dry from both faces. Every feature wall gets a strapped, vented cavity.

Related work

Wood Features projects

View the full gallery

Modern two-storey Edmonton home at dusk clad in charcoal Hardie board siding with vertical cedar accent panels

2025

Charcoal & Cedar Two-Storey

Terwillegar, Edmonton

Full re-clad, cedar entry feature, aluminum soffit

James Hardie HardiePlank · Western red cedar · Black metal trim

Modern home entrance with a vertical western red cedar slat feature wall beside a black steel door

2024

Cedar Slat Entry Wall

Glenora, Edmonton

Feature wall, soffit and entry surround

Clear western red cedar · Penetrating oil finish

Modern infill home exterior combining charcoal stucco, stacked stone base and warm cedar soffits

2025

Stucco, Stone & Cedar Infill

Sherwood Park

Mixed-finish exterior package

Acrylic stucco · Stacked stone · Cedar soffit

Before & after

Documented from the same position.

The same bungalow finished in forest green lap siding with cedar porch posts — Stripped to sheathing, rebuilt in green
Spruce Grove, AB
New water-resistive barrier, taped penetrations and a vented rainscreen behind every board.

Stripped to sheathing, rebuilt in green
Spruce Grove, AB
New water-resistive barrier, taped penetrations and a vented rainscreen behind every board.

Questions

Wood Features: what people ask

Request an estimate — Wood Features

Get a fixed written price for wood features & cedar accents.

A 45-minute on-site measure, then a fixed written price with the scope itemised. No pressure, no sales visit, no obligation.

Request an estimate (780) 901-8483