The Real Wood Look Without the Real Wood Headaches
Cedar Impressions siding is a polymer shingle product made by CertainTeed that replicates the look of natural cedar — without the rot, repainting, or insect damage that comes with real wood.
Here’s a quick snapshot of what it is and why homeowners choose it:
| Feature | Cedar Impressions Siding |
|---|---|
| Material | Modified polypropylene copolymer |
| Appearance | Molded directly from real cedar shingles |
| Maintenance | Soap and water only — no painting needed |
| Warranty | Lifetime limited, transferable |
| Weather resistance | Tested to withstand hurricane-force winds |
| Best for | Homeowners wanting cedar aesthetics with zero wood upkeep |
If you’re a Chicago-area homeowner dealing with aging, cracked, or high-maintenance siding, Cedar Impressions is worth a serious look. The Midwest’s harsh winters, summer storms, and freeze-thaw cycles are tough on natural wood — but polymer shingles are built to handle all of it.
This guide walks you through everything: how it works, what styles and colors are available, how it holds up over time, and what to expect from professional installation.
I’m Steve Mlynek, CEO and founder of HomeBuild Windows, Doors & Siding, and with over 20 years of exterior remodeling experience in the Chicago area, I’ve helped hundreds of homeowners evaluate Cedar Impressions siding as a durable, low-maintenance upgrade that genuinely improves curb appeal. Let’s dig into the details so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your home.
Cedar impressions siding terms made easy:
What is Cedar Impressions Siding and How Does It Work?
To understand why cedar impressions siding has become such a popular choice for home exterior remodeling, it helps to look at what it is made of and how it mimics natural wood.
Traditional shake and shingle siding is crafted from real cedar logs. While beautiful, real wood is highly vulnerable to moisture, UV rays, insects, and decay. Cedar Impressions siding solves these vulnerabilities by utilizing a high-performance, modified polypropylene copolymer. This advanced polymer material is engineered to remain highly flexible, impact-resistant, and chemically stable, even when exposed to extreme temperature swings.
Rather than looking like flat, artificial plastic, these panels feature an incredibly realistic woodgrain finish. This is achieved through proprietary TrueTexture technology, which captures the organic texture of real wood. When you look at a finished installation, it is nearly impossible to distinguish it from freshly split or weathered cedar shingles from the street.
The Technology Behind Cedar Impressions Siding
The secret to this authentic appearance lies in the manufacturing process. CertainTeed uses a direct transfer system, where molds are cast directly from hand-selected, real cedar shingles. This ensures that every knot, grain pattern, and rustic imperfection of natural wood is captured in the injection-molded polymer panels.
For technical details on the material composition, physical properties, and testing certifications, you can refer to the official Specification Sheet.
Beyond aesthetics, the engineering behind these panels includes several patented features designed to simplify installation and ensure long-term stability:
- PanelThermometer: Because polymer materials naturally expand and contract with temperature changes, each panel features an integrated “thermometer” indicator. This helps installers gauge the exact temperature of the panel during installation, allowing them to adjust the spacing between panels perfectly.
- CertiLock Locking System: A molded continuous perimeter lock runs along the edges of each panel. This design allows the shingles to lock securely together on all sides, creating a seamless, tight fit that prevents wind driven rain from getting behind the siding.
Color-Through Manufacturing and Aesthetics
One of the biggest complaints homeowners have about traditional vinyl siding is that scratches or gouges reveal a different color underneath. CertainTeed addresses this by using a color-through manufacturing process. The pigment is blended entirely throughout the polymer material rather than just applied to the surface. If a stray branch or baseball scrapes the siding, the color remains consistent all the way through.
To ensure that every batch of siding matches perfectly, the colors are spectrophotometer-controlled. This technology guarantees color consistency across different production runs, making it easy to order matching trim or replace a single panel years down the road.
Homeowners can choose from a wide variety of solid colors and premium Ageless Cedar blends. These Ageless Cedar blends are designed to replicate the natural weathering process of real cedar—such as driftwood, natural, or rustic tones—without the wood actually aging or deteriorating. You can explore the full range of design options and color palettes directly on the Cedar Impressions® Perfection – CertainTeed product page.
The Benefits of Double 7-Inch Straight Edge Perfection Shingles
Among the various styles available, the Double 7-inch Straight Edge Perfection Shingle is one of the most popular configurations for suburban Chicago homes. This style features a double-course panel layout, meaning each panel contains two rows of 7-inch shingles, offering a clean, classic aesthetic that complements both traditional and modern architectural styles.
The physical specifications of these panels highlight their heavy-duty construction:
- Panel Dimensions: Each panel measures 47 inches in length by 14 inches in height.
- Siding Thickness: A premium nominal thickness of 0.090 inches provides exceptional rigidity and impact resistance.
- Panel Projection: A deep 3/4-inch panel projection creates distinct shadow lines, which enhances the realistic look of individual wood shingles.
- Packaging: Shipped with 11 pieces of siding per carton, covering approximately 1/2 square (50 square feet) of wall area.
Why Chicago Weather Demands Cedar Impressions Siding
The Midwest climate is notoriously tough on home exteriors. In places like Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, and Glenview, residential siding must survive freezing winter temperatures, humid summer heatwaves, heavy downpours, and occasional high-wind storms.
Traditional wood siding absorbs moisture during wet seasons and dries out during hot spells, leading to warping, cupping, and splitting. Cedar Impressions siding is immune to these moisture-related issues. Because it is made of modified polypropylene copolymer, it does not absorb water, making it completely resistant to rot, mold, mildew, and insect damage.
Furthermore, these polymer shingles meet the strict requirements of ASTM D7254, the standard specification for polypropylene siding. This standard ensures the material has been rigorously tested for impact resistance, weatherability, and structural integrity.
To learn more about how modern siding materials help protect your home from the elements while optimizing indoor comfort, check out our guide on Why Vinyl Siding Can Make Your Home More Energy Efficient.
Comparing Polymer Shingles to Traditional Wood and Fiber Cement
When choosing new siding, homeowners typically compare polymer shingles to traditional wood shingles and fiber cement panels. Each material has its own set of characteristics:
| Feature | Polymer Shingles (Cedar Impressions) | Traditional Wood Shingles | Fiber Cement Shingles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Material | Polypropylene Copolymer | Natural Cedar Wood | Cellulose Fiber & Cement |
| Moisture Resistance | Outstanding (Waterproof) | Poor (Prone to rot) | Good (Must be sealed) |
| Insect Resistance | Impervious | Vulnerable to termites/ants | Impervious |
| Painting Required | Never | Every 3 to 5 years | Every 10 to 15 years |
| Cracking / Warping | Resistant (Built-in expansion ribs) | Common over time | Low, but can crack if hit hard |
| Weight | Lightweight | Lightweight | Extremely Heavy |
While natural wood shingles offer undeniable historic charm, they require continuous upkeep. Homeowners must commit to regular washing, staining, painting, and replacing damaged shingles to prevent structural decay. For a deeper look at what it takes to install and maintain real wood, read The Ultimate Guide to Cedar Clapboard Siding Installation.
Fiber cement is another durable option that replicates wood grain well. However, because it is composed of cement and silica, it is incredibly heavy, requires specialized cutting tools, and must be painted periodically to maintain its moisture resistance. You can read more about this alternative in our article, The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful: A Deep Dive into Fiber Cement Siding Panels.
Professional Siding Installation and Key Accessories
Because polymer siding expands and contracts with shifting temperatures, proper installation is critical. If panels are nailed too tightly or spaced incorrectly, they can buckle, warp, or pull away from the wall. This is why hiring an experienced exterior remodeling contractor is essential.
During installation, several key accessories and trim pieces are used to ensure a weatherproof, polished finish:
- J-Channel: This trim is used around windows, doors, and the roofline to hide the cut edges of the siding panels and channel rainwater away from the home’s interior walls.
- Starter Strips: Installed at the very bottom of the wall, starter strips provide a secure locking point for the first course of siding panels.
- Underlayment: Before the siding is hung, a high-quality house wrap or underlayment is applied to the sheathing. It is important to verify the underlayment’s fire properties and vapor permeability to ensure compliance with local building codes.
At HomeBuild Windows, Doors & Siding, our factory-trained crews understand the precise tolerances required for polymer siding. Every project we undertake is owner-supervised, ensuring that every nail is driven straight and every corner post is perfectly aligned.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Impressions
How do you clean and maintain polymer siding?
Unlike wood, which requires scraping and repainting, cedar impressions siding is incredibly low-maintenance. To clean it, simply spray the panels with a garden hose and a mild soap-and-water solution once or twice a year to remove surface dust or pollen. The polymer material is highly resistant to mold and mildew growth, so you won’t have to worry about unsightly green patches taking over the shaded sides of your home.
What kind of warranty is offered on these shingles?
CertainTeed backs Cedar Impressions with a Lifetime Limited Warranty. This warranty covers manufacturing defects, excessive fading, and hail damage. Best of all, the warranty is fully transferable to the next owner if you decide to sell your home, which can be a strong selling point that adds real value to your property.
Can polymer siding withstand hurricane-force winds?
Yes. Thanks to the molded perimeter locking system and reinforced nail slots, these panels are engineered and tested per ASTM 5206. Depending on the specific profile and the fastener spacing used during installation, Cedar Impressions can achieve wind load design pressure ratings of up to 231.5 psf, allowing it to withstand wind speeds ranging from 124 mph up to an incredible 310 mph. It is built to easily handle the worst windstorms the Chicago area can throw at it.
Conclusion
Upgrading your home’s exterior is a significant decision. If you love the warm, rustic texture of cedar shingles but want to spend your weekends relaxing rather than painting, Cedar Impressions siding is the perfect solution.
To ensure your new siding performs beautifully for decades, rely on HomeBuild Windows, Doors & Siding. As a trusted, locally owned contractor with over 20 years of experience serving Chicago and the northwest suburbs, we take pride in delivering top-quality craftsmanship. We are proud to be an Elite Platinum Pella® Certified Contractor, an Andersen Certified Contractor, and a recipient of the Angi Super Service Award and Nextdoor Neighborhood Faves, backed by over 200 positive Google reviews.
We are fully licensed and insured, and all of our projects are owner-supervised to guarantee our high standards are met. Ready to transform your home’s curb appeal? Contact us today to schedule your free consultation, and let’s discuss our professional Siding Installation Chicago services.
