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Cedar Siding Brings Natural Warmth — And Lasting Character

Cedar siding offers a timeless look and natural beauty that no synthetic can match. It’s breathable, insulative, and one of the few materials that improves with age — if installed and maintained correctly.

At Custom Installations, cedar isn’t just one of the many materials we work with — it’s one of our specialties. From hand-selecting planks to precisely crafted corner boards and trim, we deliver siding that blends performance with old-world curb appeal.

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By clicking "Submit", you agree to have Custom Installations contact you about a free estimate and keep you informed about sales in the future. We may use an auto-phone system to contact you by phone or text. You do not need to make a purchase or submit this form but instead can call (847) 932-4500 to arrange for a free estimate. Please be aware that all calls are recorded for quality and safety purposes. Privacy Policy

Our Certifications & Trusted Brands

Damaged vinyl siding

Cedar Siding Installed Poorly Can Be a Maintenance Nightmare

Cedar is beautiful — but it’s unforgiving when cut corners. Without proper detailing and breathable assembly, it’s prone to premature rot, warping, or paint failure.
Cedar Siding

We Work with Cedar Every Week, Not Just Once in a While

Cedar requires care, precision, and a feel for the material. We work with it often, which means our crews know how to avoid the most common problems that plague wood siding installs.
Whether you’re re-siding a historic home or building something brand new, we bring the techniques and attention to detail that cedar demands.

Why Choose Us for Your Cedar Siding Project

We treat every cedar job like a craft — because that’s what it is. From selecting materials to custom flashing and venting, we go beyond basic siding installs to give you a finished product that looks right and performs right.

Why Midwest Homeowners Still Choose Cedar Siding

Natural Beauty That Improves With Age

Cedar develops a soft patina over time — or holds rich color with the right stain. Either way, it brings unmatched warmth and texture to your exterior.

Built-In Resistance to Moisture, Decay, and Insects

Naturally resistant to rot and pests, cedar holds up well in high-humidity, high-variation climates like the Chicago and Milwaukee areas.

Perfect for Historic, Lakefront, or Custom Homes

From Tudor-style estates to cottage-style lake homes, cedar siding fits the character of homes that synthetic materials just can’t match.

Breathable, Renewable, and Eco-Friendly

Cedar is a renewable resource and a smart environmental choice when sourced and installed responsibly.

“We didn’t want generic siding. Custom gave us real cedar, expertly installed — and it completely transformed the look and feel of our home.”

At Custom Installations, we’ve worked with cedar for over five decades. When it comes to timeless exteriors, it’s still the gold standard — and we treat it with the care and craftsmanship it deserves.

About Custom Installations, Inc.

We’re a second-generation, family-operated company built on one core belief:

Craftsmanship matters. Always has, always will.

With deep roots in Chicagoland and Metro Milwaukee, our team has served homeowners, architects, and builders since 1969. From small repairs to historical restorations, we deliver consistent, high-quality results.

Masterson Cedar Shake

Our Completed Projects

Explore our past work in your neighborhood.

Hear From Homeowners Like You

Discover what real homeowners are saying about their experience with us. From start to finish, our team is committed to delivering quality, reliability, and results you can trust.

Greta Harrris

John Robinson & crew was a pleasure to work with: very professional, respectful & competent. They kept me informed of their work schedule at all times & even went the extra mile to address a vent issue that I did not know I had. I would highly recommend using Custom Installations for their quality of work & making the customer feel at ease answering every question. Very satisfied.

Carol Ann B.

My garage I had vinyl siding was done in one day . They did a great job I am so happy i had it done. the crew were working hard all day and the project manager, John Robinson, came often to check on the work. I will recommend this company to my friends.

Jonathan J.

John Robinson at Custom Installations was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. He was extremely responsive, collaborative and nice, which is rare these days. His team worked diligently for nearly a month. Overall, it was a great experience to work with John and his team at Custom Installations.

Denali

Had Custom installations redo the entire exterior,(hardie board) roof, and gutters of our home and the results were great! Very professional and organized. Whenever I had a concern or question, my point of contact and project lead, John was an invaluable resource and took care of any issues or questions immediately. I was very impressed with his knowledge and ability to communicate my concerns and wants to whatever crew was working for the entirety of the project. Would definitely recommend and use custom installations on future projects.

Ryan Chitwood

I was in need of a metal crew that could do very high end copper work and was recommended this company by a major national player that owns a company in Denver, Co. The people at Custom Installations were amazing from start to finish, literally. They traveled here during the week for work and were so careful and respectful. Their copper/metal work is as good as I have ever seen. They just completed the most beautiful roof we have ever done for a homeowner. Their communication was fluid and consistent and we had zero issues. For a job with a ticket that size, we needed this to be a smooth process and Custom Installations Inc knocked it out of the park for us. Thank you guys!

Rob

Custom Installation was great to work with through this whole process. From the beginning, Ted Aydt Was very professional and thorough with the bid and immensely helpful with the insurance issues. On the job, the whole crew was great and so respectful. John Robinson was The project manager and always kept us up-to-date as did the office staff. I would definitely recommend them for your roofing job.

Will Lynn

Our old siding and part of our garage where damaged due to a storm which resulted in our house needing to be completely re-sided and part of the garage roof replaced. We chose Custom Installation not only for the quality of their work but their skilled teams knowledge of insurance claims. Bruce truly made this entire process as smooth as possible. We could lot be happier with how our house turned out.

Jacob Rosenfeld

We just hired Custom Installations to re-side & re-roof my home. We chose James Hardie, Board & Baton siding. The Custom Installations team was awesome, from my sales contact, Brad Hironimus, to the installers. Despite the house being originally constructed in the 1960's, it now looks brand new and I expect will further stand the test of time. The foreman assigned to our job, John Robinson, was exceptional. He was extremely responsive and always arrived on site with a great attitude. Whenever I had questions or concerns, he was easy to reach and successfully drove the team into delivering a fantastic result. I would definitely refer the Custom Installations team to anyone looking to improve their home.

Robert Tschurtz

We recently had a new asphalt roof installed on our residence here in Wisconsin. Mr. Pohlman and his crew were professional, timely, and exacting in the quality of their work. The project started and ended on time with no issues. Our property was left in the same condition as when they started. Mr. Pohlman was always available by email and personal cell phone for any questions, and personally on site. Overall, an excellent experience all the way around. Very rare these days.

Brett Paschke

The roof looks great and communication from Kevin and team was excellent throughout. Bob and the onsite team were up on the roof in below zero weather getting the job done.

David Held

Danny was able to arrange for contractor to remove the solar panels. He and his crew did a great job reroofing our home.

Jonathan Jonas

John Robinson at Custom Installations was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. He was extremely responsive, collaborative and nice, which is rare these days. His team worked diligently for nearly a month. Overall, it was a great experience to work with John and his team at Custom Installations.

What Homeowners Ask Us Most

Is cedar siding high maintenance?

Cedar requires some upkeep, especially if painted or stained. But with proper sealing, ventilation, and professional installation, it can remain beautiful and durable for decades. We offer pre-treated and pre-stained options to reduce long-term maintenance.

Red cedar tends to have a richer color and tighter grain, making it more resistant to moisture and decay. White cedar weathers to a silvery gray and is often used for a more rustic or coastal look. We’ll help you choose the best fit for your style and climate.

In some cases, yes — but it depends on the condition and type of your current siding. We’ll inspect your home and recommend the best approach to ensure longevity and performance.

Absolutely. Cedar adds architectural charm and curb appeal that many synthetic options can’t match — especially in high-end neighborhoods or historic districts.

Yes. We custom-fabricate all exterior trim components to match or complement your siding — including soffits, fascia, window trim, and corner boards.

Ask Question

Got More Questions?

We’re here to help. Whether you’re unsure about roof types, warranty details, or what to expect during installation—we’ll walk you through it all with zero pressure.

Give Us a call.

Want answers fast? Talk directly with our team — no call centers, no runaround. We’re here to help with quotes, questions, and urgent service needs.

We’ll call you.

Prefer we reach out? No problem. Just share your info and we’ll give you a call — usually within the same business day.

Custom Quote

Tell us a bit about your project and we’ll send you a detailed estimate — no pressure, no obligation. Just clear, honest pricing from people who know what they’re doing.

From The Blog

Tips, Insights & Seasonal Advice from Our Experts

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FAQ's Form

Can’t find your answer? Send us your question below.

By clicking "Submit Question", you agree to have Custom Installations contact you about a free estimate and keep you informed about sales in the future. We may use an auto-phone system to contact you by phone or text. You do not need to make a purchase or submit this form but instead can call (847) 932-4500 to arrange for a free estimate. Please be aware that all calls are recorded for quality and safety purposes. Privacy Policy

Free Estimate!

No spam. No obligation. Just straight answers and a clear quote.

By clicking "Submit", you agree to have Custom Installations contact you about a free estimate and keep you informed about sales in the future. We may use an auto-phone system to contact you by phone or text. You do not need to make a purchase or submit this form but instead can call (847) 932-4500 to arrange for a free estimate. Please be aware that all calls are recorded for quality and safety purposes. Privacy Policy