Cedar siding on manufactured homes is a popular trend.Ā Today, we’re going to feature a great manufactured home makeover project using reclaimed cedar sidingĀ at a cost of less than $500.00. You’re gonna love it! We’ll share some helpful tips and linksĀ about cedar siding, too.
Main Topics of this Article:
Using Reclaimed Cedar Siding on Manufactured Homes
Roland andĀ Lori Hopkins dreamed of living aĀ simple life inĀ a rustic country cabin. After they both retired they had the time to start making that dream a reality for their 1990 Redman Rancharo double wide:
Home Before the $500 Cedar Siding Installation
CedarĀ was an easy choice to replace the siding on the Hopkins’ double wide. ItĀ would allow them to give their home’s exterior a rustic log cabin style they had always wanted. Since they live in Oregon, red cedar was easy to find.
CedarĀ can be a fairly expensive siding option but theĀ Hopkins’ were able to re-side their entire home at a fraction of the cost by using reclaimed cedar siding and refinishing each piece by hand.
It took a lot of work but the end resultĀ is amazing!
TheĀ Hopkins’ were able to transformĀ their home into the rustic country home they had dreamed about for $500!
The couple faced challenges during their cedar siding installation but they didn’t let anything stop them.
Roland worked as a timber faller for 30 years. Lori worked as well and soon after retiring they both needed to have back surgery. ThatĀ didn’t stop either one of them though! Shortly after their surgeries, they began working on their cedar siding project. Together they would measure, cut, plane, sand, and paint all theĀ boards whileĀ sitting.
After a short time, they startedĀ installing the cedarĀ one side at a time. Fortunately, the sidingĀ went up quickly and without any major issues.
Reusing and recycling is great for the environment and the wallet. LoriĀ advises that salvage and resale stores, as well as online sites like Craigslist, are great places to find building materials that are affordable, some even free. Ā Lumber, fixtures, and paint are common items you can find.
“Having our neighbors, both young and old, come by with encouragement and praise for the remarkable improvements we have made.”
When I asked Lori what her proudest DIY moment has been as a manufactured homeowner she replied, “Having our neighbors, both young and old, come by with encouragement and praise for the remarkable improvements we have made. We have even been told by some neighbors that our home is now the best one in the park. Even with new homes being brought in.”
Lori gave me a few words of wisdom. SheĀ says that mobile homeowners should not be afraid to mess up, “You can always take it down and try something else if it doesn’t work out the way you want it.”
Lori firmly believesĀ a manufactured home is a smart option to home ownershipĀ andĀ encourages potential buyers to look for an older mobile home that’s been well-maintained and has ‘good bones.’ Ā An older mobile home with amazing potential can often be bought for only a few thousand dollars. IfĀ you are willing to invest the time and money into updates you canĀ live happily debt-free in a short time.
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Learn More About Cedar Siding
This Hopkins’ home is a beautiful example of the amazing potential of a manufactured home. You can transform them into any style you want!
We’ve featured a few beautiful manufactured homes with cedar siding in the past here on Mobile Home Living. The Whim was a great single wide exterior remodel and we were fortunate enough to get to follow along with the entire transformation. You can read more about the home here and here.

Another great example of cedar siding on manufactured homes is this gorgeous rustic cabin manufactured home remodel. The home is aĀ Ā 2002 Spirit double wide that has been completely transformed into a rustic lakeside dream home:

Advantages of Using Cedar Siding
Cedar is a popular siding choice and there are several advantages of using cedar siding on manufactured homes. Cedar resists rotĀ and pests. Cedar, like most wood, has a long lifespan and can last several decadesĀ with the proper upkeep.
Here’s what Bobvilla.com has to say about cedar siding:
Cedar siding is known for its grain and its rot resistance. It is straight and resists splitting. Cedar takes a stain well and reveals a rich character. It is commonly used in shakes and shingles because it is dimensionally stable, resists swelling, and has less cupping and splitting. Cedar clapboards are popular, too, but clear grade A cedar can be costly.Ā
Disadvantages of Using Cedar SidingĀ
As with any buildingĀ material, cedar has some issues homeowners need to consider before choosing it as siding.Ā Upkeep and maintenanceĀ will be needed regularly unless youĀ keep the cedar completelyĀ natural (no stain or paint). Woodpeckers are attracted to wood siding and have been known to createĀ holes which can allow pests or water to get behind the wood.
Cedar Siding PricesĀ
CedarĀ is graded based on appearance and qualityĀ and these grades impact theĀ price you’ll pay. The location will also affect the price.Ā SidingPriceGuides.com provides these figures:
… āBā grade cedar, expect to pay $2.75-$3.75 per square foot ($275-$350 per square if sold in 100 sq. ft. bundles). For top-grade cedar and redwood siding, your price will be $4-$6.50 per square foot or $400-$650 per square.
Inspectapedia.com provides the following cedar siding grade information:
The highest grades of cedar:
- Clear VG (vertical grain)
- Heart and
- Clear Heart
Premium grades for other western woods:
- C Select,
- D Select,
- Superior, and
- Prime
Cedar Siding Style Options
There are many beautiful optionsĀ available forĀ cedar siding on manufactured homes.Ā The most popular style is the shingle or shake. They can have rounded edges, staggered, or straight.
ThereĀ are many other shapes available, like diamond or triangle, but they aren’t as popular as the straight and rounded.
Source: Renocompare.com
Cedar boards areĀ available in several different cuts through the board and batten, bevel, tongue and groove, and channels are the most popular. If a true log cabin look is what you are going for you’ll need to use what they callĀ logs or half logs.
Source: Renocompare.com
An old-fashioned cedar plank style is making a huge comeback in modern home siding design. The living edge, or wavy-edged bevel, is a great way to add texture and additional depth to a home’s exterior.
StainingĀ and Painting Cedar Siding
Cedar doesn’t have to be stained or painted. Left in its natural state, white cedar getsĀ a weathered silver patina that many people find appealing.
Source:Ā Northeastremodelinggroupinc.com
If possible, you should coat the wood and maintainĀ it with stain or paint every 3-5 years.Ā Bobvilla.com states,Ā “All woods must be sealed and stained or painted to resist moisture, damage, and decay.”
It’s smart to stain or paint your cedar siding before you install it onto your home. This ensures all of the edges are protected.
More Great Resources About Cedar Siding
There are a lot of great resources about cedar siding online!
Inspectapedia.comĀ is one of my all-time favorite resources for just about any building question you may have. It’s not the prettiest website but it is the most informative!
Inspectapedia’sĀ Guide to Installing Wood Wall Siding Products is an informative article. Another helpful article is theirĀ Guide to Wood Siding: Choices, Installation, Maintenance.
RenoCompare.com has a great article titledĀ Cedar Siding ā Pros & Cons, Options, Maintenance and Manufacturer ReviewsĀ that you may find helpful.
The last article that I recommend isĀ Cedar Siding vs Fiber Cement: Pros & ConsĀ by Northeastremodelinggroupinc.com.
This was a greatĀ example of cedar siding on manufactured homes!Ā A huge thank you to Roland andĀ Lori Hopkins for sharing their $500 reclaimed cedar siding project. It’s a gorgeous transformationĀ andĀ I would have never believed you were able to do that on such a small budget!
As always, thank you for reading Mobile Home Living!