Homeowners often focus on color first, but profile has an equally important effect on the finished exterior. The shape of the lower edge controls the wall’s rhythm, while exposure and texture affect the scale of the pattern.

A consistent shake course can feel orderly and grounded. A varied edge feels more relaxed. A deep, staggered profile creates rustic shadow. A scalloped edge introduces softness and ornament.

PEPA notes that polypropylene siding can be injection-molded to reproduce the character of wood shakes and shingles. Fairhaven Sound uses that design flexibility to offer four clearly differentiated looks rather than one generic cedar pattern.

Profile Comparison at a Glance

Published dimensions are based on Gentek’s current product page. Product specifications and availability should be confirmed before ordering.

Traditional Shake: The Most Versatile Profile

Traditional Shake combines a natural cedar texture with a consistent 7-inch exposure. The lower edge is more orderly than the strongly staggered Hand-Split profile, which gives it broad architectural flexibility.

This is often the safest place to begin when a homeowner wants texture without making the exterior feel rustic or highly decorative. The profile can be used in a front gable, across an upper story or on a larger accent wall.

Traditional Shake may be a strong choice when:

• The house has simple, clean architectural lines.
• The accent area is relatively large.
• Brick or stone already supplies substantial visual texture.
• The homeowner wants cedar character without a strongly irregular edge.
• The design needs to appeal across several architectural influences.

Watch for:

Because the courses are visually orderly, alignment errors can be easy to see. Level layout and consistent transitions remain essential to the finished appearance.

Scallop: Softness and Controlled Ornament

The Fairhaven Sound Scallop profile uses a curved lower edge and a published 6¼-inch exposure. The curve creates a repeated decorative rhythm that is noticeably different from the straighter language of shake profiles.

Scallops work best when the house already contains a feature that deserves ornament. A front gable, dormer or sheltered porch can provide a natural boundary for the pattern.

Scallop may be a strong choice when:

• The house has cottage, Victorian-influenced or traditional details.
• The accent area is small and clearly defined.
• The exterior needs a softer counterpoint to straight rooflines and horizontal siding.
• The surrounding trim is substantial enough to frame the repeated curve.
• The homeowner wants one memorable decorative feature.

Watch for:

Scallops can become visually busy when repeated across multiple unrelated sections. A strong profile usually needs fewer accent locations, not more.

Cape Cod Shake: Relaxed and Handcrafted

Cape Cod Shake varies the exposure from approximately 2 to 5 inches within the panel. That irregularity breaks up the course and creates a more handcrafted visual rhythm.

The profile feels less formal than Traditional Shake without creating the deep rustic character of Hand-Split Shake. It can be especially effective on cottage-influenced homes and exteriors intended to feel approachable rather than imposing.

Cape Cod Shake may be a strong choice when:

• The home has a relaxed coastal, cottage or traditional character.
• The designer wants natural-looking variation without the deepest texture.
• The accent should feel informal rather than symmetrical.
• The surrounding exterior uses a quiet, coordinated palette.
• The homeowner wants a pattern that reads as less mechanical from the street.

Watch for:

The varied exposure already creates movement. Strong color contrast, elaborate trim and additional cladding profiles can compete with that movement if they are all used together.

Hand-Split Shake: The Strongest Texture

Hand-Split Shake has the deepest cedar-grain texture in the Fairhaven Sound collection, a staggered lower edge and a published 9-inch exposure. Gentek also lists it as the thickest of the four profiles.

Its larger scale and deeper shadow give it a more assertive presence. This can be beautiful on a Craftsman-inspired gable or a home surrounded by natural materials, but it is not automatically the best choice for every elevation.

Hand-Split Shake may be a strong choice when:

• The architecture already supports strong texture.
• The accent is viewed primarily from the street.
• Broad trim and substantial architectural features can balance the profile.
• The house uses Craftsman, rustic or lodge-inspired design cues.
• The selected color allows the shadows and edge variation to remain visible.

Watch for:

On a small wall or highly formal house, the deep texture may dominate the architecture. Review a full-size physical sample from a realistic viewing distance before committing to a large area.

How Exposure Changes the Perceived Scale

Exposure is the visible height of a siding course. Smaller or varied exposures create more lines across the wall, while a larger exposure creates broader courses.

This affects how the profile relates to the size of the house:

• A broad gable can often support a larger exposure and deeper texture.
• A small dormer may benefit from a quieter or more compact pattern.
• Numerous course lines can make an accent feel more detailed.
• Larger courses can make the shake pattern easier to read from the street.

There is no universally correct exposure. The goal is visual proportion between the siding pattern and the architectural feature receiving it.

How Color Changes Each Profile

Profile and color should be selected together because light and shadow affect textured siding differently from a flat color chip.

Gentek advises making final color selections from actual product samples because printed and digital representations may differ from the installed material.

Matching Profiles to Common Quad Cities Homes

These are design starting points, not rigid rules. The roof shape, trim, masonry and proportions of the actual home should control the final decision.

Questions to Ask While Comparing Samples

1. Does the profile support the home’s architectural style?
2. Is the texture appropriate for the size of the accent area?
3. From what distance will the profile usually be viewed?
4. Does the color reveal or suppress the texture in a pleasing way?
5. Will brick, stone or decorative trim compete with the pattern?
6. How will the shakes meet the main siding and surrounding trim?
7. Is the selected profile available in the desired color locally?
8. Have full-size samples been viewed outdoors at the actual property?