Gentek Fairhaven Sound Single Select shakes and scallops are manufactured from polypropylene and designed to reproduce the texture and variation associated with cedar. Features such as concealed side tabs, varied molds and longer panel configurations contribute to the finished appearance.

Those product features cannot compensate for poor preparation or careless layout. Even a premium siding panel will look disappointing if the courses wander, the trim is poorly proportioned or the transition between materials appears improvised.

Homeowners do not need to supervise every fastener, but they should understand the major stages of the work and know which questions reveal whether a project has been planned thoughtfully.

What a Well-Installed Shake Exterior Should Look Like

The best installation often calls very little attention to itself. Instead of noticing joints, wavy courses or awkward trim, the eye should read the texture and architecture as a unified composition.

• Courses should appear level and visually consistent across the wall.
• Transitions between shakes and other siding should look deliberate.
• Window, door and corner trim should be cleanly proportioned.
• Panel connections should not create distracting vertical patterns.
• Cut edges and terminations should be properly received by the specified trim or accessories.
• The accent area should feel centered and balanced within the architecture.

Stage 1: Confirming the Product and Design

Before removing old siding or opening cartons, the project team should confirm the exact product, profile, color and planned placement. Fairhaven Sound is available in Traditional Shake, Scallop, Cape Cod Shake and Hand-Split Shake profiles, but colors and profiles can vary by market.

Materials should be checked against the approved physical sample. Product images on a screen are useful for exploration, but they are not a dependable final color standard.

The pre-installation review should confirm:

• Product name, profile and color
• Quantity and matching lot information when applicable
• Accent boundaries and material-transition locations
• Corner, window, door and transition trim
• Treatment of vents, lights, receptacles and other penetrations
• Current manufacturer instructions and specified accessories

Stage 2: Evaluating the Existing Wall

New siding should not be used to conceal a damaged or irregular wall. Once the existing cladding is removed—or otherwise evaluated according to the project plan—the contractor should inspect the substrate for conditions that could affect the installation.

• Soft, deteriorated or visibly damaged sheathing
• Evidence of recurring moisture entry
• Uneven areas that may prevent a flat finished surface
• Deficient flashing around openings and roof-to-wall intersections
• Unsealed penetrations or poorly integrated exterior fixtures

This inspection is one of the most important parts of a re-siding project. Problems that remain behind the new exterior become harder to observe and more expensive to address later.

Stage 3: Establishing the Water-Management Layer

Exterior cladding is not the wall’s only defense against water. A properly detailed water-resistive barrier, often called a WRB, provides a drainage plane behind the cladding.

The National Association of Home Builders explains that the WRB protects the wall assembly from water that passes behind the exterior veneer. Openings and penetrations must be integrated with that layer rather than treated as separate details.

Homeowners should be cautious when an installation discussion focuses entirely on the visible siding and ignores what happens behind it. The surface appearance matters, but long-term performance begins with the wall assembly underneath.

Stage 4: Flashing Windows, Doors and Penetrations

Windows, doors, roof intersections and exterior fixtures interrupt the wall’s drainage plane. These areas require thoughtful flashing and integration with the WRB.

NAHB guidance describes flashing installed in shingle fashion so water is directed outward and downward. The precise detail depends on the opening, existing construction and applicable instructions, but the basic objective remains the same: each layer should direct water onto the layer below it rather than behind it.

Caulk alone should not be presented as a substitute for a properly planned drainage detail. Sealants can be useful components, but the wall should not depend entirely on an exposed bead of caulk for protection.

Stage 5: Planning the Layout

Layout determines whether the finished shake accent looks composed or accidental. Before fastening the first visible courses, the installer should consider how the pattern will relate to windows, rooflines, corners and transition bands.

Aesthetic layout questions include:

• Where will the first full course begin?
• Will a narrow or awkward piece be created at the top?
• How will courses align with nearby windows and horizontal trim?
• Will panel connections create a noticeable repeating pattern?
• Are both sides of a symmetrical gable being treated consistently?

Stage 6: Allowing Panels to Move

Polymer cladding expands and contracts as temperatures change. The installation must accommodate that movement.

Gentek states that Fairhaven Sound includes self-aligning nail slots and a temperature chart on the side tab to help installers position panels for expansion and contraction. General siding quality-control guidance also calls for panels to be fastened loosely enough to retain appropriate side-to-side movement.

Fastening a movable cladding panel tightly against the wall is not an example of extra care. It can restrict the movement the system was designed to accommodate. The current Gentek instructions should govern fastener selection, placement, spacing and clearances.

Stage 7: Maintaining Level, Consistent Courses

Small alignment errors become more noticeable as they continue across a wall. A course that begins slightly out of level may produce an obvious mismatch by the time it reaches a window, corner or adjoining elevation.

The installer should establish reliable reference lines and continue checking the work rather than assuming each preceding course remains correct.

This is especially important on gables. Sloping rooflines can make level courses appear deceptive during installation, while the finished geometry makes inconsistencies easy to see from the street.

Stage 8: Finishing Transitions and Trim

The transition between shakes and horizontal siding is one of the most visible details on an accent elevation. It should have a clear beginning and ending rather than appear to stop wherever the installer reached another material.

Window surrounds, corner posts and transition bands should be selected before installation begins. Their width and color influence the perceived weight of the shake accent.

• Narrow trim generally creates a quieter, simpler frame.
• Wider trim can support Craftsman or traditionally detailed architecture.
• Matching trim keeps the palette restrained.
• Contrasting trim emphasizes the shape of the accent area.

Questions to Ask the Contractor

1. Which current Gentek installation document will be followed?
2. How will the existing sheathing be inspected before it is covered?
3. What water-resistive barrier will be used, and how will it connect to the flashing?
4. How will windows, doors, vents and exterior fixtures be detailed?
5. How will the shakes transition to the main siding and trim?
6. What steps will allow the panels to expand and contract?
7. How will course alignment be checked throughout the installation?
8. Who will address concealed damage if it is discovered?
9. What product and workmanship documentation will be provided at completion?

Homeowner Final-Walkthrough Checklist

A homeowner’s final review should focus on visible quality and project documentation. It should not involve pulling panels, removing trim or altering completed work.

• Confirm that the installed profile and color match the approved selection.
• View the wall from several angles and from across the street.
• Look for level courses and consistent transitions.
• Review the appearance around windows, doors, corners and fixtures.
• Ask the contractor to explain how the WRB and flashing were handled.
• Confirm that loose materials, fasteners and installation debris have been removed.
• Collect applicable warranty, product and maintenance information.