What Makes a Certi-label® Product Different?

Not every cedar shake or shingle on the market is manufactured to the same standard, and for roofing and sidewall professionals, that distinction matters at every stage of a project, from specification through installation and long-term performance. At the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau, we have maintained the grading rules and certification framework that define quality in this industry since 1915. The Certi-label® program is the tangible expression of that work: a third-party quality assurance system that separates certified products from uncertified alternatives and gives trade professionals a reliable basis for specifying with confidence. Understanding what makes a Certi-label® product different means understanding how that certification is earned, what it controls, and why it matters to the finished roof or wall.

The Certification Framework Behind the Label

A Certi-label® is the result of a documented manufacturing and inspection process tied directly to our published grading rules. Mills that carry Certi-label® authority have been audited against those standards and have demonstrated the ability to produce product that meets grade consistently.

The framework covers several interconnected elements:

• Species and raw material sourcing: Certified products are manufactured from western red cedar and other approved species, meeting defined requirements for grain orientation, knot limitations, and heartwood content depending on the specific grade.
• Manufacturing controls: Mills operate under documented processes that govern sawing, bundling, and packaging in alignment with grading rule specifications.
• Third-party inspection: Independent inspection agencies conduct mill audits and product reviews. The certification is not self-reported.
• Label authority: Only mills that maintain compliance retain the right to apply a Certi-label® to their bundles.

This structure means that when a Certi-label® appears on a bundle, it reflects an ongoing relationship with our certification system, not a one-time approval.

Grading Rules as the Technical Foundation

The grading rules we publish are the technical backbone of the entire program. Each Certi-label® grade, whether Blue Label, Red Label, Black Label, or others within the system, corresponds to defined physical characteristics that determine where and how a product should be used.

Grade Definitions That Drive Specification

Grade designations are not interchangeable. A Blue Label No. 1 shake carries different grain, thickness, and quality requirements than lower-grade products, and those differences translate directly into exposure recommendations, expected service life, and appropriate applications. Specifying by Certi-label® grade gives contractors and architects a shared technical language that survives the handoff between design, procurement, and installation.

Consistency Across Mill Sources

One of the practical advantages of the grading rule framework is consistency. A Certi-label® No. 1 product from one certified mill should meet the same grade criteria as the same designation from another. That cross-mill consistency is what makes the label genuinely useful as a specification tool rather than simply a quality claim.

What Uncertified Product Cannot Offer

Cedar shakes and shingles sold outside the Certi-label® system may be manufactured from acceptable raw material, and some mills do maintain their own third-party inspection. That inspection is typically less frequent than what Certi-label® certification requires, and product manufactured without adequate third-party inspection does not meet US building code requirements. From a specification standpoint, that leaves identifiable gaps:

• No documented grading standard against which the product was evaluated
• No audit trail linking the bundle to an approved manufacturing process
• No recourse framework if product performance falls short of what was represented
• No recognized grading designation that can be referenced in project documentation
• No established connection to installation guidance written around verified grade criteria

For residential or commercial projects where product documentation matters, whether for code compliance review, insurance purposes, or warranty programs tied to certified product, uncertified material introduces risk that Certi-label® product is specifically designed to eliminate.

How the Label Connects to Installation Standards

Certi-label® grades are referenced directly in our installation guidelines, which means the certification system and the installation system are built to work together. Exposure recommendations, nailing schedules, and underlayment requirements in our technical documentation are written around specific Certi-label® grades. Using certified product is the starting point for an installation that aligns with recognized best practices from the first course to the ridge.

This integration matters when projects are inspected or when manufacturers of related products tie their own warranties to certified cedar. The label creates a documented chain from raw material specification through installation method, one that uncertified product cannot replicate.

Maintaining the Standard Over Time

Mill certification is not permanent by default. Certified mills are subject to ongoing inspection and must maintain compliance with current grading rules to retain label authority. If a mill’s product falls out of conformance, certification is suspended. That ongoing accountability is what gives the Certi-label® its credibility across the trade, and what distinguishes it from a designation that, once granted, requires no further demonstration of quality.

The inspection cycle also means that certified mills are current with grading rule updates as they are issued. Specifiers who reference Certi-label® grades in project documentation can be confident the product reaching the site reflects the standard in its current form.

Specifying with Confidence

When a project calls for cedar, specifying Certi-label® product is the most defensible position a contractor, architect, or building owner can take. The grade is documented, the manufacturing process has been audited, and the installation guidance is written to match.

At the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau, we have built and maintained this certification system because the industry requires a recognized authority that professionals can rely on. If you are working through a specification question or need technical documentation for a current project, reach out to us through our contact form. We are here to support the trade with the same expertise we have brought to this work for over a century.