How to Cut Cedar Shingles

Because cedar is such a soft wood, you can cut it using a simple utility knife.

1. Wear protective gloves and goggles when cutting wood to guard against any dust or splinters.

2. Turn the shingle face-down on a stable cutting surface. Trace the cutting line with a pencil on the back of the board so that you will not be able to see any pencil marks when the shingle is installed.

3. Slice down the cut line with a sharp utility knife. This will create a small score line in the shingle surface.

4. Gently work the two edges of the shingle back and forth until the shingle snaps along the scored cut line. If necessary, deepen the cut line with multiple passes from the utility knife.