What this covers
Cedar shakes are thick, hand-split pieces of western red cedar; cedar shingles are thinner and sawn smooth. Either is laid in courses with a strip of felt interlaid between courses on shakes, fastened with stainless or hot-dipped nails, and ideally installed over spaced sheathing or a ventilated underlayment so the wood can dry from below. The roofer sets exposure for the pitch, keeps joints offset from the course below, flashes walls and chimneys in metal, and finishes hips and ridges with factory-made or site-cut caps. Careful work shows in consistent exposure, keyways that are not aligned, and airflow under the wood.
When to call
- Shakes that are cupped, split, soft or missing, especially on the north side.
- Moss and lichen growing thick enough to hold water against the wood.
- A coastal or wooded home being reroofed in kind.
- Leaks around a chimney or valley on a cedar roof that is otherwise sound.
What to expect
- InspectThe roofer judges how much of the roof is sound and whether repair or replacement makes sense.
- PrepareOld roofing is removed and spaced sheathing or a vented underlayment installed.
- Lay coursesShakes or shingles go on with felt interlays, set to the exposure for the pitch.
- Flash and capMetal flashing and hip and ridge caps finish the roof.
Get a certified company
Look up a certified company by ZIP code. Every company's license, insurance and trades are verified before it is listed, and placement is never paid.
Questions people ask
Shakes or shingles?
Shakes are split, thicker and more rustic; shingles are sawn, thinner and lie flatter. Shakes need the felt interlay, shingles usually do not.
Does cedar need treatment?
Periodic cleaning and a breathable preservative extend its life, especially in shade. A roofer or cleaning company does this from staging, not by pressure washing.
Is cedar allowed where I live?
Some areas with wildfire risk restrict untreated wood roofing. Fire-retardant-treated cedar is available where the local code allows it.
Related: Roof ventilation · Roof repair · Asphalt shingle roofing · All roofing and gutters
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