Cedar Roofs for Your Home

Cedar Roofs or cedar shake roofs are exactly as the name implies, this type of roofing shingle is made from cedar trees. Normally, cedar roofing comes in a ‘shake’ form where roof pieces are made from split logs. Once split from logs, cedar shakes are finished with a textured, rough-hewn look with distinctive thick butt ends. The shakes generally cut to measure 24″ in length while the butt ends can measure anywhere between 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick. Cedar roofing can also come in ‘shingle form’, with each piece featuring smooth and tapered finishing on both sides. The shingles generally measure 18″ long and only 3/8″ in butt thickness. Both cedar shake and shingle roofing options can be pressure treated with fire retardants and chemical preservatives to enhance longevity and performance.

While choosing a cedar roof for your next roofing or replacement project, you should be aware of all the advantages and disadvantages of choosing this particular roofing material considering it is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home.

Advantages of Cedar Roofs

  • Cedar roofs are one of the most beautiful choices when it comes to roofing materials
  • Available in gray shades or red, brown, and orange, cedar shakes are a naturally beautiful roofing material that ages gracefully to a beautiful grayish silver shade
  • When installed correctly, cedar shakes are known to resist heavy downpours, snowstorms, and even winds up to 245 miles per hour
  • The cell structure of wood allows the roofing material to take a beating from hailstorms without suffering so much as a dent
  • Most woods are natural insulators and this roofing material will resist UV rays, give off heat when the weather gets too hot, and hold onto as much heat as possible during the winter
  • Cedar roofs have a long lifespan and you can expect 30 to 60 years out of a cedar shake roof

Disadvantages of Cedar Roofs

  • Compared with other roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, cedar roofing shingles are 2 to 5 times more expensive to install
  • Cedar shakes require more maintenance and work than other roofing materials, like slate or concrete tile roofs, to keep in good condition since. The cedar wood needs to breathe so debris must be kept off the roof at all times while the ventilation system needs to be maintained to ensure airflow around the shakes, gutters need to be cleaned regularly and nearby trees cut to prevent moss, mildew, and mold growth.
  • Regular application of chemical treatments is also advisable for helping the wood shakes age slowly and hold onto their natural color for a longer period of time
  • While cedar roofs can handle heavy rain and snowstorms well, constant exposure to moisture will cause the wood material to rot so ample sun exposure is necessary to evaporate water and moisture from a wet cedar roof after it rains.

Hire the Right Roofing Contractor for Your Home

Make the most of your roofing project by using a reliable roofing contractor. Affluent Exteriors, your trusted roofer, has a proven record of customer satisfaction you can expect. Contact us for a free consultation on your next cedar roof project.

To experience our fully digital, transparent, industry-leading roofing services, complete the form below and we will follow up to schedule an appointment and give your project the attention, skill, and expertise it deserves.

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