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Specialty wood roofs

Cedar shake and wood roofing services

Cedar roofs require material-specific evaluation of split, curl, fasteners, exposure, underlayment, ventilation, flashings, moss, prior treatments, and repairability.

Cedar shakesWood shinglesSpecialty repairOlder roofs

Cedar roof services

  • Condition inspection and repair planning
  • Individual shake or shingle replacement
  • Flashing, ridge, valley, and transition work
  • Moss, debris, shade, and drying-condition evaluation
  • Partial or complete replacement
  • Ventilation and substrate review where accessible
  • Coordination for historic or mixed-material buildings

What changes the repair decision

A few damaged pieces may be repairable when surrounding material remains serviceable. Widespread erosion, splitting, curling, loose fasteners, failing underlayment, repeated leaks, or fragile material can make isolated repairs less durable.

The written scope should identify the proposed wood species and grade, exposure, fastening, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and realistic visual-matching expectations.

Avoid generic treatments

Pressure washing, incompatible coatings, indiscriminate sealing, and harsh chemicals can damage wood or change drying behavior. Ask what condition the treatment addresses, whether it suits the exact roof, and how runoff and adjacent materials are protected.

Frequently asked questions

Can new cedar match an older roof?

New material usually looks different and weathers over time. Species, grade, exposure, and existing aging affect the match.

Does moss automatically mean replacement?

No. Growth can retain moisture and reveal shaded conditions, but the underlying wood, fastening, flashing, and assembly determine the scope.

Can cedar be replaced with another material?

Often, but deck, ventilation, flashing, historic requirements, appearance, weight, and transitions should be evaluated as a complete system change.

Cedar has to dry from both sides

Short answerCedar shakes and shingles depend on being able to dry from their underside as well as their face, which is why the substrate and ventilation beneath them matter as much as the wood itself and why cedar laid tight over solid unventilated sheathing fails early.

This is the defining requirement of a cedar roof and the reason many fail decades before they should. Traditional installation uses spaced sheathing or a ventilated underlayment product that maintains an air gap, allowing moisture that gets behind the wood to escape. Laid directly onto solid decking with an impermeable underlayment, cedar stays wet on its underside after every rain and every thaw, and rot proceeds from the hidden face where nobody sees it.

Vermont's climate makes this harder rather than easier. Long wet shoulder seasons, snow sitting against the roof, freeze-thaw cycling, and shaded north slopes under trees all extend how long the wood stays damp. Cedar can work well here, but it works when the assembly is designed for drying and it is maintained.

  • Whether spaced sheathing or a ventilated underlayment maintains an air gap
  • Fastener material, since corrosion in contact with cedar is a known failure
  • Grade, thickness, and whether shakes or shingles are specified
  • Whether any preservative or fire treatment is specified and what it requires
  • Exposure and coursing appropriate to the pitch

Moss, shade, and realistic maintenance

A cedar roof is a maintained roof, and buying one without accepting that is the most common mistake. Moss and lichen hold moisture directly against the wood and accelerate deterioration; overhanging branches keep the roof shaded and wet and drop debris that traps water in the courses; debris accumulating in valleys and at penetrations does the same. Periodic clearing, keeping branches back, and addressing growth before it establishes are what deliver the service life the material is capable of.

How that maintenance is performed matters as much as whether it happens. Pressure washing a cedar roof erodes the softer material and drives water into the assembly, and aggressive chemical treatment can damage both the wood and the fasteners. Ask for a method before anyone cleans a cedar roof.

  • Realistic clearing intervals for this specific roof's shade and tree exposure
  • Method for moss and lichen, avoiding pressure washing
  • Keeping valleys, penetrations, and course gaps free of trapped debris
  • Individual shake replacement as a routine repair rather than a signal to replace
  • Whether tree work would materially extend the roof's life

Service information last reviewed August 16, 2026. Project acceptance, scheduling, and recommendations are confirmed by the roofing company.

Roofing FAQs

Cedar shake and wood roofing services questions

How long does a cedar roof last in Vermont?

It depends far more on the assembly and maintenance than on the wood grade. A cedar roof that can dry from both faces, is kept clear of moss and debris, and is not permanently shaded lasts substantially longer than one laid tight over solid decking under trees. Ask about the substrate before asking about the material.

Can cedar be installed over solid sheathing?

Only with a ventilated underlayment product that maintains an air gap. Laid directly onto solid decking with impermeable underlayment, cedar stays wet on its underside and rots from the hidden face — which is the most common reason cedar roofs fail early.

Should I pressure wash my cedar roof?

No. Pressure washing erodes the softer wood, damages the surface, and drives water into the assembly. Moss and lichen should be addressed by gentler methods; ask what method is proposed before anyone starts.

Can individual cedar shakes be replaced?

Yes, and it is routine maintenance on an otherwise sound roof rather than a sign the roof is finished. Localized failures are repairable by someone who works on cedar.

Is cedar a fire risk?

Untreated wood roofing burns, and treated products with fire ratings are available. Whether treatment is required depends on local requirements and insurer position — worth confirming with both before specifying, since it affects cost and maintenance.

Is cedar worth it compared with asphalt?

It is a considered choice, not a value calculation. It costs more, demands more maintenance, needs a properly ventilated assembly, and needs a contractor who works with it. Chosen knowingly for a building where it suits, it performs; chosen casually, it disappoints.

What's the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?

Shakes are split or resawn and have a rougher, more textured face and thicker profile; shingles are sawn smooth on both sides and lay flatter. The two produce a visibly different roof and are sometimes installed with different exposure and coursing rules, so confirm which is specified before assuming they are interchangeable.

Does cedar need a preservative treatment applied periodically?

It depends on the product and local exposure. Some cedar roofing is factory-treated for fire or preservative purposes; untreated cedar can benefit from periodic maintenance treatments in some climates. Ask what, if anything, the specific product requires rather than assuming a universal maintenance schedule.

How does cedar's fire rating compare with asphalt or metal?

Untreated wood roofing has no fire rating and burns; treated cedar products can achieve a Class A or Class B rating depending on the treatment and assembly, comparable to some other materials. Asphalt and metal roofing are generally rated without additional treatment. Confirm the rating of the specific product and assembly, since it varies by manufacturer.

Can cedar be installed on a low-slope roof?

Cedar shakes and shingles generally need adequate pitch to shed water properly and dry between wettings; a roof that is too flat for the specific product's minimum slope requirement is not a good candidate. Confirm the manufacturer's minimum pitch for the exact product being considered.

Does a cedar roof cost more to insure than asphalt or metal?

That is an insurer's decision, not something this site or a roofing company can state generally. Material, fire treatment, and regional wildfire or wind exposure all factor into how an insurer prices a policy — raise it with your insurer before committing to the material if cost is a concern.

Does snow load affect a cedar roof differently than asphalt?

The structural load calculation is about the roof framing and pitch rather than the covering material itself, so cedar does not inherently change how much snow a roof can carry. What differs is maintenance — cedar exposed to prolonged snow contact needs to dry out between wettings to avoid accelerated decay, more so than asphalt does.

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