A cedar shake roof looks really great and adds a lot of character to a home that the average asphalt shingles just cannot beat. In addition a properly installed cedar shake roof can last up to 40 years. There are lots of advantages to a roof of this type, but at the same time it is a specialized roof that needs to be installed by experts who know what they are doing, otherwise your beautiful cedar shake roof could need to be replaced or undergo major repair in as little as ten years. We review some of the major issues that need to be considered when looking at a roof of this type for your home; however you should really think of this post as an overview. Evaluate the experts, read up on how to install a cedar shake roof step by step and then make your decision regarding this type of roof.
Installing a roof of this type takes a specialized set of knowledge and skill. In the following we outline some of the basic steps that a roofer must take into account when they are installing a roof of this type. In addition, there are the standard requirements of a well insulated and well ventilated attic to prevent ice dams forming on your roof.
General Guidelines for Installation of a Cedar Shake Roof
- First row should hang at least 1 inch over the roof edge to allow for rain and snow runoff
- Thicker end of the cedar shake should face downward towards the ground
- Space between shakes side by side should be ¼ inch to allow for expansion
- Stagger shakes over each other so that the joints do not line up
- Use galvanized roofing nails
- Place nails 2 inches up from the were the next shake will overlap
- Edge of the next overlapping shake should be 1/3 of the way up the shake
- Use a snap line to make sure that the shakes are in the right position
- Valleys should be covered by galvanized flashing first before you begin installing the cedar shakes
- Ridges can be either galvanized flashing or special cedar shakes made for this purpose.
- Follow the instructions of the manufacturer for best results.
What Can Go Wrong With a Cedar Shake Roof
All roofs will age over time and there are ways to determine of a roof of this type is beginning to deteriorate:
- Shakes are curling
- Shakes are splitting or cracking
- Wood is crumbling
If a roof is beginning to leak then there is something obviously wrong with shakes on the roof. Anytime water can get between or under a layer of a shingle they will stay damp and will begin to deteriorate. If the installation is not completed properly, water may somehow get in behind a cedar shake. Poor nailing or poor overlap of the shingles can also contribute to future problems with this kind of roof in terms of the wood disintegrating or the nails becoming loose. Disintegration of the cedar is often also caused by poor ventilation in the attic allowing moisture and heat to cause ice to form on the roof trapping water under it or above it leading to very humid conditions on the roof.
Quality is another issue that should be considered when making your decision to install a cedar shake roof in Calgary or anywhere else and how long the roof will last. For example, there are:
- Taper sawn cedar shakes,
- Medium sawn cedar shakes,
- Heavy sawn cedar shakes,
- Jumbo heavy sawn cedar shakes,
- Regular grade, Premium grade,
- No. 1 grade,
- No. 2 grade red label ,
- No label cedar shake ,
- CCA treated cedar shingles,
- Blue label shakes,
- etc.
They all have various warranties and applications. Your roofing specialist will be able to assist you with all of these decisions and more regarding your new roof or repairs to an existing roof.
Are There Other Alternatives to Using Cedar
There are now products on the market that resemble a cedar shake roof. Some asphalt shingles and also fiberglass shingles are manufactured to provide the high end look as well as even the texture of a cedar roof. There are even light weight concrete roof tiles that have a cedar shake and high end look of the real thing.
How Long Will a Cedar Shingle Roof Last
There are a lot of variables that come into play while trying to answer this question. Some manufacturers quote from 25 to 40 years for their materials, however it depends on the following variables:
- Quality level of the original material
- Roof ventilation
- Installation methods
- Grade of the cedar shake
- Thickness of the cedar shake
- Quality of the installation
For more information about cedar shake roofing in Calgary, materials and installation call the team at Flat Roofing Calgary. Their team of experts will be able to assist you will all of your questions about