Sheathing
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes to give nails a solid hold.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Glen Ridge, NJ
A Glen Ridge roofer who installs wood roofs can lay new cedar shakes or shingles over solid or spaced sheathing, with open metal valleys and vented ridge caps, so the roof sheds water and dries out between storms. Dial (862) 357-6041 to talk with a local roofer about a new cedar roof.
How a cedar roof is put on matters more than the wood itself. Every detail, from the side gaps to the nail type, exists so the shakes can get wet, dry out and move without leaking. Skip one of those details and the roof can start cupping, rotting or staining within a few seasons.
Choosing the material comes first, and the choices are wider than most owners expect. Split shakes look rustic and heavy, sawn shingles look trim and even, and taper-sawn shakes sit in between. Top grades use edge-grain heartwood with no knots, the most stable wood for a roof.
Code and climate shape the rest. Most codes require a minimum pitch for wood roofs, about 4 in 12 for shakes and 3 in 12 for shingles. Wildfire codes, local permits and neighborhood rules can all affect which cedar product is allowed.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in Glen Ridge also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof installation in Glen Ridge? Call (862) 357-6041 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof installation process
Each layer of a cedar roof has a job.
Deck preparation
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. Solid sheathing is usually required at the eaves where an ice barrier is needed.
Starter course
The first course is doubled so the gaps in the top layer never line up with gaps in the layer below. Edge metal along the eave and rakes protects the wood trim.
Lay the field
Each course of shakes gets a strip of 18 inch felt interlay laid above the butts, so the felt is hidden but blocks rain blown through the gaps. The crew keeps the keyways open, staggers every joint and measures exposure to the slope and shake length.
Fasten correctly
Each shake gets two stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized nails, about an inch in from each side and placed so the next course covers them. Plain steel or electro-galvanized nails rust and stain long before cedar wears out.
Build the valleys
Valley metal goes down first, and shakes are trimmed back from the center so leaves and water can run freely. Walls, skylights and vent pipes get their own flashing woven into the courses.
Ridge caps
Hips and ridges are covered with cedar caps that alternate their overlap, nailed with longer fasteners into solid wood. A ridge vent can go under the caps, paired with soffit vents for balanced attic airflow.
What is included
What a cedar installation covers
Ridge ventilation
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent for balanced attic airflow.
Underlayment
Each course gets its own strip of felt hidden from view but doing real work.
Material selection
The style, grade and treatment are chosen with you so the look and lifespan match your goals.
Valley flashing
Open metal valleys and step flashing are installed as the roof goes up for a watertight finish.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Glen Ridge, NJ
Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces, so they are thinner, smoother and installed a little differently than shakes. Exposure depends on the shingle length and pitch, and it is shorter than for shakes. The keyways between shingles are kept narrow but never closed.
Felt interlay is a shake detail, while shingles rely on overlap for protection. Like shakes, shingles need air under them, so spaced boards or a breather mat are common. A Glen Ridge roofer can lay out samples of each so you can compare.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In Glen Ridge, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. From Glen Ridge to neighboring communities such as East Orange, North Arlington, Caldwell and Clifton, a roofer will check permit rules and fire requirements before recommending a cedar product, which is why the planning step matters so much.
Searching for cedar shake roof installation near me from Glen Ridge or East Orange, North Arlington, Caldwell and Clifton? Call (862) 357-6041 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Glen Ridge
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Glen Ridge is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Glen Ridge and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about cedar shake roof installation
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Untreated cedar is combustible, which is why fire-retardant treated shakes exist. With treatment and the right underlayment, a cedar roof can reach a higher fire classification. Your roofer should confirm what your local code requires before you choose.
What roof pitch do cedar shakes need?
Most codes call for at least 4 in 12 for cedar shakes. Shingles can work on slightly lower slopes with reduced exposure. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Shakes are rugged and heavy with deep shadow lines, and shingles are trim and even. Installation differs as well, with interlay felt used under shakes and tighter exposures used for shingles.
Do cedar shakes need a preservative treatment?
That choice depends on where the house is and what grade you buy. Preservative treatment helps in wet climates, and fire treatment may be required by local code. A Glen Ridge roofer can recommend the right combination.
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
Underneath cedar, the deck must allow airflow. Felt interlay between courses and an eave membrane in cold areas complete the system. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
More questions? Call (862) 357-6041
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, when the old shakes are too thin to repair.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Replacing split, cupped or missing shakes, clearing moss and fixing valleys and ridge caps, without tearing off the shakes that still have years left.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Fixing hot, damp or poorly vented attics with the right mix of intake and exhaust, so shingles and decking last as long as they should.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed cedar shake roof installation in Glen Ridge, NJ?
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