Underlayment
An interlay of felt sits under each course to stop wind-driven rain.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Clark, NJ
A Clark 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, which is what lets cedar last for decades instead of years. One call to (908) 562-6899 reaches a nearby cedar roof installer.
A cedar roof lasts as long as the installation lets it dry. Shakes need air on both faces, gaps at the sides to swell, felt between each course to stop wind-driven rain and fasteners that will not rust before the wood wears out. Done right, a cedar roof can serve a home for 30 years or more.
Before installation starts, you choose between shakes and shingles and pick a grade. 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. Shakes need a slope of at least 4 in 12 under most codes, while shingles can go on slightly lower slopes with reduced exposure. Your roofer should check the permit requirements, any fire rating rules and any neighborhood guidelines before ordering.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in Clark also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Dealing with this in Clark, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6899 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
Here is how a roofer typically builds a new cedar roof.
Prepare the deck
The deck is either open, spaced boards or solid sheathing with a drainage and airflow layer on top. 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. The rake edges overhang slightly too.
Course by course
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. Shakes are spaced about three eighths to five eighths of an inch apart, side joints are offset at least an inch and a half from the course below and the exposure stays even, often 10 inches for 24 inch shakes.
Fastening
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. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
Valley work
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. Balanced ventilation under a wood roof keeps both the attic and the shakes drier.
What is included
What a cedar installation covers
Sheathing
Spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat go down first so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Material selection
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house before any wood is ordered.
Valley flashing
Open metal valleys and step flashing are installed as the roof goes up so the busiest water paths are protected.
Ridge ventilation
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent for balanced attic airflow.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Clark, 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. Side gaps are tighter too, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch.
Shingles are usually laid without interlay felt, since the overlap itself provides the coverage. Like shakes, shingles need air under them, so spaced boards or a breather mat are common. In Clark, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
Homeowners in Clark who choose cedar usually want a natural look that newer materials only imitate. From Clark to neighboring communities such as Rahway, Colonia, Garwood and Cranford, a roofer will check permit rules and fire requirements before recommending a cedar product, so a site visit comes before any material order.
Searching for cedar shake roof installation near me from Clark or Rahway, Colonia, Garwood and Cranford? Call (908) 562-6899 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Clark, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Clark
Roofers in Clark know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Shakes have at least one rough, split face and thicker butts, giving a rustic, textured roof, while shingles are sawn smooth on both faces for a neater look. Installation differs as well, with interlay felt used under shakes and tighter exposures used for shingles.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Untreated cedar is combustible, which is why fire-retardant treated shakes exist. Treated shakes, often combined with a special underlayment, can meet higher fire ratings required in some wildfire areas. Local codes decide what is allowed, so ask before ordering.
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
The deck under cedar is designed to let air reach the back of the wood. Felt interlay between courses and an eave membrane in cold areas complete the system. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
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. Your roofer can explain which options fit your Clark home.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
Most codes call for at least 4 in 12 for cedar shakes. Cedar shingles can go on roofs as low as 3 in 12 with a shorter exposure. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6899
Related services
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Tearing off worn cedar shakes, repairing the deck and putting on a new cedar or look-alike roof, planned around the material you choose next.
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, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Fixing hot, damp or poorly vented attics with the right mix of intake and exhaust, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn more
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