Felt interlay
Each course gets its own strip of felt to stop wind-driven rain.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Englewood, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Englewood means getting the slope, sheathing, interlay, spacing and fasteners right before the look of the wood even matters, which is what lets cedar last for decades instead of years. One call to (551) 355-3321 reaches a nearby cedar roof installer.
Most early cedar failures trace back to installation, not to the shakes. The wood has to breathe, swell and shrink, so spacing, sheathing and ventilation are designed in from the start. Done right, a cedar roof can serve a home for 30 years or more.
The first decisions are the wood and the style. Shakes are split, with a rough, textured face and thick butts, while cedar shingles are sawn smooth on both sides for a tighter, tailored look. Ask about grain and heartwood, since edge-grain heartwood cups and splits less.
Several outside factors decide how the system is built. Shakes need a slope of at least 4 in 12 under most codes, while shingles can go on slightly lower slopes with reduced exposure. Wildfire codes, local permits and neighborhood rules can all affect which cedar product is allowed.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in Englewood also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof installation in Englewood? Call (551) 355-3321 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
A cedar roof is built in a specific order, from the deck up.
Set up the sheathing
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. In cold areas, the lower edge gets solid sheathing and an ice and water barrier.
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.
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. Side gaps are kept even, joints are staggered from course to course and the exposure follows the length and the slope.
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. Stainless is common near salt air and with treated shakes.
Valley work
Cedar roofs use open valleys lined with wide metal, often with a center crimp to keep water from running across to the other side. Step flashing at walls and flashing at skylights and vents go in as the courses rise.
Finish the ridge
The ridge and hips get matched cedar caps laid in an alternating pattern. Balanced ventilation under a wood roof keeps both the attic and the shakes drier.
What is included
Parts of a new cedar roof
Valley flashing
Metal valleys and wall flashing are woven into the courses for a watertight finish.
Sheathing
Sheathing is installed or repaired to suit a wood roof with solid decking at the eaves where needed.
Ridge caps
The ridge is capped and vented for balanced attic airflow.
Material selection
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house before any wood is ordered.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Englewood, NJ
Shingles give a cedar roof a cleaner, more uniform look, and their installation reflects that. Shingles come in 16, 18 and 24 inch lengths and are laid with shorter exposures, often around 5 to 7 and a half inches depending on length and slope. 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. They can go over spaced sheathing or over solid sheathing with a breathable mat, and they work on slightly lower pitches than shakes. In Englewood, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In Englewood, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. For homes in Englewood and nearby places including Englewood Cliffs, Leonia, Tenafly and Bergenfield, storms, sun and shade all affect which grade and treatment make sense, and a good installer adjusts the system to the house.
Searching for cedar shake roof installation near me from Englewood or Englewood Cliffs, Leonia, Tenafly and Bergenfield? Call (551) 355-3321 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. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Englewood is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Englewood know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Untreated cedar is combustible, which is why fire-retardant treated shakes exist. Treated shakes over a rated underlayment can meet stricter local codes. Local codes decide what is allowed, so ask before ordering.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
A minimum of 4 in 12 is the common rule for shakes. Cedar shingles can go on roofs as low as 3 in 12 with a shorter exposure. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
A cedar roof is built over either spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat. On top of the deck, felt is woven between the courses of shakes, and the eaves get an ice and water membrane where ice is a risk. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
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 Englewood roofer can recommend the right combination.
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
Shakes are split from the log, while shingles are sawn. Shakes are rugged and heavy with deep shadow lines, and shingles are trim and even. Shakes get felt between courses, shingles rely on overlap.
More questions? Call (551) 355-3321
Related services
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Full replacement of worn-out wood roofs, from tear-off and sheathing to the new ridge, with the deck brought up to what the new roof needs.
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
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, so shingles and decking last as long as they should.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet cedar shake roof installation help in Englewood
Call (551) 355-3321 to talk to a roofer serving Englewood, NJ.