Cedar shakes are split rather than sawn, which gives the irregular face that distinguishes them from a shingle. Left untreated they weather from honey to silver-grey over a few seasons.
Cedar is naturally rot and insect resistant, but it is still wood: it wants treatment, it wants to breathe from underneath, and it wants keeping clear of overhanging growth.
Check local code before specifying it. Some jurisdictions in wildfire areas restrict or prohibit untreated wood roofing outright, and treated products are a different price.
The trade-off, honestly
What it gives you
- Distinctive, ages beautifully
- Naturally insulating
- Renewable material
What it costs you
- Needs periodic treatment
- Fire restrictions in many areas
- Shorter life than tile or metal
Best for
Craftsman, Cape Cod and cabin architecture, outside fire-restricted zones.
Price it on your roofYou click. We climb. Deal?
Tell us what you need and we will handle the rest. No ladders required on your part.
