Ridge caps
The ridge is capped and vented to keep moisture out of the attic.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Fairview, NJ
A Fairview 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. Call (551) 378-0045 to reach a local roofer.
Most early cedar failures trace back to installation, not to the shakes. 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. Skip one of those details and the roof can start cupping, rotting or staining within a few seasons.
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. Ask about grain and heartwood, since edge-grain heartwood cups and splits less.
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. Areas with wildfire risk may require fire-retardant treated shakes or a rated assembly, and some neighborhoods have their own rules on roofing material.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Fairview roofer may also recommend cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof installation in Fairview? Call (551) 378-0045 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
Each layer of a cedar roof has a job.
Prepare the deck
The deck is either open, spaced boards or solid sheathing with a drainage and airflow layer on top. Where ice can build up, the eaves get a waterproof membrane over solid decking.
Lay the 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.
Lay the field
Shakes go on in courses with felt interlay woven between them, positioned so it never shows below the next course. The crew keeps the keyways open, staggers every joint and measures exposure to the slope and shake length.
Fasten correctly
Two corrosion-resistant nails per shake are placed just above the line where the next course will lap, keeping them out of the weather. Plain steel or electro-galvanized nails rust and stain long before cedar wears out.
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. Walls, skylights and vent pipes get their own flashing woven into the courses.
Cap the ridge
Pre-formed or site-cut caps run along the hips and ridge, lapping in alternating directions. A ridge vent can go under the caps, paired with soffit vents for balanced attic airflow.
What is included
What a cedar installation covers
Valley flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing rather than relying on sealant.
Choosing the wood
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house before any wood is ordered.
Underlayment
Each course gets its own strip of felt as a second line of defense.
Sheathing
Sheathing is installed or repaired to suit a wood roof so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Fairview, NJ
Cedar shingle roof installation follows the same principles as shakes, with a few important differences. Because shingles are thinner, they use shorter exposures, so more layers overlap at any point on the roof. Side gaps are tighter too, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch.
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. In Fairview, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In Fairview, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. Across Fairview and nearby towns like Cliffside Park, Ridgefield, Edgewater and Palisades Park, the key questions are the pitch of the roof, how much shade it gets and whether local rules call for fire-treated wood, so a site visit comes before any material order.
Searching for cedar shake roof installation near me from Fairview or Cliffside Park, Ridgefield, Edgewater and Palisades Park? Call (551) 378-0045 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. That is why roof repair in Fairview is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Fairview know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about cedar shake roof installation
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
That choice depends on where the house is and what grade you buy. In damp, shaded areas, preservative-treated shakes resist moss and decay better, and in fire-prone areas, fire-retardant treatment may be required. A Fairview roofer can recommend the right combination.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
Cedar shakes need a slope of about 4 in 12 or more. Sawn shingles allow a bit less pitch if the exposure is shortened. 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. Felt interlay between courses and an eave membrane in cold areas complete the system. The goal is a roof that sheds water but still lets the wood dry.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Fire-treated cedar is available for areas where fire is a concern. With treatment and the right underlayment, a cedar roof can reach a higher fire classification. Local codes decide what is allowed, so ask before ordering.
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. Installation differs as well, with interlay felt used under shakes and tighter exposures used for shingles.
More questions? Call (551) 378-0045
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, planned around the material you choose next.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Repairs for split shakes, rot at the butts, moss buildup and leaking valleys on wood roofs, matched to what a close look at the roof actually finds.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Fixing hot, damp or poorly vented attics with the right mix of intake and exhaust, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed cedar shake roof installation in Fairview, NJ?
Call (551) 378-0045 for a local roofer in Fairview and nearby towns.