cedar shake roofing Experts
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Cedar Roofs or cedar shake roofs are exactly as the name implies, this type of roofing shingle is made from cedar trees. Normally, cedar roofing comes in a ‘shake’ form where roof pieces are made from split logs. Once split from logs, cedar shakes are finished with a textured, rough-hewn look with distinctive thick butt ends. The shakes generally cut to measure 24″ in length while the butt ends can measure anywhere between 1/2″ to 3/4″ thick. Cedar roofing can also come in ‘shingle form’, with each piece featuring smooth and tapered finishing on both sides. The shingles generally measure 18″ long and only 3/8″ in butt thickness. Both cedar shake and shingle roofing options can be pressure treated with fire retardants and chemical preservatives to enhance longevity and performance.
While choosing a cedar roof for your next roofing or replacement project, you should be aware of all the advantages and disadvantages of choosing this particular roofing material considering it is one of the biggest investments you will make in your home.
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Cedar roofs offer several advantages, including their natural beauty, durability, and energy efficiency. These advantages include:
- Natural Beauty: Cedar roofs are among the most visually appealing options for roofing materials, available in shades of gray, red, brown, and orange. Cedar shakes are a naturally beautiful roofing material that ages gracefully to a beautiful grayish silver shade over time.
- Durability: When properly installed, cedar shakes can withstand heavy downpours, snowstorms, and even winds up to 245 miles per hour, making them an ideal choice for areas prone to extreme weather conditions. The cell structure of wood allows the roofing material to withstand hailstorms without suffering any dents.
- Energy Efficiency: Cedar roofs are natural insulators and can resist UV rays, release heat during hot weather, and hold onto as much heat as possible during the winter. This insulation can help reduce your energy costs, making cedar roofs an environmentally friendly option.
- Long Lifespan: Cedar roofs have a long lifespan, and you can expect 30 to 60 years out of a cedar shake roof, depending on various factors such as maintenance, weather conditions, and quality of installation.
In summary, cedar roofs offer several advantages, including their natural beauty, durability, energy efficiency, and long lifespan. If you're looking for a visually appealing, durable, and energy-efficient roofing option that will last for decades, cedar shakes could be an excellent choice for your home.
Cedar roofs also come with several disadvantages that homeowners should consider, including:
- High Installation Cost: Compared to other roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles, cedar roofing shingles can cost 2 to 5 times more to install. This higher upfront cost may make cedar roofs less attractive to budget-conscious homeowners.
- High Maintenance: Cedar shakes require more maintenance than other roofing materials, such as slate or concrete tile roofs, to keep them in good condition. The cedar wood needs to breathe, which means that debris must be kept off the roof at all times, the ventilation system needs to be maintained to ensure airflow around the shakes, gutters need to be cleaned regularly, and nearby trees must be cut to prevent moss, mildew, and mold growth. Regular application of chemical treatments is also advisable to help slow the aging process and maintain the natural color of the shakes.
- Moisture Sensitivity: While cedar roofs can handle heavy rain and snowstorms well, constant exposure to moisture can cause the wood material to rot. Ample sun exposure is necessary to evaporate water and moisture from a wet cedar roof after it rains to prevent rot and decay.
Overall, while cedar roofs offer several advantages, they also require higher installation costs, more maintenance, and are more sensitive to moisture. Before deciding on a cedar roof, it's essential to consider these factors to determine if they are the right fit for your home and budget.
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Behind our old-fashioned customer service and our professional roofing services are our hard-working Retro Roofers. Our team has the training and experience needed to provide top-notch roofing services and is dedicated to providing excellent customer service. When you work with Retro Roofers, you can be assured that you will receive the best possible roofing services available.
