Valley flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing so the busiest water paths are protected.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation New Milford, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in New Milford means getting the slope, sheathing, interlay, spacing and fasteners right before the look of the wood even matters, and walk you through the choices before any wood is ordered. Dial (551) 374-2044 to talk with a local roofer about a new cedar roof.
A cedar roof lasts as long as the installation lets it dry. Every detail, from the side gaps to the nail type, exists so the shakes can get wet, dry out and move without leaking. Done right, a cedar roof can serve a home for 30 years or more.
The first decisions are the wood and the style. Heavy hand-split and resawn shakes give a rugged, deep shadow line, taper-sawn shakes look cleaner, and sawn shingles look neatest of all. Ask about grain and heartwood, since edge-grain heartwood cups and splits less.
Several outside factors decide how the system is built. Wood roofs need enough pitch to shed water quickly, generally 4 in 12 for shakes. Your roofer should check the permit requirements, any fire rating rules and any neighborhood guidelines before ordering.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in New Milford also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Looking for New Milford cedar shake roof installation? Call (551) 374-2044 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
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. Solid sheathing is usually required at the eaves where an ice barrier is needed.
Starter course
A strip of felt goes along the eave, then a doubled or tripled starter course of shakes or shingles overhangs the fascia by about an inch and a half. Edge metal along the eave and rakes protects the wood trim.
Course by course
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.
Fastening
Two corrosion-resistant nails per shake are placed just above the line where the next course will lap, keeping them out of the weather. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
Flash the valleys
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.
Ridge caps
Pre-formed or site-cut caps run along the hips and ridge, lapping in alternating directions. Balanced ventilation under a wood roof keeps both the attic and the shakes drier.
What is included
What goes into a cedar roof
Ridge caps
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent to keep moisture out of the attic.
Underlayment
An interlay of felt sits under each course to stop wind-driven rain.
Choosing the wood
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house before any wood is ordered.
Sheathing
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes with solid decking at the eaves where needed.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation New Milford, NJ
Shingles give a cedar roof a cleaner, more uniform look, and their installation reflects that. Exposure depends on the shingle length and pitch, and it is shorter than for shakes. The keyways between shingles are kept narrow but never closed.
Unlike shakes, shingles do not get felt interlay between courses, because their tight, thin layering already gives three layers of wood coverage. Shingles can be installed on spaced boards or on solid decking with a ventilated layer beneath. In New Milford, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In New Milford, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. For homes in New Milford and nearby places including River Edge, Bergenfield, Dumont and Oradell, storms, sun and shade all affect which grade and treatment make sense, which is why the planning step matters so much.
Need cedar shake roof installation around New Milford? Call (551) 374-2044 for a New Milford roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around New Milford
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, 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 New Milford 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 New Milford know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation questions
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
Whether to treat depends on moisture, shade and fire rules. In damp, shaded areas, preservative-treated shakes resist moss and decay better, and in fire-prone areas, fire-retardant treatment may be required. Your roofer can explain which options fit your New Milford home.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
A minimum of 4 in 12 is the common rule for shakes. Sawn shingles allow a bit less pitch if the exposure is shortened. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Cedar can be made far more fire resistant with pressure-impregnated treatment. 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 goes under a cedar shake roof?
Underneath cedar, the deck must allow airflow. 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.
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
They are related but not the same product. 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) 374-2044
Often needed together
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
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
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 servicesTalk to a New Milford roofer about cedar shake roof installation
Call now for New Milford cedar shake roof installation and help in the towns around it.