Sheathing
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Flanders, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Flanders 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. Call (862) 453-8002 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. The best grades are clear heartwood with edge grain, which stays flatter and resists splitting and decay better than flat grain.
Local rules and conditions narrow the options further. 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.
Depending on what the roofer finds, cedar shake roof installation in Flanders, NJ can go hand in hand with cedar shake roof replacement and cedar shake roof repair.
Dealing with this in Flanders, NJ right now? Call (862) 453-8002 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Flanders.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
Here is how a roofer typically builds a new cedar roof.
Deck preparation
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. Solid sheathing is usually required at the eaves where an ice barrier is needed.
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. Shakes are spaced about three eighths to five eighths of an inch apart, side joints are offset at least an inch and a half from the course below and the exposure stays even, often 10 inches for 24 inch shakes.
Fasten correctly
Nails are stainless or heavily galvanized, two per shake, driven flush but not crushing the wood. Stainless is common near salt air and with treated shakes.
Flash the valleys
Valley metal goes down first, and shakes are trimmed back from the center so leaves and water can run freely. Every penetration and wall line is flashed as the shakes go up.
Cap the ridge
Hips and ridges are covered with cedar caps that alternate their overlap, nailed with longer fasteners into solid wood. Balanced ventilation under a wood roof keeps both the attic and the shakes drier.
What is included
What goes into a cedar roof
Felt interlay
Felt strips are woven between every course of shakes hidden from view but doing real work.
Ridge ventilation
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent to keep moisture out of the attic.
Wall flashing
Metal valleys and wall flashing are woven into the courses for a watertight finish.
Choosing the wood
You pick between hand-split, resawn, taper-sawn and sawn options with fire and preservative treatment where needed.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Flanders, NJ
Cedar shingle roof installation follows the same principles as shakes, with a few important differences. Exposure depends on the shingle length and pitch, and it is shorter than for shakes. Spacing between shingles is narrower than between shakes.
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. A Flanders roofer can lay out samples of each so you can compare.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
New cedar roofs in Flanders go on everything from custom homes to additions that need to match an existing wood roof. Across Flanders and nearby towns like Budd Lake, Succasunna, Ledgewood and Chester, the key questions are the pitch of the roof, how much shade it gets and whether local rules call for fire-treated wood, and a good installer adjusts the system to the house.
For cedar shake roof installation in Flanders, NJ or nearby towns like Budd Lake, Succasunna, Ledgewood and Chester, call (862) 453-8002 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Flanders
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. Most homeowners in Flanders, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Flanders 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
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Shakes are rugged and heavy with deep shadow lines, and shingles are trim and even. Shakes get felt between courses, shingles rely on overlap.
What roof pitch do cedar shakes need?
A minimum of 4 in 12 is the common rule for shakes. Sawn shingles allow a bit less pitch if the exposure is shortened. Lower slopes need a different roofing system.
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
Whether to treat depends on moisture, shade and fire rules. Preservative treatment helps in wet climates, and fire treatment may be required by local code. A Flanders roofer can recommend the right combination.
What goes under a cedar shake roof?
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.
Are cedar shake roofs a fire risk?
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. Your roofer should confirm what your local code requires before you choose.
More questions? Call (862) 453-8002
Other services that may help
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
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
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Roof ventilation work that keeps the attic dry in winter and cooler in summer, 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 Flanders
Call (862) 453-8002 for a local roofer in Flanders and nearby towns.