Ridge caps
The ridge is capped and vented for balanced attic airflow.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Madison, NJ
A Madison 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 (862) 431-0046 to reach a local roofer.
A cedar roof lasts as long as the installation lets it dry. 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. Get them wrong and even premium cedar can rot early.
Before installation starts, you choose between shakes and shingles and pick a grade. Shakes are split, with a rough, textured face and thick butts, while cedar shingles are sawn smooth on both sides for a tighter, tailored look. Ask about grain and heartwood, since edge-grain heartwood cups and splits less.
Several outside factors decide how the system is built. Most codes require a minimum pitch for wood roofs, about 4 in 12 for shakes and 3 in 12 for shingles. Areas with wildfire risk may require fire-retardant treated shakes or a rated assembly, and some neighborhoods have their own rules on roofing material.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in Madison also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Dealing with this in Madison, NJ right now? Call (862) 431-0046 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Madison.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
Each layer of a cedar roof has a job.
Deck preparation
Shakes can go over spaced sheathing, boards with gaps that let air reach the back of the shakes, or over solid plywood with a breathable mat that creates the same airspace. Solid sheathing is usually required at the eaves where an ice barrier is needed.
Lay the starter course
The starter course is laid double, projecting past the fascia so water drips clear of the trim. Edge metal along the eave and rakes protects the wood trim.
Course by course
Between every course, a strip of felt sits partly under the shakes to stop wind-driven rain. 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
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.
Ridge caps
The ridge and hips get matched cedar caps laid in an alternating pattern. A ridge vent can go under the caps, paired with soffit vents for balanced attic airflow.
What is included
What a cedar installation covers
Sheathing
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Material selection
The style, grade and treatment are chosen with you so the look and lifespan match your goals.
Felt interlay
Felt strips are woven between every course of shakes as a second line of defense.
Wall flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing for a watertight finish.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Madison, NJ
Shingles give a cedar roof a cleaner, more uniform look, and their installation reflects that. 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. Shingles can be installed on spaced boards or on solid decking with a ventilated layer beneath. In Madison, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In Madison, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. For homes in Madison and nearby places including Florham Park, Chatham, Summit and Morristown, storms, sun and shade all affect which grade and treatment make sense, so a site visit comes before any material order.
For cedar shake roof installation in Madison, NJ or nearby towns like Florham Park, Chatham, Summit and Morristown, call (862) 431-0046 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
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, 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. Most homeowners in Madison, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Madison and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about cedar shake roof installation
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Shakes have at least one rough, split face and thicker butts, giving a rustic, textured roof, while shingles are sawn smooth on both faces for a neater look. 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. Cedar shingles can go on roofs as low as 3 in 12 with a shorter exposure. Lower slopes need a different roofing system.
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
That choice depends on where the house is and what grade you buy. Treated shakes last longer in humid or shady spots, and fire-treated ones may be mandatory in wildfire zones. A Madison roofer can recommend the right combination.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Untreated cedar is combustible, which is why fire-retardant treated shakes exist. Treated shakes over a rated underlayment can meet stricter local codes. Check local rules first, since some areas restrict untreated wood roofs.
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. The goal is a roof that sheds water but still lets the wood dry.
More questions? Call (862) 431-0046
Other services that may help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, 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, without tearing off the shakes that still have years left.
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
Roof ventilation work that keeps the attic dry in winter and cooler in summer, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Madison roofer about cedar shake roof installation
Call (862) 431-0046 to talk to a roofer serving Madison, NJ.