Underlayment
Felt strips are woven between every course of shakes hidden from view but doing real work.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Millburn, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Millburn 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. One call to (973) 858-1841 reaches a nearby cedar roof installer.
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.
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. 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 Millburn also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof installation in Millburn? Call (973) 858-1841 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
A cedar roof is built in a specific order, from the deck up.
Set up the sheathing
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. In cold areas, the lower edge gets solid sheathing and an ice and water barrier.
Start at the eaves
The starter course is laid double, projecting past the fascia so water drips clear of the trim. Drip edge metal is usually installed here as well.
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.
Fastening
Each shake gets two stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized nails, about an inch in from each side and placed so the next course covers them. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
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.
Finish the ridge
Pre-formed or site-cut caps run along the hips and ridge, lapping in alternating directions. Pairing a ridge vent with soffit intake keeps the attic dry and helps the shakes last.
What is included
What goes into a cedar roof
Choosing the wood
You pick between hand-split, resawn, taper-sawn and sawn options before any wood is ordered.
Deck layer
Sheathing is installed or repaired to suit a wood roof with solid decking at the eaves where needed.
Ridge ventilation
Hip and ridge caps go on last with longer nails for wind resistance.
Valley flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing rather than relying on sealant.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Millburn, NJ
Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces, so they are thinner, smoother and installed a little differently than shakes. Shingles come in 16, 18 and 24 inch lengths and are laid with shorter exposures, often around 5 to 7 and a half inches depending on length and slope. Spacing between shingles is narrower than between shakes.
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. A Millburn roofer can lay out samples of each so you can compare.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
New cedar roofs in Millburn go on everything from custom homes to additions that need to match an existing wood roof. For homes in Millburn and nearby places including Vauxhall, Springfield, Short Hills and Union, storms, sun and shade all affect which grade and treatment make sense, and a good installer adjusts the system to the house.
Searching for cedar shake roof installation near me from Millburn or Vauxhall, Springfield, Short Hills and Union? Call (973) 858-1841 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
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, 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 Millburn, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Millburn
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Millburn and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
Do cedar shakes need a preservative treatment?
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 Millburn roofer can recommend the right combination.
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Split shakes are thicker and more irregular, and sawn shingles are thinner, smoother and more uniform. They also install differently: shakes use felt interlay between courses and longer exposures, and shingles do not.
What goes under a cedar shake roof?
Underneath cedar, the deck must allow airflow. Felt interlay between courses and an eave membrane in cold areas complete the system. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
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. Below those slopes, another material is the better choice.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Fire-treated cedar is available for areas where fire is a concern. Treated shakes over a rated underlayment can meet stricter local codes. Check local rules first, since some areas restrict untreated wood roofs.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1841
Related services
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
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed cedar shake roof installation in Millburn, NJ?
Call (973) 858-1841 for a local roofer in Millburn and nearby towns.