How Much Does a Cedar Shake Roof Cost?
3 pros!
On a 3,000-square-foot roof, homeowners pay between $16,000 to $20,000 to install cedar wood shake shingles. It works out to $5 to $7 per square foot. Shake roofing prices out between $500 to $700 for every 100 square feet, or “per square.” This includes labor and materials.
What are Cost Factors?
There are a few major factors that affect the cost of your cedar shake roof.
- Materials: If you want your roof to last, you'll have to pay 30-50 percent more for top-grade cedar. It’s less prone to cupping and curling and offers better insulation.
- Safety and access factors: A job that requires roofers to work on steep inclines or use a safety harness will cost more. The same is true if they must install around many fixtures like vents or chimney stacks.
- Skilled labor costs: Look for roofers who focus on cedar projects. They will cost more but know more about what kinds of fasteners and grain to use.
How Much Are Permits & Local Fees?
Building permits cost between $400-$1,700. Other local fees can apply to your roofing project at the state and city level. There are a two common scenarios where permits may come into play:
1. A major rebuild. You may need a permit if you're changing your home's structure or doing a full roof replacement.
2. Adding a room or building. Adding extra spaces to your home often requires a building permit. You might also need a land survey to make sure you're inside the property line.
What are the Differences Between Cedar Shake and Shingles?
Cedar shingles cost $6-$9 per square foot, or $9,000-$13,500 for a 1,500 square foot home. Though often confused with shake, they’re very different.
- They’re thinner. From 3/8-1/2 inches, compared with 1/2-3/4 inches for shakes.
- They’re machine-made. Shakes are still hand-made.
- Have a smooth, even look. Shakes are more rugged, with each piece a little different from the others.
- Used on different kinds of roof. Shakes can be used on steeper roofs than shingles.
- Not as durable. Shakes are thicker and made from better grades of cedar. Shingles last a maximum of 30 years.
Why Cedar Shake?
These traits make cedar shake a great choice for roofing:
- Long lasting: If it's installed well, a cedar shake roof should last 60 years or more with little need for repair. This lifespan and easy upkeep saves money long term.
- Natural beauty. Cedar has a gorgeous, stand out look. Each shake roof takes on a unique color.
- Weathers well. It holds up well in both heat and cold. It’s also a great insulator.
- Eco-friendly. A shake roof is easy to recycle at the end of its lifespan.
What is the Process?
Putting in cedar shakes is a long process that takes an expert. The roofer should be able to plan and carry out these phases:
1. Proper underlay and starting the build. The roofer should lay spaced sheathing since cedar needs to "breathe" to avoid water damage. They should build the roof inward from the eaves and flashing using rust-proof nails.
2. Getting it right. Shake comes with strict rules for spacing, lining up joints and offseting between rows. Proper alignment makes the roof more durable and a better insulator.
3. Working around chimneys and other fixtures.
4. Dealing with walls and roof valleys. The roofer needs to know how to work with grooves in the roof or flat vertical areas that need covering.
5. Clean-up and removal. A good roofer won't leave a mess at the end of a job. They'll clean up and remove waste and excess material.
What Happens to Fixtures & Skylights During a Roof Install?
You might find that roofers have different ideas when it comes to fixtures and skylights. Some prefer to replace them while others prefer to leave them. A lot can depend on what shape they're in and the fixtures' quality.
Above all, if a job involves tearing off old roofing, both old and new fixtures are in danger of being pulled out of place and damaged. This can let in leaks and lead to warping and rotting.
How Long Does a Cedar Shake Roof Last?
When the install is right, a cedar shake roof should last up to six decades. It will have a shorter lifespan if:
- The roofer doesn't use top grade cedar.
- It's not expertly installed.
- It isn't ventilated properly.
- It's secured with staples instead of nails.
How to Hire a Roofer?
For a longer-lived shake roof, avoid cutting costs or trying DIY installs. It's best to hire a local roofer - find your local Angie's List of roofers here. Look for certified services and check for solid client reviews. They should look and act professionally and have plenty of practice working with cedar.
In a hurry to get started on your roofing project? Quickly connect with three local roofers here.
Tips From The Pros
Roofers near you are great sources of information. We talked to Steve Hamer, Owner of Dr. Roof in Bellingham, Massachusetts. Here are some tips from Hamer:
- “It's much more labor intensive when you have cedar shake,” says Hamer. “You have to cull your shakes. You have to line them up so that the water channels, the gapping between the shakes, don't fall onto each other. It depends on the install.”
- “There are different takes to an install,” says Hamer. “You can do one that has 100 percent coverage of an ice and water barrier underneath the shake, but you still need to have a breathing barrier established. It's like a netting that goes underneath the shake. Or it can be done with wood slats, although that’s very, very labor intensive and very expensive to do.”
- “Our cost now is about $350 a measured square for a 10-by-10 section of quality cedar," says Hamer. “You can get lesser qualities, but a good quality cedar can go up to $800 a measured square for certain thicknesses and styles of the cedar.”
- “To do a 40-square-foot home with asphalt, with a standard crew, I can do between a day and a half,” says Hamer. “With cedar, it takes about six or seven days.”
- “You need to have it cleaned and defoliated because you get a lot of biological growth on there, a lot of vegetation,” says Hamer. “So, you need to go out and get those sprayed off. Some people put bleach on them. Some people seal them. You want to do that every three years maximum, but at least once every two to three years.”
