Cedar Roofs

All roofing materials have pros and cons associated with them, and cedar is no exception. But with cedar roofing, most homeowners find the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. However, choosing a cedar roof is an individual decision where the pros and cons of cedar shingles can vary depending on your individual needs. Some of these needs may be your climate, location, the home surroundings in terms of trees and sun exposure, your desired maintenance commitment and, of course, your budget.

Cedar Shingles Pros and Cons Overview

This chart gives a basic overview of the pros and cons of cedar shingles and cedar shakes.

Pros of Cedar Roofs	Cons of Cedar Roofs
Their exceptional beauty	Cost
Durability	Regular maintenance required
Resistant to severe storms
Energy efficiency

The Pros of Cedar Roofing

As the chart shows, there are many more pros to cedar roofs than cons. Perhaps the greatest advantage of all is the natural beauty of cedar and the way in which it gracefully ages into a beautiful grayish silver tone.

In terms of cost-savings, cedar wood is long-lasting, making it an ideal roofing material. Cedar lasts at least 10 years longer than common roofing materials, like asphalt. Cedar wood shingles and shakes are also resistant to strong winds and are durable in hurricanes, heavy rains, hail storms, snowstorms and other types of severe storms.

Cedar wood roofs are also energy efficient, providing a natural insulation up to two times that of asphalt shingles. This allows you to conserve home heating and cooling costs, and significantly save on energy bills.

Not to be overlooked are the benefits of using an eco-friendly roofing material. The Shake Guys are diligent about the environment when we harvest western red cedar to make our cedar shingles and shakes. We replace every tree we harvest with another and our processing techniques are kind to the environment.

Making Your Roofing Decision

Only you can decide whether the advantages of cedar wood roofing outweigh its disadvantages for your home. Of course, we are at your service to answer any questions you may have or to give you a customized quote for either a cedar shake roof or a cedar shingle roof.

AAC can help install and replace cedar shingles in your home, either as a sidewall or as a roof. Our roofers are the best in the business, and they will enhance the aesthetics of your home with these shingles.

Grain exposures of Cedar Shingles

Cedar shingles come in four different grain exposures to choose from. These grains determine the quality of the shingles and their long-term stability, so you must consider them when purchasing cedarwood.

Edge grain

Edge grains are considered the best and most stable since they are cut from the heart of the cedar tree, perpendicular to the growth ring and are allowed to slant at angles up to 45° from the vertical. 

Flat grain

Flat grains are considered the least stable and most likely to degrade or split because they expose a large proportion of the sapwood to the weather. They are cut parallel to the growth rings and are typically used for walls, re-roofing, or as a starter course. 

Slash grain

Just like edge grains, slash grains are cut perpendicular to the growth rings, but they slant more than 45° from the vertical. They are also highly unstable, so they are mainly used for outbuilding walls, garden sheds, and gazebos. 

Undercoursing

This grain level is treated as utility-grade material used for double-coursed sidewalls. It is not recommendable for use as a roofing material and or as a starter course for your roof.

If you’re still conflicted about which grain to use for your home projects, don’t worry. Our experts at AAC will put you through and advise you from a professional stand-point.

See Why Homeowners Choose Cedar Shingles for their Homes

Over the years, Universal Roofs has observed the reasons why homeowners opt for Cedar Shingles and we have decided to share some of them with you.

Durability

A properly installed cedar shingle roof can last up to 30 years in top form. Some may last for as long as 60 years if properly maintained. 

Eco-friendly

Cedar shingles are green roofing options because their wood comes from sustainable sources. Plus, they can be recycled as mulch when they get old, and there are no chemicals in cedar shingle processing. 

Lightweight

They are significantly more lightweight than clay tile roofs and slate tile roofs, and therefore do not require extra support on standard roof framing. 

Insulation

Cedar shingles possess amazing insulation properties/thermal resistance. This makes them energy-efficient roofing materials.

Ventilation

They ensure proper ventilation by allowing air circulation via the tiny openings under the felt rows on which cedar shingles are laid.

• They are naturally resistant to rot, mildew and insects.
• They can withstand strong winds, rain, and other tough weather conditions.
• Cedar shingles exist in a variety of end shapes such as diagonal, round, square, or diamond.
• They exude pleasant smells- an attribute of their natural oils.

We offer Cedar Shingle Maintenance Services

Yes, cedar shingles show high resistance to deterioration, but they tend to succumb after some decades. You can slow down this deterioration process with proper maintenance practices and to do this, you need the expertise of a first-class roofing company like AAC. Here are some of the maintenance practices for cedar shingles:

Cleaning

One of the most common maintenance practices for cedar shingles is cleaning. Cleaning mild stains often involves gentle scrubbing with water. Tougher stains, however, will require stronger solutions like bleach, mild chemicals, detergents, and other compounds.

Vegetation removal

Removing overhanging branches on your cedar shingles is another vital maintenance process. These branches may shade your roof from sunlight and prevent it from drying as it should. Overhanging branches also stand as a potential fire hazard. 

Moss Removal and Control

Mosses can cause some serious damage to your cedar shingles. They accumulate soil and debris on your roof, thereby causing the roof to get wet and remain wet for extended periods without dry off. These conditions will enhance the growth of wood-degrading fungi. Our roofers can help remove and control moss growths periodically to avoid losing your shingles to fungi. We are just a call away.

Fire retardant re-coating

The fire-retardant film on your cedar shingles need to be re-coated every now and then to reduce your risk of fire outbreaks. Our roofers can handle this procedure and ensure that you and your home are at no risk of fire.

Sooner or later, you will need to apply specific preservatives, solutions, fungicides, and other treatments to keep your shingles in good condition. Make it sooner and hire a competent roofing company like Universal Roofs to conduct thorough and professional maintenance practices on your shingles.