Cedar roofs
Cedar shingle and shake roofs in the Hudson Valley
Cedar suits porches, dormers, gambrels and the Shingle-style houses of the valley.
Cedar is commonly cited at 25 to 50 years, and less on a damp, shaded site. Shingles are sawn and even; shakes are split and rougher. Mariusz matches the width, the exposure and the pattern of what is on your house, so new courses sit beside old ones without a seam you have to look for.
What we do
Shingles or shakes, matched to the roof they join
Fish-scale and other cut patterns, when the house has them
Copper valleys, ridge and flashings
Repair of single courses, where the rest is sound
What cedar looks like
Shingles, shakes and what goes wrong
Cedar shingles
Sawn, tapered and even. The usual choice for older houses with a tidy, regular roof.
Cedar shakes
Split by hand or machine, thicker and rougher, with more shadow in every course.
Curling, splitting and moss
Curled and split cedar lets water in. A shaded, mossy roof stays wet and ages faster.
Looking after cedar
What a cedar roof asks of you
Keep it clean and dry
Take overhanging branches back, clear needles and leaves from the valleys, and treat moss before it lifts the edges.
Let it breathe
Cedar wants air under it. We check the ventilation and the underlayment before new shingles go on.
Ask about treatment and rules
Some towns and insurers have a view on untreated cedar. Ask yours, and we will write the answer into the estimate.
Questions
Cedar questions
How long does a cedar roof last?
Commonly 25 to 50 years, and less on a damp, shaded site. Moss, ventilation and the cut of the shingle all matter.
Can you mix new cedar with old?
Yes. We match width, exposure and pattern, and the new cedar weathers toward the old over a season or two.
Can cedar go over my old roof?
No. We strip to the boards and check them first, so the new roof starts on sound wood.
Ask Mariusz about your cedar
Send photos of the roof by text, or ask for a visit.