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Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement South Orange, NJ
Replacing a cedar roof in South Orange starts with removing every old shake and strip of felt interlay, then fixing the boards underneath before the new roof goes on, so the new roof starts on solid, dry wood. Dial (973) 858-1859 to talk with a local roofer about replacing the roof.
There comes a stage when patching a wood roof just moves the leak. The shakes erode thinner every year, the butts rot, the nails rust through and the wood turns so brittle that a roofer cannot replace one shake without cracking three more. Replacement then protects the house instead of patching a roof with no life left.
Unlike some asphalt roofs, cedar has to come off completely. Covering old shakes traps wet wood under the new roof, leaves bumps and adds fuel load, which is why codes generally require a tear-off. Tear-off also lets the roofer see and fix every rotted board.
Most cedar roofs sit on spaced sheathing, and that affects every option. Spaced 1x boards suit cedar, but other roofing needs solid plywood or OSB, either laid over the boards or installed after they come out. Rotted boards are replaced either way.
Many cedar shake roof replacement calls in South Orange also turn up a need for cedar shake roof installation or cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof replacement in South Orange? Call (973) 858-1859 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in South Orange.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof replacement process
Here is how a roofer usually handles a full cedar replacement.
Choose the material
Before any tear-off, you decide what goes back on, since that choice decides whether the deck needs solid sheathing. Code and permit requirements are confirmed before work starts.
Protect the property
The crew protects landscaping, siding and windows and sets a dumpster close to the house. Spaced sheathing lets debris fall into the attic, so cover anything stored there.
Remove the old roof
The old shakes and felt are stripped section by section so the roof is never left open longer than needed. If an old asphalt layer was ever laid over the cedar, it comes off too.
Re-deck the roof
Rotted or split boards are replaced, and if the new roof is not cedar, plywood or OSB is laid over the spaced boards or in their place. A sound deck is what the new fasteners rely on.
Dry-in
Waterproof membrane at the eaves and valleys plus new underlayment protect the house before the finish roof goes on. The dry-in method depends on the new material.
Install the new roof
The new roof goes on with new valley metal, step flashing, pipe boots and ridge ventilation. The site is cleaned and swept with magnets before the crew leaves.
What is included
Parts of a cedar roof replacement
Old roof removal
All shakes, felt and old metal are stripped with debris hauled away.
Deck repair
The deck is repaired or sheathed solid before anything new goes on.
Debris removal
Old cedar, felt and nails are hauled away leaving the property clean.
Underlayment
The deck is dried in with fresh underlayment where water and ice gather.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Replacement South Orange, NJ
Cedar shingle roof replacement is common on older homes, where sawn shingles were the standard roof long before asphalt. Those roofs were usually laid on spaced boards, and some were later covered with a layer of asphalt shingles, so a tear-off can uncover more than one roof. Once the deck is bare, the roofer decides whether the boards can carry new shingles or need solid sheathing.
Replacing sawn shingles with new sawn shingles keeps the tight, even look of the original roof. Local design rules may limit what can replace a historic wood roof. For a South Orange home, the choice depends on the house, the budget and local guidelines.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Near Me
Cedar roofs around South Orange reach replacement age on older homes first, often after years of shade and moss. For homes in South Orange and nearby places including Vauxhall, East Orange, Union and Short Hills, storms and age decide the timing, and the house style decides the material, so it helps to see samples before the tear-off.
Searching for cedar shake roof replacement near me from South Orange or Vauxhall, East Orange, Union and Short Hills? Call (973) 858-1859 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a roof
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 South Orange, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in South Orange know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement FAQ
How long does a cedar roof replacement take?
The timeline is usually a few days to a week or more for bigger homes. Weather, deck repairs and roof size all affect the schedule. The roofer opens only as much roof each day as can be dried in before evening.
Will my roof deck need to be replaced?
That depends on what goes back on. New cedar can go on sound spaced boards, but asphalt shingles, metal and most synthetic products need solid plywood or OSB. Soft or split boards are replaced no matter what.
What are the alternatives to cedar shakes?
You can put cedar back or choose a material that looks like it. Synthetic or composite shakes imitate the look with less upkeep, architectural asphalt shingles cost less and are common, and metal or stone-coated steel lasts a long time. Most non-cedar options need solid sheathing.
Should I put a new cedar roof back on?
That comes down to what you want from the roof. Real cedar looks great and lasts decades with care, while look-alike materials trade some character for lower maintenance. Ask to compare cedar with alternatives first.
Can new roofing go over old cedar shakes?
Laying new material over shakes causes more problems than it solves. The shakes are uneven and hold moisture, so the new roof sits on a lumpy, damp base, and the old wood adds fuel load. A tear-off also lets the roofer fix the deck.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1859
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Installation
Installing cedar shakes or shingles with proper exposure, valleys, ridge caps and ventilation, so the wood can dry and last for decades.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Replacing split, cupped or missing shakes, clearing moss and fixing valleys and ridge caps, so a sound cedar roof keeps shedding water.
Learn moreRoof Replacement
A complete new roof from the deck up when repairs no longer make sense, with the old layers removed and the deck checked.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Replacing an aging shingle roof once repairs no longer hold, including permits, cleanup and a final check.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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