Sheathing
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes with solid decking at the eaves where needed.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Hillside, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Hillside means getting the slope, sheathing, interlay, spacing and fasteners right before the look of the wood even matters, so the roof sheds water and dries out between storms. Call (908) 562-6893 to reach a local roofer.
Most early cedar failures trace back to installation, not to the shakes. Every detail, from the side gaps to the nail type, exists so the shakes can get wet, dry out and move without leaking. Skip one of those details and the roof can start cupping, rotting or staining within a few seasons.
Choosing the material comes first, and the choices are wider than most owners expect. Heavy hand-split and resawn shakes give a rugged, deep shadow line, taper-sawn shakes look cleaner, and sawn shingles look neatest of all. The best grades are clear heartwood with edge grain, which stays flatter and resists splitting and decay better than flat grain.
Local rules and conditions narrow the options further. Most codes require a minimum pitch for wood roofs, about 4 in 12 for shakes and 3 in 12 for shingles. Wildfire codes, local permits and neighborhood rules can all affect which cedar product is allowed.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in Hillside also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Looking for Hillside cedar shake roof installation? Call (908) 562-6893 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Hillside.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof installation process
Here is how a roofer typically builds a new cedar roof.
Prepare the deck
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.
Lay the starter course
A strip of felt goes along the eave, then a doubled or tripled starter course of shakes or shingles overhangs the fascia by about an inch and a half. 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. Side gaps are kept even, joints are staggered from course to course and the exposure follows the length and the slope.
Nail each shake
Nails are stainless or heavily galvanized, two per shake, driven flush but not crushing the wood. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
Build the valleys
Valley metal goes down first, and shakes are trimmed back from the center so leaves and water can run freely. Step flashing at walls and flashing at skylights and vents go in as the courses rise.
Cap the ridge
Pre-formed or site-cut caps run along the hips and ridge, lapping in alternating directions. Balanced ventilation under a wood roof keeps both the attic and the shakes drier.
What is included
What goes into a cedar roof
Ridge ventilation
The ridge is capped and vented to keep moisture out of the attic.
Choosing the wood
The style, grade and treatment are chosen with you before any wood is ordered.
Wall flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing rather than relying on sealant.
Felt interlay
Felt strips are woven between every course of shakes as a second line of defense.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Hillside, NJ
Shingles give a cedar roof a cleaner, more uniform look, and their installation reflects that. Exposure depends on the shingle length and pitch, and it is shorter than for shakes. Side gaps are tighter too, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch.
Shingles are usually laid without interlay felt, since the overlap itself provides the coverage. Like shakes, shingles need air under them, so spaced boards or a breather mat are common. A Hillside roofer can lay out samples of each so you can compare.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
New cedar roofs in Hillside go on everything from custom homes to additions that need to match an existing wood roof. Across Hillside and nearby towns like Union, Elizabeth, Roselle Park and Vauxhall, the key questions are the pitch of the roof, how much shade it gets and whether local rules call for fire-treated wood, and a good installer adjusts the system to the house.
Need cedar shake roof installation around Hillside? Call (908) 562-6893 for a Hillside roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Hillside, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Hillside
Roofers in Hillside know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
The deck under cedar is designed to let air reach the back of the wood. On top of the deck, felt is woven between the courses of shakes, and the eaves get an ice and water membrane where ice is a risk. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Untreated cedar is combustible, which is why fire-retardant treated shakes exist. Treated shakes over a rated underlayment can meet stricter local codes. Local codes decide what is allowed, so ask before ordering.
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. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
They are related but not the same product. Shakes have at least one rough, split face and thicker butts, giving a rustic, textured roof, while shingles are sawn smooth on both faces for a neater look. They also install differently: shakes use felt interlay between courses and longer exposures, and shingles do not.
Do cedar shakes need a preservative treatment?
That choice depends on where the house is and what grade you buy. Treated shakes last longer in humid or shady spots, and fire-treated ones may be mandatory in wildfire zones. Ask about both kinds of treatment for your Hillside roof.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6893
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Tearing off worn cedar shakes, repairing the deck and putting on a new cedar or look-alike roof, planned around the material you choose next.
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
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet cedar shake roof installation help in Hillside
Call (908) 562-6893 to talk to a roofer serving Hillside, NJ.