Deck repair
The deck is repaired or sheathed solid so fasteners hold firmly.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Hillside, NJ
When cedar shakes in Hillside are thin, brittle and leaking in many places, replacement means a full tear-off and a new roof built from the deck up, with the deck matched to whatever comes next. Call (908) 562-6893 to reach a local roofer.
There comes a stage when patching a wood roof just moves the leak. Once shakes are paper thin at the butts, curling across whole slopes and breaking at a touch, the roof is done even if it only leaks in a few spots. That is when replacing the roof costs less over time than chasing leaks.
A wood roof cannot be covered over. Shakes are uneven and hold moisture, so anything laid on top sits on a lumpy, damp base, and most codes do not allow roofing over wood shakes. A full tear-off exposes the sheathing for a proper check.
Most cedar roofs sit on spaced sheathing, and that affects every option. If new cedar goes back on, sound spaced boards can stay, but switching to another material means sheathing the roof solid. Any soft or split boards are cut out and replaced.
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement is often paired with cedar shake roof installation and cedar shake roof repair, depending on the cause.
Need cedar shake roof replacement in Hillside? Call (908) 562-6893 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Hillside.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof replacement process
A cedar replacement is a bigger tear-off than most roofs.
Choose the material
Before any tear-off, you decide what goes back on, since that choice decides whether the deck needs solid sheathing. Local permits and any material rules are confirmed.
Site prep
Tarps and plywood cover plants, decks and walkways, because cedar tear-offs throw off heavy debris and thousands of old nails. 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. Any older layers found underneath are removed at the same time.
Re-deck the roof
The roofer replaces soft boards and adds solid sheathing where the new material requires it. This is the step that makes the new roof flat and secure.
Lay underlayment
Waterproof membrane at the eaves and valleys plus new underlayment protect the house before the finish roof goes on. For new cedar, a breathable mat or spaced boards keep air moving under the shakes.
Install the new roof
The finish roof is laid with new metal at valleys and walls and a vented ridge. Cleanup includes rolling a magnet over the lawn for nails.
What is included
What a cedar replacement covers
Valley metal
All flashing is replaced, not reused for a watertight finish.
Underlayment
The deck is dried in with fresh underlayment under the new roof.
Cleanup
Debris is removed daily and stray nails are collected.
Old roof removal
All shakes, felt and old metal are stripped so the deck can be inspected.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Replacement Hillside, NJ
Older homes often have sawn cedar shingles rather than split shakes, and replacing them follows the same tear-off logic. It is common to find original shingles hidden under a later asphalt roof, both of which come off. 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. Some historic districts require it, while others accept materials that imitate wood. A roofer in Hillside can help you weigh the look, the upkeep and the rules before you decide.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Near Me
In Hillside, cedar replacement calls usually come from homes whose shakes have worn thin after many seasons. Across Hillside and nearby towns like Union, Elizabeth, Roselle Park and Vauxhall, some owners put cedar back to keep the look while others switch to synthetic shakes, architectural shingles or metal, which is worth talking through before any work begins.
Searching for cedar shake roof replacement near me from Hillside or Union, Elizabeth, Roselle Park and Vauxhall? Call (908) 562-6893 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Hillside
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 Hillside, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
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 Replacement questions
What are the alternatives to cedar shakes?
Several materials can replace a cedar roof. Common choices are new cedar, polymer shakes, architectural shingles and metal shake panels. Most non-cedar options need solid sheathing.
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 roof is never left open overnight.
Is it worth replacing cedar with cedar?
The choice depends on the look, maintenance and rules in your area. Real cedar looks great and lasts decades with care, while look-alike materials trade some character for lower maintenance. Seeing samples side by side helps.
Can new roofing go over old cedar shakes?
Roofing over cedar shakes is a bad idea and is not allowed under most codes. The old wood stays damp under the new layer and the surface is too uneven to lay flat. A tear-off also lets the roofer fix the deck.
Do I need new sheathing when replacing a cedar roof?
That depends on what goes back on. If you switch from cedar, the roof will need solid sheathing. Damaged boards always get replaced.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6893
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Installation
Installing cedar shakes or shingles with proper exposure, valleys, ridge caps and ventilation, with every layer chosen before the first shake goes on.
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 Replacement
Full tear-off and replacement for roofs that are worn out, storm beaten or leaking in several places, with the old layers removed and the deck checked.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Full shingle roof replacement, from tear-off and deck repair to new shingles and flashing, so the new roof starts on a sound, dry deck.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Hillside roofer about cedar shake roof replacement
Call now for Hillside cedar shake roof replacement and help in the towns around it.