Deck layer
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Short Hills, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Short Hills means getting the slope, sheathing, interlay, spacing and fasteners right before the look of the wood even matters, which is what lets cedar last for decades instead of years. Call (862) 424-5211 to reach a local roofer.
A cedar roof lasts as long as the installation lets it dry. The wood has to breathe, swell and shrink, so spacing, sheathing and ventilation are designed in from the start. Done right, a cedar roof can serve a home for 30 years or more.
Before installation starts, you choose between shakes and shingles and pick a grade. Shakes are split, with a rough, textured face and thick butts, while cedar shingles are sawn smooth on both sides for a tighter, tailored look. Ask about grain and heartwood, since edge-grain heartwood cups and splits less.
Several outside factors decide how the system is built. Shakes need a slope of at least 4 in 12 under most codes, while shingles can go on slightly lower slopes with reduced exposure. Wildfire codes, local permits and neighborhood rules can all affect which cedar product is allowed.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Short Hills roofer may also recommend cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Looking for Short Hills cedar shake roof installation? Call (862) 424-5211 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Short Hills.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a cedar roof installation
Each layer of a cedar roof has a job.
Deck preparation
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. Where ice can build up, the eaves get a waterproof membrane over solid decking.
Starter course
The first course is doubled so the gaps in the top layer never line up with gaps in the layer below. Edge metal along the eave and rakes protects the wood trim.
Lay the field
Between every course, a strip of felt sits partly under the shakes to stop wind-driven rain. Shakes are spaced about three eighths to five eighths of an inch apart, side joints are offset at least an inch and a half from the course below and the exposure stays even, often 10 inches for 24 inch shakes.
Fasten correctly
Two corrosion-resistant nails per shake are placed just above the line where the next course will lap, keeping them out of the weather. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
Flash the valleys
Valley metal goes down first, and shakes are trimmed back from the center so leaves and water can run freely. Walls, skylights and vent pipes get their own flashing woven into the courses.
Ridge caps
Pre-formed or site-cut caps run along the hips and ridge, lapping in alternating directions. A ridge vent can go under the caps, paired with soffit vents for balanced attic airflow.
What is included
What a cedar installation covers
Material selection
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house so the look and lifespan match your goals.
Valley flashing
Open metal valleys and step flashing are installed as the roof goes up for a watertight finish.
Felt interlay
An interlay of felt sits under each course hidden from view but doing real work.
Ridge ventilation
Hip and ridge caps go on last with longer nails for wind resistance.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Short Hills, NJ
Shingles give a cedar roof a cleaner, more uniform look, and their installation reflects that. Shingles come in 16, 18 and 24 inch lengths and are laid with shorter exposures, often around 5 to 7 and a half inches depending on length and slope. The keyways between shingles are kept narrow but never closed.
Felt interlay is a shake detail, while shingles rely on overlap for protection. Like shakes, shingles need air under them, so spaced boards or a breather mat are common. For a Short Hills home, the right choice between shakes and shingles comes down to the look you want and the pitch you have.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In Short Hills, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. From Short Hills to neighboring communities such as Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham, a roofer will check permit rules and fire requirements before recommending a cedar product, so a site visit comes before any material order.
For cedar shake roof installation in Short Hills, NJ or nearby towns like Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham, call (862) 424-5211 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the 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 Short Hills, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Short Hills and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation questions
Are cedar shake roofs a fire risk?
Cedar can be made far more fire resistant with pressure-impregnated treatment. With treatment and the right underlayment, a cedar roof can reach a higher fire classification. Your roofer should confirm what your local code requires before you choose.
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Split shakes are thicker and more irregular, and sawn shingles are thinner, smoother and more uniform. Shakes get felt between courses, shingles rely on overlap.
What roof pitch do cedar shakes need?
Cedar shakes need a slope of about 4 in 12 or more. Sawn shingles allow a bit less pitch if the exposure is shortened. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
Do cedar shakes need a preservative treatment?
Treatment depends on the climate and the grade of wood. Preservative treatment helps in wet climates, and fire treatment may be required by local code. Ask about both kinds of treatment for your Short Hills roof.
What goes under a cedar shake roof?
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. Everything under the shakes is chosen so the wood can breathe.
More questions? Call (862) 424-5211
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, with the deck brought up to what the new roof needs.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Cedar roof repairs from single cracked shakes up to worn ridge caps and open valleys, without tearing off the shakes that still have years left.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Fixing hot, damp or poorly vented attics with the right mix of intake and exhaust, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed cedar shake roof installation in Short Hills, NJ?
Call (862) 424-5211 for a local roofer in Short Hills and nearby towns.