Felt interlay
Each course gets its own strip of felt to stop wind-driven rain.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Closter, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Closter 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. Dial (551) 395-0646 to talk with a local roofer about a new cedar roof.
A cedar roof lasts as long as the installation lets it dry. 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.
Before installation starts, you choose between shakes and shingles and pick a grade. Split shakes look rustic and heavy, sawn shingles look trim and even, and taper-sawn shakes sit in between. Top grades use edge-grain heartwood with no knots, the most stable wood for a roof.
Code and climate shape the rest. Shakes need a slope of at least 4 in 12 under most codes, while shingles can go on slightly lower slopes with reduced exposure. Areas with wildfire risk may require fire-retardant treated shakes or a rated assembly, and some neighborhoods have their own rules on roofing material.
Depending on what the roofer finds, cedar shake roof installation in Closter, NJ can go hand in hand with cedar shake roof replacement and cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof installation in Closter? Call (551) 395-0646 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a cedar roof installation
Each layer of a cedar roof has a job.
Prepare the deck
The deck is either open, spaced boards or solid sheathing with a drainage and airflow layer on top. Where ice can build up, the eaves get a waterproof membrane over solid decking.
Lay the starter course
The starter course is laid double, projecting past the fascia so water drips clear of the trim. The rake edges overhang slightly too.
Lay the field
Between every course, a strip of felt sits partly under the shakes to stop wind-driven rain. Side gaps are kept even, joints are staggered from course to course and the exposure follows the length and the slope.
Fasten correctly
Each shake gets two stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized nails, about an inch in from each side and placed so the next course covers them. Plain steel or electro-galvanized nails rust and stain long before cedar wears out.
Valley work
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
Hips and ridges are covered with cedar caps that alternate their overlap, nailed with longer fasteners into solid wood. A ridge vent can go under the caps, paired with soffit vents for balanced attic airflow.
What is included
Parts of a new cedar roof
Ridge caps
Hip and ridge caps go on last to keep moisture out of the attic.
Valley flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing rather than relying on sealant.
Material selection
You pick between hand-split, resawn, taper-sawn and sawn options with fire and preservative treatment where needed.
Deck layer
Spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat go down first with solid decking at the eaves where needed.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Closter, NJ
Cedar shingle roof installation follows the same principles as shakes, with a few important differences. 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. Side gaps are tighter too, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch.
Unlike shakes, shingles do not get felt interlay between courses, because their tight, thin layering already gives three layers of wood coverage. They can go over spaced sheathing or over solid sheathing with a breathable mat, and they work on slightly lower pitches than shakes. In Closter, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
Homeowners in Closter who choose cedar usually want a natural look that newer materials only imitate. For homes in Closter and nearby places including Demarest, Norwood, Harrington Park and Haworth, storms, sun and shade all affect which grade and treatment make sense, which is why the planning step matters so much.
Searching for cedar shake roof installation near me from Closter or Demarest, Norwood, Harrington Park and Haworth? Call (551) 395-0646 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. That is why roof repair in Closter is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
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 Closter know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
Treatment depends on the climate and the grade of wood. Treated shakes last longer in humid or shady spots, and fire-treated ones may be mandatory in wildfire zones. Your roofer can explain which options fit your Closter home.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Cedar can be made far more fire resistant with pressure-impregnated treatment. Treated shakes, often combined with a special underlayment, can meet higher fire ratings required in some wildfire areas. Check local rules first, since some areas restrict untreated wood roofs.
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
Shakes are split from the log, while shingles are sawn. 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.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
Most codes call for at least 4 in 12 for cedar shakes. Cedar shingles can go on roofs as low as 3 in 12 with a shorter exposure. Lower slopes need a different roofing system.
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
A cedar roof is built over either spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat. Shakes also get strips of felt interlay woven between each course, and an ice barrier goes along the eaves in cold climates. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
More questions? Call (551) 395-0646
Other services that may help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, when the old shakes are too thin to repair.
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
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
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?
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Call (551) 395-0646 to talk to a roofer serving Closter, NJ.