Choosing the wood
You pick between hand-split, resawn, taper-sawn and sawn options with fire and preservative treatment where needed.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Livingston, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Livingston means getting the slope, sheathing, interlay, spacing and fasteners right before the look of the wood even matters, and walk you through the choices before any wood is ordered. Call (973) 858-1821 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. Done right, a cedar roof can serve a home for 30 years or more.
The first decisions are the wood and the style. 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. The best grades are clear heartwood with edge grain, which stays flatter and resists splitting and decay better than flat grain.
Several outside factors decide how the system is built. Wood roofs need enough pitch to shed water quickly, generally 4 in 12 for shakes. Wildfire codes, local permits and neighborhood rules can all affect which cedar product is allowed.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation is often paired with cedar shake roof replacement and cedar shake roof repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for Livingston cedar shake roof installation? Call (973) 858-1821 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Livingston.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof installation process
Each layer of a cedar roof has a job.
Deck preparation
The deck is either open, spaced boards or solid sheathing with a drainage and airflow layer on top. In cold areas, the lower edge gets solid sheathing and an ice and water barrier.
Start at the eaves
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. 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.
Nail each shake
Two corrosion-resistant nails per shake are placed just above the line where the next course will lap, keeping them out of the weather. Plain steel or electro-galvanized nails rust and stain long before cedar wears out.
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
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 ventilation
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent with longer nails for wind resistance.
Sheathing
Spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat go down first with solid decking at the eaves where needed.
Wall flashing
Metal valleys and wall flashing are woven into the courses rather than relying on sealant.
Felt interlay
Felt strips are woven between every course of shakes to stop wind-driven rain.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Livingston, NJ
Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces, so they are thinner, smoother and installed a little differently than shakes. Because shingles are thinner, they use shorter exposures, so more layers overlap at any point on the roof. Spacing between shingles is narrower than between shakes.
Felt interlay is a shake detail, while shingles rely on overlap for protection. They can go over spaced sheathing or over solid sheathing with a breathable mat, and they work on slightly lower pitches than shakes. In Livingston, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
New cedar roofs in Livingston go on everything from custom homes to additions that need to match an existing wood roof. From Livingston to neighboring communities such as Roseland, Short Hills, Florham Park and Caldwell, a roofer will check permit rules and fire requirements before recommending a cedar product, and a good installer adjusts the system to the house.
For cedar shake roof installation in Livingston, NJ or nearby towns like Roseland, Short Hills, Florham Park and Caldwell, call (973) 858-1821 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. 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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Livingston is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Livingston know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about cedar shake roof installation
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.
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
Underneath cedar, the deck must allow airflow. 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. The goal is a roof that sheds water but still lets the wood dry.
Do cedar shakes need a preservative treatment?
That choice depends on where the house is and what grade you buy. In damp, shaded areas, preservative-treated shakes resist moss and decay better, and in fire-prone areas, fire-retardant treatment may be required. Your roofer can explain which options fit your Livingston home.
Are cedar shake roofs a fire risk?
Fire-treated cedar is available for areas where fire is a concern. 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 roof pitch do cedar shakes need?
A minimum of 4 in 12 is the common rule for shakes. Sawn shingles allow a bit less pitch if the exposure is shortened. Flatter roofs drain too slowly for wood.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1821
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, with the deck brought up to what the new roof needs.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Repairs for split shakes, rot at the butts, moss buildup and leaking valleys on wood roofs, so a sound cedar roof keeps shedding water.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Roof ventilation work that keeps the attic dry in winter and cooler in summer, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed cedar shake roof installation in Livingston, NJ?
Call (973) 858-1821 to talk to a roofer serving Livingston, NJ.