Valley flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing rather than relying on sealant.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Mountainside, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Mountainside 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) 728-6030 to reach a local roofer.
How a cedar roof is put on matters more than the wood itself. Every detail, from the side gaps to the nail type, exists so the shakes can get wet, dry out and move without leaking. Get them wrong and even premium cedar can rot early.
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. Top grades use edge-grain heartwood with no knots, the most stable wood for a roof.
Code and climate shape the rest. Most codes require a minimum pitch for wood roofs, about 4 in 12 for shakes and 3 in 12 for shingles. Areas with wildfire risk may require fire-retardant treated shakes or a rated assembly, and some neighborhoods have their own rules on roofing material.
Many cedar shake roof installation calls in Mountainside also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Looking for Mountainside cedar shake roof installation? Call (908) 728-6030 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Mountainside.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof installation works
A cedar roof is built in a specific order, from the deck up.
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.
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.
Course by course
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.
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. 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. Step flashing at walls and flashing at skylights and vents go in as the courses rise.
Finish the ridge
The ridge and hips get matched cedar caps laid in an alternating pattern. Balanced ventilation under a wood roof keeps both the attic and the shakes drier.
What is included
What a cedar installation covers
Ridge ventilation
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent with longer nails for wind resistance.
Material selection
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house before any wood is ordered.
Underlayment
Felt strips are woven between every course of shakes to stop wind-driven rain.
Sheathing
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Mountainside, 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. Spacing between shingles is narrower than between shakes.
Unlike shakes, shingles do not get felt interlay between courses, because their tight, thin layering already gives three layers of wood coverage. Like shakes, shingles need air under them, so spaced boards or a breather mat are common. For a Mountainside 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 Mountainside, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. For homes in Mountainside and nearby places including Westfield, Summit, New Providence and Garwood, storms, sun and shade all affect which grade and treatment make sense, which is why the planning step matters so much.
For cedar shake roof installation in Mountainside, NJ or nearby towns like Westfield, Summit, New Providence and Garwood, call (908) 728-6030 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Mountainside
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Mountainside, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Mountainside know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. 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 goes under a cedar shake roof?
A cedar roof is built over either spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat. Felt interlay between courses and an eave membrane in cold areas complete the system. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
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.
Should new cedar shakes be treated?
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. Your roofer can explain which options fit your Mountainside home.
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. Check local rules first, since some areas restrict untreated wood roofs.
More questions? Call (908) 728-6030
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, planned around the material you choose next.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Replacing split, cupped or missing shakes, clearing moss and fixing valleys and ridge caps, 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, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, so shingles and decking last as long as they should.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed cedar shake roof installation in Mountainside, NJ?
Call (908) 728-6030 for a local roofer in Mountainside and nearby towns.