Cedar Shake Roof Installation

What This Service Involves

A cedar shake roof gives Pacific Northwest homes the rugged, textured look that pairs naturally with our forested neighborhoods and craftsman architecture. Our crews install Western red cedar over a properly ventilated, breathable underlayment so the wood can dry between our frequent rains instead of trapping moisture. We space and stagger each course by hand, using stainless or hot-dipped fasteners that resist the corrosion driven by our marine air. Proper attic ventilation and a spaced sheathing or vented mat are central to how we build, because airflow is what lets a shake roof reach its full lifespan here. The result is a roof that reads as authentic wood while standing up to the sustained damp of a Western Washington winter.

Benefits

Deep natural texture that complements PNW craftsman and forest-lot homes; Western red cedar offers real thermal and sound insulation under heavy rain; breathable installation lets shakes dry quickly between wet spells; stainless fasteners resist corrosion from marine air; a correctly built shake roof can outlast standard composition in shaded settings

Our Process

1) Inspect the deck, framing, and ventilation and confirm a breathable underlayment plan; 2) Install spaced sheathing or a vented mat plus ice-and-water protection at valleys and eaves; 3) Hand-lay each cedar course with staggered joints and corrosion-resistant fasteners; 4) Detail ridges, hips, and flashings, then walk the roof to verify exposure and drainage.

What Affects the Cost

Grade and cut of the cedar, from taper-sawn to premium hand-split; roof pitch, complexity, and number of valleys or dormers; extent of decking or ventilation upgrades needed for airflow; accessibility and staging on tree-lined or sloped lots; flashing, ridge, and specialty detailing at chimneys and skylights

Best Time of Year

Late spring through early fall gives the dry stretch cedar needs to seat and begin acclimating before the wet season returns.