Ridge caps
Hip and ridge caps go on last to keep moisture out of the attic.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Ridgewood, NJ
Installing a cedar shake roof in Ridgewood 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. Dial (551) 370-0363 to talk with a local roofer about a new cedar roof.
Most early cedar failures trace back to installation, not to the shakes. The wood has to breathe, swell and shrink, so spacing, sheathing and ventilation are designed in from the start. Skip one of those details and the roof can start cupping, rotting or staining within a few seasons.
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. Ask about grain and heartwood, since edge-grain heartwood cups and splits less.
Local rules and conditions narrow the options further. Most codes require a minimum pitch for wood roofs, about 4 in 12 for shakes and 3 in 12 for shingles. Your roofer should check the permit requirements, any fire rating rules and any neighborhood guidelines before ordering.
Depending on what the roofer finds, cedar shake roof installation in Ridgewood, NJ can go hand in hand with cedar shake roof replacement and cedar shake roof repair.
Looking for Ridgewood cedar shake roof installation? Call (551) 370-0363 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof installation process
Here is how a roofer typically builds a new cedar roof.
Set up the sheathing
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. 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. 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. 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
Nails are stainless or heavily galvanized, two per shake, driven flush but not crushing the wood. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
Build 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.
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
What goes into a cedar roof
Deck layer
The deck is built to let air reach the back of the shakes so the cedar can dry from both sides.
Underlayment
An interlay of felt sits under each course to stop wind-driven rain.
Wall flashing
Metal valleys and wall flashing are woven into the courses for a watertight finish.
Choosing the wood
The style, grade and treatment are chosen with you with fire and preservative treatment where needed.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Ridgewood, NJ
Shingles give a cedar roof a cleaner, more uniform look, and their installation reflects that. Because shingles are thinner, they use shorter exposures, so more layers overlap at any point on the roof. Side gaps are tighter too, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch.
Felt interlay is a shake detail, while shingles rely on overlap for protection. Shingles can be installed on spaced boards or on solid decking with a ventilated layer beneath. A Ridgewood roofer can lay out samples of each so you can compare.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
In Ridgewood, cedar installations are often chosen for craftsman, cottage and lodge style homes. From Ridgewood to neighboring communities such as Glen Rock, Midland Park, Waldwick and Hawthorne, a roofer will check permit rules and fire requirements before recommending a cedar product, and a good installer adjusts the system to the house.
Need cedar shake roof installation around Ridgewood? Call (551) 370-0363 for a Ridgewood roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back 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 Ridgewood is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Ridgewood and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Installation FAQ
Are cedar shake roofs a fire risk?
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.
What goes under a cedar shake roof?
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. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Shakes are rugged and heavy with deep shadow lines, and shingles are trim and even. Installation differs as well, with interlay felt used under shakes and tighter exposures used for shingles.
What roof pitch do cedar shakes need?
Cedar shakes need a slope of about 4 in 12 or more. Shingles can work on slightly lower slopes with reduced exposure. Below those slopes, another material is the better choice.
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. Ask about both kinds of treatment for your Ridgewood roof.
More questions? Call (551) 370-0363
Other services that may help
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
Repairs for split shakes, rot at the butts, moss buildup and leaking valleys on wood roofs, matched to what a close look at the roof actually finds.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet cedar shake roof installation help in Ridgewood
Call (551) 370-0363 for a local roofer in Ridgewood and nearby towns.