Considering A Cedar Shake Roof? Know These 4 Things
Is your home in need of a new roof, and you want to use the opportunity to switch up the material that you use? Here are a few key things to know about cedar shake roofs before you make a decision about this roofing product.
What Are Cedar Shakes Made Of?
What makes cedar shakes so unique is that they are made out of natural wood material. It is not artificial and designed to look like real wood. Cedar shake roofing material is often hand split so that it does not look uniform in shape, which gives the roof some depth when you view it from the ground. It is possible to get cedar roofing material that is sawn cut so that it is uniform and smooth. However, that hand split look is the reason why cedar shakes are so popular.
What Kinds Of Cedar Shakes Are Available?
You'll notice that cedar shakes are divided up into three main categories. These are 100% straight grain, common, and select. When you buy common cedar shakes, it's essentially when a log is cut into the shakes and you can get various qualities of roofing material with potential imperfections. Select material is when the bad shakes are removed so that you have higher quality material. 100% straight grain shakes come from a certain part of the tree, which ensures that the grain is straight. The reason you may want 100% straight grain shakes is because the material has a lower chance of curling or splitting.
What Is The Longevity Of Cedar Shakes?
The lifespan of cedar shakes really depends on what kind of climate that your home lives in. A more humid climate can reduce the lifespan of cedar shakes, while a dry climate can give them more longevity. On average, you can expect to get around 30 years of life out of your cedar shake roof before it needs to be replaced.
In addition, the kind of cedar shake roof that you have will also play a factor in its lifespan. That 100% straight grain material is going to last longer than the select or common material, which can have defects.
What Factors Impact The Price Of Cedar Shakes?
Know that the quality of the material will have the biggest impact on the cost of your new roof, since 100% straight grain is going to cost more than select, which costs more than common shakes. However, the installation of all three materials is very similar. You shouldn't have any increased labor cost just because you selected one kind of cedar shake material.
Contact a roofing contractor for more information.