When your home needs a new roof installed, you may want to consider cedar shakes roofing. Cedar shakes are a classic choice that gives your home a distinct beauty as well as an increased market value. Brush up on the basics about wood shakes roofing in order to better understand your residential roofing options.
Cedar Shakes Roofing: What You Should Know
Wood shakes are shingles that have been split to give them texture. Cedar shakes are often pressure treated to not only give your home character, but to protect against fire, insects, and decay. Cedar also contains its own natural oils that hamper decay and rot.
The butt end of a cedar shake is a bit thicker than a wooden shingle, giving it an increased life span. The length of life of your roof depends, of course, on the climate in which you live. However, the average cedar shake roof lasts for an impressive 30 to 40 years as long as it receives proper installation and care.
Cedar shake roofing is not only full of natural beauty, but is also appealing to environmentally conscious homeowners. Shakes are made from wood, a naturally occurring resource, and are thus biodegradeable materials and a renewable resource.
Consider your energy costs as you discuss your installation project with your roofing contractor. According to the USDA Forest Service, wood roofing provides a higher insulation value than the other leading roofing materials, including:
- Asphalt
- Aluminum
- Fiberglass
- Laminate
A high insulation value means you’ll need to expend less energy to heat or cool your home. Less energy spent translates into financial savings.
As cedar shakes are natural, they need breathing room to maintain their patina and function. Care for cedar shakes by removing stray branches, leaves, and miscellaneous debris from the roof on a regular basis. Clear the gutters and downspouts on your home with each change of season to prevent blockages that can create leaks and water damage. You may also want to treat your roof periodically to keep it in tip-top shape. Consult your roofing contractor for recommended maintenance products.
Considering Cedar Shakes Roofing Installation?
Contact All Roofing Solutions to learn more about cedar shake roofs or our long list of products and services. Proudly serving customers throughout Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, roofing has been our passion and our profession for more than 15 years.
Call 302-725-ROOF (7663) in Delaware or 610-551-ROOF (7663) in Pennsylvania to talk to one of our experienced roofing contractors or request your FREE ESTIMATE!