Cedar Shake Roofing, Installed Right and Explained Honestly.
Real cedar has a natural look and texture that engineered materials still try to copy. It also asks for a careful install and steady upkeep. We'll give you the full picture before you commit.
01 / Cedar Shake Roofing
A Natural Wood Roof, Done the Way Cedar Needs to Be Done.
Cedar shake roofing has a look that’s hard to match. The natural texture, the color variation, and the way cedar weathers into its surroundings is something engineered materials have always tried to copy. For the right home, with an owner who’s ready to maintain it properly, a real cedar roof holds its character for decades.
RX Roofing & Construction installs cedar shake roofing on homes throughout the Chicago area. We have worked on the homes in this market for years, we are careful about what proper cedar installation takes, and we’ll give you an honest picture of what owning a cedar roof really means before you decide.
02 / What Cedar Shake Roofing Is
Two Forms of Cedar, One Natural Material.
Cedar roofing comes in two primary forms. Both perform similarly against the weather, so the choice usually comes down to the look you want and the architecture of your home.
Cedar Shakes
Shakes are hand-split on one side and sawn or split on the other, which gives a rough, uneven texture with visible grain and natural variation. They’re thicker at the butt end and taper toward the top. That irregular, organic surface is what most people picture when they think of a cedar roof.
Cedar Shingles
Shingles are sawn smooth on both sides and taper more evenly. The result is a cleaner, more refined look that suits formal and traditional styles. They’re thinner than shakes and tend to be used where a more tailored appearance is the goal.
Both forms hold up well against the weather. The decision between shakes and shingles really comes down to the architecture of your home and the visual character you’re after. We’ll help you weigh it.
03 / Why Homeowners Choose Cedar
What People Like About a Real Cedar Roof.
Natural Appearance
Cedar has a warmth and an organic variation that no manufactured material fully copies. The grain, the color shifts, and the way it weathers over time give a cedar roof a look that reads as the real thing.
Insulating Properties
Cedar is a natural insulator. A cedar roof carries a measurably higher insulation value than asphalt, which can help with energy efficiency, especially on older homes that don’t have much attic insulation.
Long Life With Proper Care
A well-maintained cedar roof in this climate can last a long time. The key words are well-maintained. Cedar is a living material, and without the right care it wears out faster than it should.
Fits Larger Homes
On large or older homes, cedar shake is often the material that matches the architecture. Matching the existing roof on a partial replacement, or redoing the whole roof in the same look, is a common reason homeowners call us.
Cedar Asks for More Attention Than Asphalt. Here's the Truth.
Cedar is a beautiful material, but it's not a set-it-and-forget-it roof. There are real things you should know before you choose it, and we'd rather you hear them from us up front than learn them later.
- PERIODIC CLEANING TO STOP MOSS, ALGAE, AND LICHEN
- WOOD PRESERVATIVE TREATMENTS ON A SCHEDULE
- REGULAR CHECKS FOR SPLIT OR CUPPED SHAKES
- KEEPING VALLEYS CLEAR OF DEBRIS
04 / Maintenance Matters
A Cedar Roof Does Best With a Real Care Plan.
Cedar needs periodic cleaning to prevent moss, algae, and lichen growth. All three hold moisture against the wood and speed up wear. In shaded spots, or in our Midwest climate where roofs stay damp for long stretches, that growth can take hold within a few years if the roof isn’t treated.
Wood preservative treatments, applied on a schedule, add real years to a cedar roof by cutting down moisture absorption and resisting the biological growth that causes early wear. Skipping the treatments shortens the roof’s useful life.
Cedar also does best with an annual or twice-a-year maintenance visit to check for split or cupped shakes, failed flashing, and debris piling up in the valleys. Catching these early keeps small problems from turning into big ones.
If you choose cedar, plan on a maintenance relationship with a qualified roofing contractor. Our roof maintenance service covers cedar roofs specifically, and we’ll walk you through what to expect from a maintenance schedule when we install the roof.
05 / Installation Quality
On Cedar, the Install Is Everything.
Cedar is an unforgiving material when it’s put on wrong. Incorrect exposure, poor fastening, weak underlayment, and bad ventilation all cut years off a cedar roof, and some of those mistakes can even void the warranty on the material itself.
We install cedar shake and shingle roofing to manufacturer specifications: proper underlayment, the correct exposure for your climate zone, and the right fastening patterns. The install is where the difference between a 20-year cedar roof and a 40-year cedar roof is mostly made.
- Installed to manufacturer specifications
- Correct exposure and fastening for our climate
- Proper underlayment and ventilation
06 / Is Cedar Right for Your Home?
When Cedar Makes Sense, and When It Might Not.
Cedar is a great fit for some homes and the wrong call for others. Here’s how we think about it, and an option for homeowners who love the look but not the upkeep.
Want the Look, Not the Upkeep?
If you want the visual character of cedar without the maintenance, DaVinci composite roofing is a strong alternative. It copies cedar’s appearance with engineered materials and far less long-term upkeep. We install both, and we’re happy to walk you through the comparison side by side.
07 / Common Questions
Cedar Roofing Questions, Answered Straight.
Shakes are hand-split, so they have a rough, uneven texture with lots of grain and variation. Shingles are sawn smooth on both sides for a cleaner, more tailored look. Both hold up similarly to weather, so the choice comes down to the look you want and your home’s architecture.
More than asphalt. Cedar needs periodic cleaning to stop moss, algae, and lichen, wood preservative treatments on a schedule, and a check once or twice a year for split or cupped shakes, failed flashing, and debris in the valleys. With that care, cedar lasts a long time. Without it, it wears out early.
A well-maintained cedar roof in this climate can have a long useful life. Proper installation and steady upkeep are what stretch it. A good install with the right exposure, fastening, underlayment, and ventilation is the difference between a 20-year roof and a 40-year roof.
Yes. DaVinci composite roofing copies the look of cedar shake using engineered materials, with much less long-term upkeep and strong impact resistance. If you love the cedar look but don’t want the cleaning and treatments, it’s worth a look. We install both and can compare them for your home.
Yes. We back our work with a workmanship warranty, and the cedar material itself carries the manufacturer’s warranty when it’s installed to spec. Improper installation can void that material coverage, which is one more reason the install quality matters so much on cedar.
08 / Get Started
Get a Cedar Shake Roofing Estimate.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation and inspection, or call us at (224) 518-0278. We’ll look at your home, your existing roof, and your goals, and give you an honest recommendation on the right material. You can also use our instant estimate tool for a preliminary figure. For the full list of roofing options we offer, see our residential roofing page. We’re available Monday to Friday 7am to 7pm and Saturday 7am to 5pm.