Full tear-off
Every layer comes off section by section.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Garfield, NJ
When cedar shakes in Garfield are thin, brittle and leaking in many places, replacement means a full tear-off and a new roof built from the deck up, with the deck matched to whatever comes next. One call to (551) 348-2856 reaches a nearby cedar roof replacement pro.
Cedar roofs reach a point where repair stops making sense. The shakes erode thinner every year, the butts rot, the nails rust through and the wood turns so brittle that a roofer cannot replace one shake without cracking three more. At that point a full replacement protects the sheathing and framing underneath.
Overlaying cedar shakes with new roofing is not a real option. Shakes are uneven and hold moisture, so anything laid on top sits on a lumpy, damp base, and most codes do not allow roofing over wood shakes. A full tear-off exposes the sheathing for a proper check.
Most cedar roofs sit on spaced sheathing, and that affects every option. If new cedar goes back on, sound spaced boards can stay, but switching to another material means sheathing the roof solid. Any soft or split boards are cut out and replaced.
Many cedar shake roof replacement calls in Garfield also turn up a need for cedar shake roof installation or cedar shake roof repair.
Dealing with this in Garfield, NJ right now? Call (551) 348-2856 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Garfield.
Call nowThe process
How cedar shake roof replacement works
Here is how a roofer usually handles a full cedar replacement.
Planning
The roofer inspects the deck from the attic, measures the roof and talks through new cedar versus synthetic shakes, architectural shingles or metal. Permits are pulled and any neighborhood or fire rules are checked.
Protect the property
The crew protects landscaping, siding and windows and sets a dumpster close to the house. Spaced sheathing lets debris fall into the attic, so cover anything stored there.
Remove the old roof
The crew removes the shakes, interlay, flashing and ridge caps, clearing the deck completely. If an old asphalt layer was ever laid over the cedar, it comes off too.
Sheathing work
The roofer replaces soft boards and adds solid sheathing where the new material requires it. Nothing else on the roof works if the deck is weak.
Lay underlayment
Ice and water membrane goes along the eaves and valleys, then underlayment covers the deck and new drip edge is installed. The dry-in method depends on the new material.
Final install
The new roof goes on with new valley metal, step flashing, pipe boots and ridge ventilation. A magnetic sweep of the yard and driveway picks up stray nails.
What is included
Parts of a cedar roof replacement
Debris removal
Debris is removed daily so the yard is safe to walk.
Sheathing
Damaged sheathing is renewed before anything new goes on.
Valley metal
All flashing is replaced, not reused so no old rusted metal remains.
Ice barrier
New underlayment and eave membrane protect the deck before the finish roof goes on.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Replacement Garfield, NJ
Sawn cedar shingles were once the default roof on many older houses, and many are now due for replacement. Many were built on open board decks, and some were roofed over decades ago, which means two layers to remove. After tear-off, the roof deck is inspected and brought up to standard.
New cedar shingles restore the tailored, historic appearance many owners want to keep. Local design rules may limit what can replace a historic wood roof. Ask a Garfield roofer to compare new cedar shingles with look-alike options for your home.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Near Me
Many cedar roofs being replaced in Garfield are the original wood on homes several decades old. From Garfield to neighboring communities such as Lodi, Elmwood Park, Wallington and Passaic, the choice between new cedar and a look-alike often comes down to upkeep, fire rules and neighborhood style, so it helps to see samples before the tear-off.
Need cedar shake roof replacement around Garfield? Call (551) 348-2856 for a Garfield roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Garfield, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Garfield know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement questions
Will my roof deck need to be replaced?
That depends on what goes back on. New cedar can go on sound spaced boards, but asphalt shingles, metal and most synthetic products need solid plywood or OSB. Damaged boards always get replaced.
Can new roofing go over old cedar shakes?
Covering cedar shakes with a new roof is not a sound approach. The old wood stays damp under the new layer and the surface is too uneven to lay flat. Removing the old roof is the right first step.
What can I replace my cedar shake roof with?
New cedar is one option, but there are several others. Synthetic or composite shakes imitate the look with less upkeep, architectural asphalt shingles cost less and are common, and metal or stone-coated steel lasts a long time. Most non-cedar options need solid sheathing.
How many days does it take to replace a cedar roof?
The timeline is usually a few days to a week or more for bigger homes. Cedar tear-offs produce a lot of debris, and re-decking adds time. The roofer opens only as much roof each day as can be dried in before evening.
Should I put a new cedar roof back on?
That comes down to what you want from the roof. New cedar keeps the natural look and suits many older homes, but it needs regular cleaning and some care to reach its full life. Seeing samples side by side helps.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2856
Related services
Cedar Shake Roof Installation
Installing cedar shakes or shingles with proper exposure, valleys, ridge caps and ventilation, so the wood can dry and last for decades.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Cedar roof repairs from single cracked shakes up to worn ridge caps and open valleys, matched to what a close look at the roof actually finds.
Learn moreRoof Replacement
Replacing an aging roof with new underlayment, flashing, vents and roofing, built to current code from the decking out.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Tearing off a worn shingle roof down to the decking and putting on a new one, including permits, cleanup and a final check.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet cedar shake roof replacement help in Garfield
Call (551) 348-2856 to talk to a roofer serving Garfield, NJ.