Ridge ventilation
Cedar caps finish the hips and ridge, often over a ridge vent to keep moisture out of the attic.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Paramus, NJ
A Paramus roofer who installs wood roofs can lay new cedar shakes or shingles over solid or spaced sheathing, with open metal valleys and vented ridge caps, and walk you through the choices before any wood is ordered. Dial (551) 383-2304 to talk with a local roofer about a new cedar roof.
Most early cedar failures trace back to installation, not to the shakes. Every detail, from the side gaps to the nail type, exists so the shakes can get wet, dry out and move without leaking. Done right, a cedar roof can serve a home for 30 years or more.
The first decisions are the wood and the style. Split shakes look rustic and heavy, sawn shingles look trim and even, and taper-sawn shakes sit in between. The best grades are clear heartwood with edge grain, which stays flatter and resists splitting and decay better than flat grain.
Code and climate shape the rest. 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.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Paramus roofer may also recommend cedar shake roof replacement or cedar shake roof repair.
Looking for Paramus cedar shake roof installation? Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof installation process
A cedar roof is built in a specific order, from the deck up.
Set up the sheathing
The roofer installs either spaced 1x boards or solid sheathing covered with a ventilated underlayment mat. Where ice can build up, the eaves get a waterproof membrane over solid decking.
Lay the starter course
The starter course is laid double, projecting past the fascia so water drips clear of the trim. The rake edges overhang slightly too.
Install the shakes
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
Each shake gets two stainless steel or hot-dipped galvanized nails, about an inch in from each side and placed so the next course covers them. Low-grade fasteners can fail decades before the wood, so the nail choice matters.
Valley work
A wide open metal valley is installed, with shakes cut to a clean line on each side. Every penetration and wall line is flashed as the shakes go up.
Ridge caps
The ridge and hips get matched cedar caps laid in an alternating pattern. A ridge vent can go under the caps, paired with soffit vents for balanced attic airflow.
What is included
Parts of a new cedar roof
Material selection
Shakes or shingles, grade, length and thickness are picked for the house so the look and lifespan match your goals.
Sheathing
Spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat go down first to give nails a solid hold.
Valley flashing
Valleys, walls and penetrations get proper metal flashing for a watertight finish.
Underlayment
Each course gets its own strip of felt hidden from view but doing real work.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Installation Paramus, NJ
Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces, so they are thinner, smoother and installed a little differently than shakes. Shingles come in 16, 18 and 24 inch lengths and are laid with shorter exposures, often around 5 to 7 and a half inches depending on length and slope. Side gaps are tighter too, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch.
Unlike shakes, shingles do not get felt interlay between courses, because their tight, thin layering already gives three layers of wood coverage. Shingles can be installed on spaced boards or on solid decking with a ventilated layer beneath. In Paramus, ask the roofer to explain which product suits your slope and style.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation Near Me
New cedar roofs in Paramus go on everything from custom homes to additions that need to match an existing wood roof. From Paramus to neighboring communities such as Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford, a roofer will check permit rules and fire requirements before recommending a cedar product, so a site visit comes before any material order.
For cedar shake roof installation in Paramus, NJ or nearby towns like Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford, call (551) 383-2304 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a roof
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Paramus is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Paramus
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Paramus 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 shakes and cedar shingles the same thing?
The difference comes down to how they are cut. Shakes have at least one rough, split face and thicker butts, giving a rustic, textured roof, while shingles are sawn smooth on both faces for a neater look. They also install differently: shakes use felt interlay between courses and longer exposures, and shingles do not.
What kind of underlayment does a cedar roof need?
A cedar roof is built over either spaced boards or solid sheathing with a breathable mat. Felt interlay between courses and an eave membrane in cold areas complete the system. Airflow and drainage are the priorities.
Can cedar shakes be fire rated?
Fire-treated cedar is available for areas where fire is a concern. With treatment and the right underlayment, a cedar roof can reach a higher fire classification. Check local rules first, since some areas restrict untreated wood roofs.
Do cedar shakes need a preservative treatment?
Whether to treat depends on moisture, shade and fire rules. In damp, shaded areas, preservative-treated shakes resist moss and decay better, and in fire-prone areas, fire-retardant treatment may be required. A Paramus roofer can recommend the right combination.
How steep does a roof have to be for cedar shakes?
Cedar shakes need a slope of about 4 in 12 or more. Cedar shingles can go on roofs as low as 3 in 12 with a shorter exposure. Below those slopes, another material is the better choice.
More questions? Call (551) 383-2304
Related services
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Full replacement of worn-out wood roofs, from tear-off and sheathing to the new ridge, planned around the material you choose next.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Replacing split, cupped or missing shakes, clearing moss and fixing valleys and ridge caps, matched to what a close look at the roof actually finds.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn more
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Call (551) 383-2304 for a local roofer in Paramus and nearby towns.