Valley metal
Fresh flashing goes in at every penetration matched to the new roof.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Paramus, NJ
When cedar shakes in Paramus are thin, brittle and leaking in many places, replacement means a full tear-off and a new roof built from the deck up, whether that is new cedar or a different material. Dial (551) 383-2304 to talk with a local roofer about replacing the roof.
There comes a stage when patching a wood roof just moves the leak. Once shakes are paper thin at the butts, curling across whole slopes and breaking at a touch, the roof is done even if it only leaks in a few spots. At that point a full replacement protects the sheathing and framing underneath.
A wood roof cannot be covered over. Covering old shakes traps wet wood under the new roof, leaves bumps and adds fuel load, which is why codes generally require a tear-off. A full tear-off exposes the sheathing for a proper check.
The deck is the biggest question in a cedar replacement. If new cedar goes back on, sound spaced boards can stay, but switching to another material means sheathing the roof solid. Damaged boards are swapped before anything new goes on.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Paramus roofer may also recommend cedar shake roof installation or cedar shake roof repair.
Need cedar shake roof replacement in Paramus? Call (551) 383-2304 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a cedar roof replacement
A cedar replacement is a bigger tear-off than most roofs.
Planning
The roofer inspects the deck from the attic, measures the roof and talks through new cedar versus synthetic shakes, architectural shingles or metal. Local permits and any material rules are confirmed.
Site prep
Tarps and plywood cover plants, decks and walkways, because cedar tear-offs throw off heavy debris and thousands of old nails. Spaced sheathing lets debris fall into the attic, so cover anything stored there.
Tear-off
The crew removes the shakes, interlay, flashing and ridge caps, clearing the deck completely. Any older layers found underneath are removed at the same time.
Re-deck the roof
Rotted or split boards are replaced, and if the new roof is not cedar, plywood or OSB is laid over the spaced boards or in their place. A sound deck is what the new fasteners rely on.
Dry in the roof
Waterproof membrane at the eaves and valleys plus new underlayment protect the house before the finish roof goes on. The dry-in method depends on the new material.
Final install
New roofing is installed with fresh flashing at every wall, valley and penetration. Cleanup includes rolling a magnet over the lawn for nails.
What is included
What the replacement includes
Underlayment
The deck is dried in with fresh underlayment before the finish roof goes on.
Sheathing
Rotted boards are replaced and solid sheathing is added if needed for the new roofing material.
Old roof removal
The old cedar roof is removed to the boards with debris hauled away.
Debris removal
Debris is removed daily and stray nails are collected.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Replacement Paramus, NJ
Cedar shingle roof replacement is common on older homes, where sawn shingles were the standard roof long before asphalt. Those roofs were usually laid on spaced boards, and some were later covered with a layer of asphalt shingles, so a tear-off can uncover more than one roof. With everything removed, the boards are checked and repaired or covered with solid sheathing.
Replacing sawn shingles with new sawn shingles keeps the tight, even look of the original roof. Some historic districts require it, while others accept materials that imitate wood. A roofer in Paramus can help you weigh the look, the upkeep and the rules before you decide.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Near Me
In Paramus, cedar replacement calls usually come from homes whose shakes have worn thin after many seasons. Across Paramus and nearby towns like Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford, some owners put cedar back to keep the look while others switch to synthetic shakes, architectural shingles or metal, which is worth talking through before any work begins.
For cedar shake roof replacement 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
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, 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.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about cedar shake roof replacement
How long does a cedar roof replacement take?
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. Sections are dried in at the end of each day.
Can new roofing go over old cedar shakes?
Laying new material over shakes causes more problems than it solves. The old wood stays damp under the new layer and the surface is too uneven to lay flat. A tear-off also lets the roofer fix the deck.
Should I put a new cedar roof back on?
The choice depends on the look, maintenance and rules in your area. Real cedar looks great and lasts decades with care, while look-alike materials trade some character for lower maintenance. Seeing samples side by side helps.
Will my roof deck need to be replaced?
That depends on what goes back on. If you switch from cedar, the roof will need solid sheathing. Damaged boards always get replaced.
What are the alternatives to cedar shakes?
You can put cedar back or choose a material that looks like it. 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. Anything other than cedar typically requires sheathing the roof solid.
More questions? Call (551) 383-2304
Often needed together
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
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 Replacement
Full tear-off and replacement for roofs that are worn out, storm beaten or leaking in several places, with the old layers removed and the deck checked.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Tearing off a worn shingle roof down to the decking and putting on a new one, so the new roof starts on a sound, dry deck.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Paramus roofer about cedar shake roof replacement
Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a roofer serving Paramus, NJ.