Thinking about putting wood shingles or shakes on your roof? I’ve got everything you need to know before you decide.
I’ve installed many cedar wood roofs and I love the smell and feel of working with this roofing material. Installing cedar roofing takes craftsmanship and care. 



I finally took the time here to sit down and really drill down on everything you need to know about cedar roofing from a customer perspective. What’s important, what’s not, and why it matters.

Quick answer

Cedar shakes are thicker and more rustic, while cedar shingles are thinner, sawn, and more uniform. In south-central Pennsylvania, premium Western Red Cedar roofing generally costs $25–$30 per square foot. Cedar roofs typically last 30–40 years, though product grade, installation, ventilation, shade, and maintenance can significantly affect their lifespan.

Energy Efficiency​

Cedar wood shingles and shakes offer a unique blend of natural beauty, durability, and character. I think they’re especially nice on a stone building. Other things that you definitely should consider when putting on cedar shingles or shakes are half-round gutters and copper flashing. Half-round gutters really add to the old-world look of a stone building, and copper roof flashing should almost be mandatory when using cedar or slate, in my opinion! Technically not a must-have, it’s more just a matter of looks and character. But suit your own taste!

Ok, so let’s get into it! Here’s what I’ll cover:

1. Cedar Roofing types
2. Cedar shingle/shake grades and grading standards
3. Pros and Cons of cedar roofing
4. Longevity and performance of cedar roofing
5. Installation considerations
6. Cedar roof Maintenance
   

1. Types of Cedar Roofing​

Cedar Shingles

Cedar shingles are sold in standard lengths and bundle-thickness designations. Perfections are 18 inches long, while Royals are 24 inches long. The allowable exposure depends on the shingle length, grade, roof pitch, and installation requirements. For No. 1 shingles, the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau lists maximum exposures ranging from 4¼ to 5½ inches for 18-inch Perfections and 5¾ to 7½ inches for 24-inch Royals.

Hand-Split Shakes

• Definition: Split rather than sawn on the exposed face, creating a thicker and more textured appearance.
• Look: Rustic, irregular, with a lot of shadow and visual depth.
• Best Use: Where natural, artisan character is wanted. It’s more of a uniquely rustic look than the Sawn shingles.

Taper-Sawn Shakes

• Definition: Sawn out of a wood block, it still retains some of the woodgrain look with a more uniform thickness
• Look: Rustic, but more uniform than hand-split
• Best Use: Where natural, artisan character is wanted, but you’d like to have less of that deep woodgrain look.

Both Shakes and Shingles come in bundles, with pieces ranging from about 3″ to 12″ or 14″ wide.

Here’s a quick and easy table to show the differences between these two styles.

2. Cedar Grades & Grading Standards

Cedar roofs are graded by visual clarity, wood type, and structural integrity.

The grade of the cedar you get will greatly determine how long they last on your roof or walls. While lower grades certainly are cheaper, there’s good reason for it and you need to be aware of the risks that come with that lower cost.

Western Red Cedar Grades

Premium/Clear (#1/Blue Label) combines two different grading systems. Premium Grade applies to shakes. No. 1 Blue Label is the highest shingle grade

This is the best cedar shingle you can get. They’re literally hand-graded by a real person to make sure that each shingle is about a 3/4″ wide at the butt end. Only shingles with zero defects like knots and curving grain or sapwood make the cut. These shingles can last 40+ years without warping and cupping like the lower grade shingles would. The entire shingle from top to bottom is clear, straight-edge-grain heartwood.

No. 1 Blue Label shingles: Clear heartwood, 100% edge grain, and free from defects. This is the highest cedar shingle grade.



No. 2 Red Label shingles: Limited flat grain, sapwood, and defects are permitted. They can be used for roofing, although they will not provide the same consistency as No. 1 shingles.

No. 3 Black Label shingles: An economy roofing grade with limited defects. Although this grade can be used on qualifying roofs, I prefer No. 1 shingles for primary residences because of their appearance and consistency.

3. Pros & Cons of Cedar Roofing

Pros

• Visual Appeal: Unparalleled, natural, and warm aesthetic—ideal for historic homes as well as design-forward new builds.
• Durability: With premium grades and maintenance, cedar roofs can last 40-50 years.
• Energy Efficiency: Cedar roofs insulate up to 2x better than asphalt, reducing heat/cold transfer and energy bills.
• Eco-Conscious: Renewable resource, low embedded energy to produce, and biodegradable. Sustainable harvesting practices are typical.
• Weather Resistance: Good in storms, hail, wind—even hurricanes.
• Resale Value: Curb appeal and reputation for quality increases home value.
• Termite & Rot Resistance: High, especially in Western Red Cedar heartwood.

Cons

• Upfront Cost: 3–5x the cost of asphalt or synthetic alternatives.
• Maintenance Demand: In shaded areas, they will require cleaning from time to time.
• Variability: Quality varies greatly by grade (low-grade roofs may fail prematurely).
• Flammability: Untreated cedar is not fireproof; fire-retardant treatments or specific fire-rated products required in sensitive areas.
• Color Change: Loss of contrasting wood tones after weathering.
• Installation Complexity: Must be professionally installed for performance and warranty compliance.
  

4. Longevity and Performance

Expected Lifespan:

The Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau gives cedar roofing an average lifespan of approximately 30–40 years. The actual service life depends on product grade, roof design, installation, ventilation, climate, surrounding trees, foot traffic, and maintenance.

What Affects Lifespan?

• Grade and type of cedar (Clear heartwood = longer life).
• Warping, splitting, and cupping of lower grades will cause system failure.
  Quality of installation—ventilation, nailing, exposure settings, correct underlayment use, keyway settings.
• Local climate: Moisture, harsh sun, or extreme cold can reduce service life.
• Maintenance: Proper care (see tips below) extends life substantially.

Weather Resistance:

• Naturally resistant to insects, termites, UV, hail, and wind.
• Regular maintenance is required to prevent moss, algae, and weathering.
• Coloring: Western Red Cedar shows significant color variation—reds and browns, where as White cedar comes with a yellower coloring.
• Weathering: Within 6–12 months, roof begins to ‘silver’ or brown over, becoming more uniform and muted, regardless of the wood type.
  

Installation

Regardless of the grade chosen, cedar shingles or shakes need to be installed correctly to last. I won’t go into all the details here, but the most important factors to get right are:

• Roof assembly and ventilation: Cedar needs a roof assembly that allows moisture to dry properly. Spaced sheathing, nailing strips, preservative-treated cedar, and continuous ventilation products are possible options. The correct system depends on the product, roof design, climate, and local code.

• Underlayment and keyways: Installation requirements differ between shingles and shakes. Standard shake assemblies may use felt interlayment, while cedar shingles should not be interlaid with felt. The current product instructions and CSSB installation manual should control the installation.

• Fasteners: Cedar requires corrosion-resistant fasteners approved for the product and location. Depending on the application, that may include Type 304 or 316 stainless steel or qualifying hot-dipped galvanized fasteners. Treated cedar requires Type 316 stainless steel. Ring-shank nails may be used for better withdrawal resistance and in designated high-wind areas.

• Copper Ridge Caps and Zinc Strips: These are not a must, but consider them. Copper or zinc near the ridge can help control moss and organic growth below the metal. The effective distance varies with the roof, rainfall, and installation, so it should not be expected to keep the entire roof clean. This only works for maybe 5-7 feet down the roof from the copper or zinc. Any further, and this oxidation effect wears out the further it goes from the source.
  

Maintenance Tips

• Inspect Biannually: Look for cracked, warped, or missing shakes/shingles.
• Clear Debris: Remove leaves, branches, and moss—do NOT pressure wash as this will damage the integrity and longevity of the wood. Some roofing companies provide roof cleaning services. Locally, you can go to Atkins Deck Treatment – I know the owner Rick personally, and he does the job right, with the right kinds of washing solutions.
• Trim Nearby Trees: Prevent debris, promote airflow.
• Seal & Preserve: Apply protective stains/sealants – this is not necessary, but if you want to keep the new look of the shingle (the reddish and brown colors), then you will need to seal them.
• Replace Individual Pieces: Spot-replace damaged areas to prevent leaks.
  

Choosing the Right Cedar Roof: Pro Tips

• Thicker = Better: 5/8in+ thickness resists cupping/warping, lasts longer.
• Always Use Premium/Clear or Grade 1: Avoid Grades 2 and 3, which are more susceptible to early failure and decay.
• Consider Copper Accessories: For added moss resistance and roof longevity.
• Ask for Documentation: Certi-label, source origin, and fire rating if required by code.
• Expert Installation: Make sure the contractor you choose has real-world experience. I would go so far as to ask for a few houses where they’ve installed cedar, ask for the date of installation, and go take a look to see how the roof looks (the older, the better for this one).
• Untreated cedar is combustible. Pressure-impregnated fire-retardant cedar is available in tested Class A, B, and C roofing systems. The required classification depends on the specific treated product, complete roof assembly, and local code.
  

Fire Safety​

• Standard cedar is combustible, but pressure-impregnated fire-retardant shakes/shingles meet rigorous code requirements and pass UL 790 or ASTM E108 fire tests.
• Some building codes require only fire-rated cedar roofing products—check local regulations.
• Certi-Guard shingles and shakes are available – these have been pressure-impregnated with fire-resistant polymers to reduce the flamability of the cedar wood.
  

Conclusion

With a quality product, correct installation, and appropriate maintenance, a cedar roof can provide decades of service while giving the home a look few other materials can match.

There you have it – pretty much all I know about cedar roofing. It’s an incredible roofing material, looks awesome on the right building. If you take my points above into consideration, and go with a premium-grade product that’s correctly installed, you can enjoy the ooohs and aaaahs from your friends for years to come, leak-free and worry-free.

Ready to do this? Contact my company, and we’ll help you do it right!