4 Mistakes To Avoid When Installing Cedar Shake Shingles & Tips for How to Install Cedar Shake Roof
A cedar shake roof is a great way to create a rustic wood look for your home. However, when it comes to installing cedar roof shingles or installing cedar roof shakes, it’s no easy task. If you do not install your cedar shake roof the right way, it can seriously affect its longevity and even lead to roof leaking. While it is best to hire a professional to handle the roof installation for you, a cedar shake roof installation do-it- yourself job is not impossible. Here is a brief overview of installing cedar shakes and cedar shingles and what to avoid doing.
Before you begin installing a cedar shake roof, you’ll want to educate yourself on the process and consider hiring a professional. That way, you can avoid damaging and costly mistakes that can ruin your entire roof. A cedar shake shingles installation may be difficult depending on the experience of the roofing company that you hire. It is always best to trust a professional who has experience installing cedar shakes. Here are the top 4 mistakes you want to avoid when installing cedar shake shingles and solutions to combat them.
1. Not Allowing Wood to Acclimate
It is natural to be excited about getting your roofing material delivered to your home. The moment it arrives, you likely will want to start installing it. But, the truth is, doing so can do much more harm than good to your cedar roof shakes. Since wood is a natural material, it expands and contracts with different weather conditions and adverse weather conditions can greatly affect the longevity of your cedar shake shingles.
In wet, humid weather it will expand, while in drier weather, it will contract. When the cedar roof shakes are first delivered, they will need time to acclimate to your location. Installing them too soon can mean the shingles will end up misaligned, pushing each other up, and possibly ripping or damaging themselves as they try to expand and contract. Waiting too long to install the wood and allowing it to weather can degrade the product.
The Solution
The easiest solution to this issue is to wait, once your shakes arrive, to install your cedar shakes roof. It is vital to give the material time to acclimate itself to the new environment. First, you may want to place the material somewhere off the ground and keep it covered. Then, give it time to acclimate – a process that can take different amounts of time, depending on the region you live in. Ideally, you want to ask the manufacturer for their recommendations and double check on this strategy with a professional as this can vary depending on your location.
2. The Wrong Nails and the Wrong Tools
Installing cedar shakes and cedar roof shingles requires nails, but the wrong nail can end up destroying the shingles before you even finish with the installation. Not only that, but using the wrong tools to place the nails can also be detrimental. A nail gun may penetrate too deeply and lead to a shorter lifespan for the roof. Similarly, choosing the wrong metal alloy can mean that the nails will not hold as well, and can lead to shingles becoming loose and falling off. Before installing a cedar shake roof, make sure that proper nails or manufacturer recommended fasteners will be used on the job site.
The Solution
First, you want to choose either aluminum, stainless steel, or galvanized steel nails with ring shanks when you are installing the roof yourself. But, for homes closer to the ocean, you may want to choose specific alloys, depending on how close you are to the water.
When it comes to the actual installation of the shakes, you may want to avoid using a nail gun completely. Instead, you should install each shake by hand, ensuring you use two nails that are four inches from the top of the shake, and one inch from the sides. Again, this will vary depending on the shingle manufacturer, so be sure to check on the manufacturer’s recommended fasteners.
3. Not Aligning Your Shake Shingle Keyways Properly
Another common mistake people make when choosing to installing cedar shake shingles themselves is not aligning the shingles properly. Like with anything in construction, if you do not take the time to align the product correctly during installation, it can lead to countless problems. If they are too close together and do not have proper keyway spacing, the cedar roof shakes can overlap too much, which can change their shape and damage them more easily. On the other hand, if the cedar roof shakes are too far apart, it can create space for precipitation to seep through and cause water damage.
In roofing terms, the space between each cedar shake shingle is referred to as the keyway. You want to leave the correct amount of keyway space between each cedar shake to allow for proper run off, ventilation and longevity. Not aligning your cedar shakes roof properly can cause many issues for your roof long term.
The Solution
The most important way to avoid this issue is to take your time when installing your cedar shingles. Starting from the bottom, leave an inch and a half of overhang off the roof's edge. This is going to allow runoff to avoid the edges of your home. Once the first row is in place, you need to install the thickest part of the shingle at the top of every following row, keeping the shingles about a quarter-inch apart. For further information about proper key way spacing during a cedar shake roof installation please contact CeDUR or the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau.
4. Not Allowing for Ventilation
Finally, another common mistake when installing cedar roof shingles is not allowing for proper ventilation. Because wood is a natural material, it absorbs water. If there isn't enough ventilation, the cedar shakes will not be able to breathe and, therefore, dry. Beyond that, the lack of ventilation means that the shingles will have a difficult time maintaining the right temperature, which can lead to their deterioration.
The Solution
The best way to ensure proper ventilation when you install a cedar shake roof is to use a cool roof system. First, you want to install an underlayment on top of your roof sheathing. Then, you attach wood spacers in-line with your attic's rafters. Once those spacers are in place, you can apply a layer of skip sheathing, before finally installing your shingles.
The Best Overall Solution - Choose a Synthetic CeDUR Roof
An easier solution is skipping the cedar shake roof installation do-it-yourself job and hire a professional, so you know the roof is installed correctly the first time. While it adds to the initial cost of a cedar shake roof, you will only have to install it once, which can help you to save money–though you will still have to pay for the upkeep.
A cedar shakes roof will look incredible but you may want to consider an alternative that looks just as beautiful and provides better long term value. Unlike real cedar wood, synthetic roofing options like CeDUR Synthetic Roofing Shakes do not require any special tools or accessories during installation. Beyond that, CeDUR has cool roof rated shakes, which require no special preparation for the cool roof ventilation to work. As a result, with CeDUR, you have a more cost-effective, low maintenance, durable roof that looks just like a real cedar shake roof. If you are considering an alternative to a cedar shakes roof or cedar roof, look no further than CeDUR synthetic roofing products.
CeDUR synthetic roofing shakes perfectly replicate the look of real cedar roof shakes but offer a more lightweight, durable, and fire-resistant option. There is no need to wait for CeDUR roofing shakes to acclimate to weather, so you can jump right into the install when you are ready. Among the countless benefits of CeDUR shakes, they are incredibly easy to install, in fact some roofing contractors prefer installing CeDUR simulated cedar shakes to installing cedar shakes.
The Best Alternative to Wood Shake Shingles
The Best Alternative to Installing Cedar Shakes
50 Year Lifetime Limited Warranty
The Most Realistic Color Options
Fire Resistant Technology
Solid product throughout - No Cavity Back
Can be installed in any climate or environment
Can be installed in straight or staggered courses
A Job to Take Seriously
Installing cedar shakes or cedar roofing shingles is a serious job, and with the cost of the shingles, you want to do it right. Even a small mistake can spell serious trouble. Avoiding the mistakes we’ve listed above is critical if you want to have a beautiful roof that lasts a long time. But, for the best, least stressful option, you should consider skipping the real cedar shingles entirely and go with CeDUR's synthetic alternative. You won't see the difference, but you will be able to relax knowing they were installed safely and easily, and will never encounter any damage issues from moisture like real cedar shake roofs.
