CEDAR
ROOFING
Cedar
Shakes
- Cedar
Shingles
Please see
Definitions
Cedar shakes have a very long, and
distinguished, history as a roofing product in
America. However, with the advent
of recent housing booms, the reputation of cedar shakes has been
tarnished by the use of inferior grade,
untreated,
product - which has not performed as well as traditional cedar
roofing. As a result, many consumers
incorrectly think
the durability of cedar shake is limited to 20-25 years instead of
the 50 year lifespan cedar had established
during
over two centuries of shake roofing in America.
While it is true that inferior grade, untreated,
medium cedar shakes often fail after 20-25 years
- a fact clearly seen in
speculative developments throughout the Seattle area - it is
equally true that superior grade, treated, heavy
shakes
have a long history of 50 year durability.
Many consumers assume products made from similar
material are comparable in quality - in other
words, all treated
cedar shake are the same. This thinking is incorrect.
There's a significant difference in quality
between cedar shake
which is apparent both in the durability achieved and also the
actual appearance - better quality cedar shake
is very
obvious by its beauty, even at a distance.
The chart below illustrates the (conservative)
estimated durability and "Re-Sale Window" for
various grades of cedar,
of both medium (1/2") and heavy (3/4") cuts.
Functional Lifespan
Re-Sale Window *
Inferior Medium (1/2") Untreated Cedar
15 - 25
10 - 20
Premium Medium (1/2") Treated Cedar
30
-
40
25 - 30
Inferior Heavy (3/4") Untreated Cedar
20 - 30
15 - 25
Premium Heavy (3/4") Treated Cedar
40 - 50
35 - 40
* It is simply not enough for consumers to only
know the "functional life" of their roofing
product.
It is more important to understand the
Re-Sale Window - The age BEFORE the roofing
starts
to show signs of imminent failure and cannot
pass the critical Five Year Certification
Inspection.
BENEFITS OF (Premium Grade) CEDAR SHAKE
AESTHETICS - Cedar shake is famous for
its natural rugged beauty. In the modern
age of machined / manufactured
synthetics, cedar shakes provide a warmth and
individuality that is often imitated but never
duplicated.
LONGEVITY - Of the "Temporary" roofing
materials (inferior metal, cedar, lightweight
tiles and asphalt composition)
cedar shake rates with the very best for
"functional lifespan" but, more importantly,
cedar has the best
"Re-Sale Window." For all the temporary
products, cedar provides the best "bang for the
buck."
Temporary Roofing Materials
Functional Lifespan
Re-Sale Window
Metal: Stone-Coated & Batten System
50
15
Cedar: Premium Heavy Treated
50
40
Cedar: Premium Medium Treated
40
30
Lightweight Tiles: Concrete & Clay
30
20
Asphalt: "Lifetime" Slate Style
20
15
Asphalt: "Lifetime" Pumpkin-Tooth Style
20
15
Asphalt: "Lifetime" Architectural Style
15
10
Asphalt: "50 year" Architectural Style
15
10
Asphalt: "40 year" Architectural Style
15
10
Asphalt: "30 year" Architectural Style
15
10
Asphalt: "25 year" 3-Tab Style
15
10
INSULATION - Cedar's unique
cellular structure is a natural insulator,
keeping the home cooler in the summer and
warmer in the winter. Also, because cedar
is the only roofing material that "breathes", it
provides the
best possible ventilation and excellent
resistance to mold, mildew and fungus in the
home.
WEATHER -
Cedar shake's natural ability to flex allows it
to withstand some of the harshest weather
conditions and
it's able to withstand extreme temperatures and
freeze-thaw conditions. Cedar is hail
resistant with a
class - 4 rating and wind resistant, able to
withstand winds up to 130 mph.
WEIGHT -
Cedar is a lightweight roofing material,
weighing between 250 to 300 pounds per roofing
"square"
which is about half the weight of
top-of-the-line asphalt shingles or
"lightweight" concrete/clay tiles.
For a manufacturer perspective
please use the Company Links below for General
Information
on all the different Cedar products available in
the Seattle Washington area.
All roofing manufacturers claim their product is
"The Best"
Obviously, that Can Not be the Truth
There are significant differences in quality
between "comparable" Cedar Shakes
Contact an Independent and Unbiased Roofing
Expert
Before selecting ANY roofing product
Seattle RoofBroker
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Disclaimer: This is not an advertisement or a solicitation
and information is provided only as a public
service.
The information above is presented for educational
purposes only. The commentary and all
contents reflect
the professional opinion and experience of the author
alone and are subject to error or change without
notice.
The presence of a link to a website does not indicate
approval or endorsement of that website or any
products,
services or opinions that may be offered by them. |
