Cedar Shake Roofs in Hudson, WI
A worn cedar shake roof on a Hudson home can often be repaired by replacing split or missing shakes, and when too many have failed it is torn off and replaced. Hudson Roofing Pros inspects cedar roofs in Hudson and western Wisconsin and tells you plainly which one yours needs.
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- Licensed
- Insured
- Since 2016
- Certified Technicians
- 10-Year Workmanship Warranty
- GAF Certified Contractor
When Does a Hudson Cedar Shake Roof Need Work?
A Hudson cedar shake roof needs work when shakes split, cup, curl or go missing, when moss holds water on the wood, or when leaks show up in the attic. Cedar typically lasts about 25 to 30 years, and Hudson's winters shorten that when snow and ice sit on the roof and keep the wood wet.
Ice dams are the main winter risk. When heat from the house melts snow higher up, the water refreezes at the colder eaves, backs up and finds its way between the shakes. A cedar roof that leaks every spring usually has an attic problem as well as a roofing one, so we check the attic insulation and venting when we inspect it.
Typical cedar life
About 25 to 30 years
Snow, ice and moss on a shaded Hudson roof can bring that down.
Signs Your Hudson Cedar Roof Is Wearing Out
The signs a Hudson cedar roof is wearing out are wood you can see failing from the ground and damage you only find up close or in the attic. A few of these on one slope usually mean a repair; most of them across the roof usually mean replacement.
Split and Cracked Shakes
Splits that run through a shake let water reach the layer below.
Cupped or Curled Shakes
Shakes that lift at the edges catch wind and let snowmelt in.
Moss and Dark Patches
Moss holds water against the wood, and roof cleaning and moss removal can slow the damage on a roof with life left.
Leaks and Attic Stains
Water marks on the attic boards show where the cedar has stopped shedding water.
Not sure whether your cedar shake roof can be repaired?
Tell us what you are seeing and we will come and inspect it.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Hudson Cedar Roof?
You should repair a Hudson cedar roof when the damage is limited to a section and the rest of the wood is sound, and replace it when shakes are failing across the roof or leaks keep coming back. Replacing shakes one by one on a roof near the end of its life only buys a short time before the next ones go.
If you replace, you can stay with cedar or move to another material, such as synthetic composite shingles or a slate roof, which costs more and typically lasts 60 to 150 years. Our roof replacement work covers every option.
Repair the Cedar When
- The split or missing shakes are on one slope or around one feature
- The rest of the shakes are solid and lie flat
- The deck underneath is dry
Replace the Roof When
- Shakes are splitting, cupping or missing across the roof
- Leaks return after repairs
- The roof is at or past 25 to 30 years old
- Soft spots show the deck below is damaged
What Does a Cedar Shake Roof Cost in Hudson?
A new wood shake roof costs about $8 to $15 per sq ft installed, or $16,000 to $30,000 for a 2,000 sq ft roof, as a Wisconsin range, not a quote. That puts cedar above asphalt shingles and below slate.
The price on your Hudson home depends on the size and pitch of the roof, the grade of cedar, and how much decking needs replacing once the old shakes are off. We put all of that in a written roof estimate after inspecting the roof.
Wood shake roof in Wisconsin
Wisconsin ranges, not quotes.
Want a written price for your cedar shake roof?
We inspect the roof and attic, then price the repair or replacement on paper.
What Wisconsin Rules Apply to Replacing a Cedar Roof?
Wisconsin does not allow a new roof to go over an existing wood shake roof, so a cedar roof is always torn off before it is replaced. That tear-off is when we see the deck, and any soft or rotted boards get roof decking replacement before the new roof goes on.
Shake and shingle roofs over heated space with a slope of 4:12 or less need ice dam protection at the eaves, running at least 30 inches up from the roof edge and at least 12 inches past the inside face of the exterior wall. Other roofing, cedar included, goes on to the maker's instructions.
In the City of Hudson, replacing a roof needs no building permit when there are no structural changes or repairs. In other towns we confirm the permit rules with the local building inspector before work starts.
How We Replace a Cedar Shake Roof
We replace a cedar shake roof by inspecting it, pricing it in writing, tearing it off to the deck, repairing the deck, and building the new roof with the ice barrier, flashing and venting a Hudson winter calls for. Garrett Olson oversees the project and the same crew works it from start to cleanup.
- 1
Inspect the Roof and Attic
We check the shakes, flashing, deck and attic venting.
- 2
Tear Off the Old Cedar
The old shakes come off completely, as Wisconsin requires.
- 3
Repair the Deck
Soft or rotted boards are replaced so the new roof has a sound base.
- 4
Install the New Roof
Ice barrier, underlayment, flashing and the new roofing go on, with the venting the attic needs.
- 5
Clean Up
We haul away the old cedar and sweep the yard for nails.
Cedar Shake Roof FAQs
How Long Does a Cedar Shake Roof Last in Wisconsin?
A cedar shake roof typically lasts about 25 to 30 years. Shade, moss and long periods of snow and ice on the roof shorten that on a Hudson home.
Can You Put Shingles Over a Cedar Shake Roof?
No, Wisconsin does not allow new roofing over an existing wood shake roof. The cedar must be torn off first.
Is It Worth Repairing an Old Cedar Roof?
Repairing an old cedar roof is worth it when the damage is limited to one area and the rest of the shakes are sound. When shakes are failing across the roof, replacement costs less over time than repeated repairs.
What Does a Cedar Shake Roof Cost Compared With Slate?
A wood shake roof costs about $8 to $15 per sq ft installed in Wisconsin, against $15 to $30 or more for slate. Slate typically lasts far longer, from 60 to 150 years.
Get a cedar shake roof estimate
Send the form or call us about your cedar roof, and we will inspect it and tell you in writing whether it needs repair or replacement and what that costs.
Call now (651) 691-2168 Open 24 hours, 7 days a week