A cedar shake roof in the Lower Mainland is usually replaced with one of four things: new treated cedar ($12 to $22 per sq ft), metal shingles or standing seam ($12 to $22), synthetic shakes ($12 to $22) or architectural asphalt shingles ($5.50 to $9.50). All four prices are installed, before GST, and all sit on top of the cedar tear-off and any plywood the roof needs. Here is how to choose, what the tear-off involves and why so many cedar roofs are coming off right now.
Why cedar roofs are being replaced
Three reasons come up on almost every cedar job here.
Life. A UBC test roof installed in 1973 at the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest near Maple Ridge showed untreated cedar shakes failing after 20 years, while pressure-treated shakes on the same roof were fully serviceable at 30 with a projected life of over 50. Most cedar roofs installed in the 1980s and 1990s were untreated, and they are at or past 20 years.
Fire. FireSmart BC scores untreated wood shakes as unrated and hazardous and recommends a Class A roof: metal, asphalt shingles, tile or rated synthetic. Mission's FireSmart rebate (50% up to $1,000, next window February to June 2027) can go toward a Class A roof when the home assessment recommends it.
Insurance and maintenance. Insurers ask the roof's age and type, and cedar needs regular cleaning, debris removal and treatment to reach its life. Many owners decide they'd rather not.
What a cedar tear-off involves
Cedar shakes are thick, heavy and usually laid over spaced boards (skip sheathing) rather than a solid deck. That changes the job:
- Tear-off and disposal costs about $3 to $5 per sq ft for cedar, against $1 to $3 for shingles.
- Re-decking. Skip sheathing has gaps, so most replacements need a full plywood deck over or in place of the boards: about $2 to $5 per sq ft, or $80 to $150 per sheet where only patches are needed. Some metal shingle systems and new cedar can go on skip sheathing with strapping, which is one reason they're popular as cedar replacements.
- Ventilation. Older cedar roofs often breathed through the gaps. A new solid deck needs proper soffit intake and ridge or roof exhaust (the code asks for 1 sq ft of vent per 300 sq ft of ceiling). Budget $300 to $2,000 during a re-roof.
- Flashing and eave membrane. All new, as with any re-roof.
On a 2,000 sq ft roof, the tear-off and deck alone can be $10,000 to $20,000 before any roofing goes on. Quotes that skip the deck question are the ones to question.
Your four options
| Replacement | Installed, per sq ft (roofing only) | Life | Why people choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| New pressure-treated cedar | $12 to $22 | 30 years or more treated | The look, heritage and character homes; can go on skip sheathing |
| Metal shingles or standing seam | $12 to $22 | 40 to 60 years | Class A, moss-free, longest life; metal shingles can mimic shakes and handle cut-up roofs |
| Synthetic shakes | $12 to $22 | 30 to 50 years (warranties to 50) | Closest look to cedar with a Class A rating available |
| Architectural asphalt shingles | $5.50 to $9.50 | 20 to 30 years | The budget option; adds the most to the deck bill proportionally |
New cedar makes sense on a house that would look wrong in anything else, if you'll keep up the maintenance. Insist on premium or No. 1 grade, pressure-treated (Certi-Last type) shakes with the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau label; fire-retardant treated product gives Class B or C, and a Class A assembly is possible with a rated underlay. See the cedar page.
Metal is the most common cedar replacement in the region. Stamped metal shingles in a shake profile keep the texture, go on fast and last the longest of the four; standing seam gives a cleaner modern look on simpler roofs. The metal page and metal cost guide cover the choices.
Synthetic shakes (composite and rubber products) are the choice when the cedar look matters more than anything. Check the specific product's Class A listing, wind rating and the installer's track record with it; these products are less common than metal here. See tile and synthetic.
Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roofing, but the deck work is the same, so on a cedar replacement the shingle roof's cost advantage shrinks in percentage terms. Still the right call when the budget decides.
Can you lay a new roof over old cedar?
No. Cedar is too uneven and too thick to roof over, and the skip sheathing underneath needs attention. Every cedar replacement is a tear-off.
What a cedar replacement costs all in
For a 2,000 sq ft roof: tear-off $6,000 to $10,000, new deck $4,000 to $10,000, ventilation and membrane $1,000 to $3,000, then roofing from $11,000 (shingles) to $44,000 (metal or synthetic). Total about $22,000 to $65,000 depending on the roof and the material. Steep, cut-up roofs in Vancouver and the North Shore run higher; the cost guide has the extras.
Getting quotes for a cedar replacement
Ask each roofer three things: how they'll deal with the skip sheathing (full new deck, overlay, or strapping), what the per-sheet price is for any rotten boards they find, and which material they'd put on your roof and why. Roofers who do cedar replacements every week have strong opinions and good reasons. Three of those opinions side by side is the fastest way to a good decision; start your request and we'll match you with roofers who do this work in your area.
Common questions
Can new shingles go straight over cedar?
No. Cedar shakes have to come off, and the roof deck underneath is often skip-sheathing (boards with gaps) that needs plywood over it before shingles or metal can go on. Budget for the tear-off and the re-deck.
Is there money available for replacing a wood roof?
In Mission, yes: the FireSmart rebate pays 50% of eligible work up to $1,000, and fire-rated roofing is on the list. Elsewhere in the Lower Mainland we found no roofing rebate. Some insurers discount after FireSmart work.