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Roof types · Cedar shakes and shingles

Cedar shake and shingle roofs

Cedar was the roof of the Lower Mainland for a century, and thousands of houses from the 1970s and 80s still have one. A new cedar roof is a premium product today: the good grades are expensive, the labour is skilled, and in our wet climate even a well-kept cedar roof is a 20 to 30 year roof. Most of the cedar roofs being replaced now are going to asphalt or metal, but a new cedar roof is still the right choice for some houses.

Installed
$12 to $22 per sq ft
Lifespan here
About 20 to 30 years here
Upkeep
High
Upkeep cost
Moss and debris removal every year or two, treatment, replacing split shakes

Common brands and products: Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau (CSSB) certified mills; Certi-Last treated shakes; Number 1 Blue Label and Premium grades

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Pros

What it does well

  • Unmatched look that weathers to silver-grey
  • Natural insulation and breathability
  • Western red cedar is a local, renewable material
  • Light weight
  • Individual shakes can be replaced

Cons

What to weigh up

  • Shortest life of the premium roofs in our wet climate: 20 to 30 years for untreated, more for treated
  • High maintenance: moss, debris and splitting
  • Untreated cedar is a fire hazard; FireSmart BC calls untreated wood roofs hazardous
  • Expensive to install and expensive to tear off
  • Many insurers charge more or ask questions about cedar roofs
Best for: Heritage and character houses, Fort Langley and similar streetscapes, owners who love the look and will maintain it, houses outside wildfire interface areas.

In our climate

Why cedar is being replaced

Cedar lasts when it can dry out between rains. On a steep, sunny, well-ventilated roof with no overhanging trees it can go 30 years or more. On a shaded Lower Mainland roof under firs, with moss holding moisture in the grain, it rots from the butt ends and splits, and 20 years is more typical. Treated shakes (CCA pressure-treated, or Certi-Last) last considerably longer; a long-running BC test roof found untreated cedar failed around 20 years while treated shakes were fully serviceable at 30.

The other pressure is fire. FireSmart BC recommends Class A roofing, which cedar isn't unless it's a treated, rated system, and the City of Mission's FireSmart rebate specifically funds replacing a wood roof with a fire-rated one. If your cedar is due, the realistic options are a new treated cedar roof, architectural shingles, synthetic shakes that keep the look, or metal, including metal shingles pressed to look like shakes.

Rough budget

2,000 sq ft of cedar

Installed, typical range
$24,000 to $44,000
Per square foot
$12 to $22 per sq ft
Same roof in asphalt shingles
$11,000 to $19,000

Before tear-off extras, plywood repairs, permits and GST. Steep or cut-up roofs cost more.

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Questions

Cedar shakes and shingles questions

How long does a cedar roof last here?

Untreated cedar shakes commonly last 20 to 30 years in the Lower Mainland, less under heavy shade. A long-running BC test roof found untreated shakes failed around 20 years while treated shakes were fully serviceable at 30, with a projected life well beyond that.

Is cedar a fire risk?

Untreated wood roofing is listed as hazardous in FireSmart BC's guidance, which recommends Class A roofing. Treated cedar can achieve Class B or C, and Class A only as part of a rated system. In wildfire interface areas like Mission and Hope this matters.

What are the options when my cedar roof is done?

A new treated cedar roof, architectural shingles, synthetic shakes that keep the look, or metal, including metal shingles pressed to look like shakes. Most cedar roofs being replaced here go to shingles or metal.

Can I pressure wash moss off cedar?

Pressure washing damages shakes and shortens their life. Gentle cleaning, debris removal and a registered moss treatment or zinc strips are the accepted approach.

Compare

Other roof types

Asphalt shingles$5.50 to $9.50 per sq ft · About 20 to 30 yearsMetal roofing$8 to $28 per sq ft · About 40 to 60 yearsFlat and low-slope roofing$7 to $16 per sq ft · About 15 to 30 years depending on the membraneTile, slate and synthetic$12 to $22 per sq ft (synthetic) · About 50 years for synthetic and concrete tile, longer for slate

Guides

Roofing materials compared for the Lower Mainland: the four common roof types and when each makes senseAsphalt shingles, metal, cedar and flat membranes compared for BC's wet coast: installed cost, lifespan, upkeep, fire rating, weight and resale, in one table.How long does a roof last in BC, and how do you know when to replace it?Typical roof lifespans in the Lower Mainland by material, the signs a roof is finished, when a repair makes sense instead, and how to plan the replacement year.Replacing a cedar shake roof in BC: your options, costs and what to knowUntreated cedar roofs often fail around 20 years on the wet coast. Your options: treated cedar, shingles, synthetic shakes or metal, with costs.

Related services

Roof replacementTear off the old roof and install a new one in shingles, metal, cedar, flat membrane or tile, with new underlayment, flashing and vents.Roof repairFlashing, valleys, pipe boots, missing or lifted shingles, soft spots and small sections, fixed before they become a replacement.Roof inspectionA written report on the roof's condition and remaining life, for buying a house, an insurance renewal, a strata or peace of mind.

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