Cedar is the roof people slow their car to look at. No asphalt product, however good, matches the texture of real wood aging on a roofline. JB Roofing Systems installs, replaces, and restores cedar shake roofing for PA homeowners across Montgomery County, and we treat it as the craftsman’s material it is, not just another product line on a truck.
Timeless Beauty
The Timeless Beauty of Cedar Shake
New cedar goes on warm and golden, then weathers over the years to the soft silver gray you see on estate homes and historic properties across Montgomery County. No two shakes are alike, so the roof carries a depth and shadow line that stamped or molded products work hard to imitate.
Cedar is more than a pretty face. Wood is a natural insulator, so a cedar roof helps buffer attic temperatures in both directions, and properly installed shakes stand up well to the wind that works shingle edges loose. The wood itself contains natural oils that resist moisture and insects, which is part of why cedar earned its place on Pennsylvania roofs long before asphalt existed. On the right house, especially a colonial, Tudor, or farmhouse, nothing else looks correct.
Installation and Replacement
Cedar Shake Installation and Replacement
A cedar roof lives or dies on installation detail. Shakes need room to breathe, so we install them with correct coursing and spacing over the right underlayment system, fastened with corrosion resistant nails driven by hand where the work demands it. Skip those details and even premium cedar fails early. Get them right and the roof performs for decades.
Material selection matters just as much. We work in western red cedar, the standard for shake roofing, and we will walk you through the grade options, from rustic hand split shakes with heavy texture to smoother tapersawn profiles that read more tailored from the street. The grade you choose shapes both the look and the budget, so we sort it out with samples in hand, not adjectives.
That is careful, slow work, and it is why plenty of contractors will not touch cedar. JB Roofing is led by a third generation roofer, and our crews replace existing cedar roofs and install new ones on homes where the architecture calls for wood. If your old cedar roof is past saving, we handle the full roof replacement from tear off through cleanup.
Roof Repair and Restoration
Cedar Roof Repair and Restoration
Not every tired cedar roof needs to come off. Split, cupped, or missing shakes can be replaced individually. Worn ridge caps and flashing can be renewed. Moss and debris can be cleared so the roof dries the way it was designed to. A proper restoration can add years of service for a fraction of replacement cost, and we will tell you honestly which side of that line your roof is on. Where the wood is done, we say so, because patching a failing cedar roof wastes money you could put toward the real fix.
Cedar vs. Composite Shake
Cedar vs. Composite Shake: Which Is Right for You?
Our take after installing both: choose cedar for authenticity on a home where original character matters, choose composite if you want the look without the maintenance calendar. We will show you samples of each at your estimate.
Efficiency and Lifespan
Cedar Shake Cost and Lifespan in PA
A cedar shake roof in Pennsylvania typically lasts 25 to 35 years, with maintenance being the swing factor between those numbers. Cost sits firmly in premium territory: expect a cedar roof to run well above the $9,000 to $24,000 range typical for an asphalt replacement in Montgomery County, driven by material grade, roof complexity, and the hand labor the installation demands. Steep pitches, multiple dormers, and copper flashing accents all move the number, which is why two cedar quotes on similar houses can land far apart.
The certification standard we hold as a GAF Master Elite contractor, a bar roughly 2% of North American roofers clear, carries into every material we install, cedar included. Get a free estimate for an exact price on your home rather than a guess from a chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ, Answered
How long does a cedar roof last?
A well installed cedar shake roof lasts 25 to 35 years in Pennsylvania. Installation quality and maintenance decide which end of that range you reach: correct spacing and ventilation let the wood dry between rains, and periodic cleaning keeps moss from trapping moisture. Neglected cedar can fail a decade sooner than maintained cedar.
How much maintenance does cedar need?
Plan on a professional inspection every 2 to 3 years, plus cleaning when debris or moss starts to collect. Between visits, the job is simple: keep gutters clear, keep overhanging limbs trimmed, and replace split or missing shakes promptly. Modest upkeep at the right moments is what buys cedar its full 25 to 35 year lifespan.
Get a Free Cedar Roof Estimate
If your cedar roof is showing its age, or you want real wood on the home you are building or restoring, talk to a crew that actually works with the material. Schedule your free estimate and we will assess every shake, or call 267-966-7648 to speak with a roofer who knows cedar from decking to ridge. You can also reach Jeff directly at jeff@jbroofingsystems.com.
