Cedar shakes and shingles
Cedar Roofs in Norwalk, CT
Cedar roof splitting, cupping or covered in moss? Call and you are connected with an independent contractor that replaces wood roofs around Norwalk.
Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm ET
A wood roof for a New England house
Cedar is part of the look of many shoreline and older homes in Fairfield County. Shakes are split and thick with a rough face; shingles are sawn, thinner and more even. Both weather from honey to silver gray.
A cedar roof is a craft job. Spacing between pieces, the underlayment or interlayment, the fasteners and the airflow under the wood all decide whether it dries out after rain or stays wet and rots. Ask the contractor how many wood roofs they have installed and how they detail the ventilation.
Before you sign
What to ask about cedar
Shake or shingle
Different look, thickness and installation. Some historic districts care which one goes back on.
Grade
Higher grades have more heartwood and fewer defects. Ask for the grade in writing.
Treatment
Untreated, preservative-treated or fire-retardant-treated wood. Each ages differently.
Breathing room
Some installers use a ventilation mat under the wood so it can dry from behind.
Fasteners
Stainless steel fasteners hold up better to the tannins in cedar and to salt air near the shore.
Upkeep
Clearing debris and moss keeps cedar dry. Ask what maintenance the contractor recommends.
Cedar near the shore and under trees
Wood roofs last longest in sun and moving air. Under a heavy tree canopy or on a north slope they stay damp and grow moss, so trimming trees back is often part of the plan.
If your house is in a local historic district in a nearby town, replacing a visible roof can need the historic district commission's approval first; Westport and Wilton both have such commissions. See the shoreline and historic homes guide.
Questions
Cedar Roofs: common questions
Can cedar go over an old roof?
No. A cedar roof is replaced by tearing off the old wood, and the deck or skip sheathing underneath is checked and repaired.
Can I switch from cedar to something else?
Usually, yes. Some owners move to dimensional shingles or synthetic shakes. In a historic district the commission may need to approve the change.
Why does my cedar roof have moss?
Moss grows where wood stays damp: shade, debris and poor airflow. It holds water against the wood and shortens its life.
Roof types
Other roof types
- Roof ReplacementOld layers off, deck checked, ice barrier and underlayment down, new roof on, permit closed.
- New RoofsAdditions, dormers and rebuilds: a roof framed, flashed and tied into the old one.
- Asphalt ShinglesThe everyday Connecticut roof: dimensional shingles over a proper ice barrier.
- Slate RoofsNatural slate for older homes: replaced by specialists, with copper flashing to match.
- Standing Seam MetalRaised-seam steel or aluminum panels that shed snow, often on farmhouses and porches.
- Low-Slope RoofsMembrane roofs for rear additions, porches, shed dormers and flat sections.
Planning the work?
Talk to a contractor about cedar roofs
One call puts you through to an independent roofing contractor serving Norwalk, Westport, Darien, New Canaan and Wilton. Ask for an inspection and a written price for the new roof.
Replacing your roof? Talk it through with a local roofing contractor.
Your call is connected with an independent roofing contractor that takes on roof replacements and new roofs in Norwalk and nearby towns.
Call (855) 365-0164Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm ET
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