Cedar Roof Replacement

Confession time.  We are admitted cedar snobs.  Wood shakes and shingles are a fantastic compromise between cost and performance when compared to other roofing materials.  To learn more about cedar roof replacement, important roof design considerations or the aesthetic and performance characteristics of cedar shakes and shingles visit our Case Studies.  Or, for a quick comparison among your different roof replacement material options, check out our cheat sheet.

Cedar Shake and Shingle Roof Costs in Minneapolis

Cost Modifiers

Other than the material selection, the biggest cost drivers in the repair or replacement of cedar shake or shingle roofs in Minneapolis is the roof size, complexity, roof slope and height.  Labor will increase with the additional layers of existing material to be torn off.  Having a smaller yet still important affect on price are the number off penetrations and accessories such as chimneys, skylights, stacks and vents.  Unlike some other types of roofing, cedar shakes and shingles allow for a certain degree of design variation, usually in the area of course exposures and shake or shingle alignments.  Some cedar roof designs are inherently more time-intensive to install and therefore more expensive.

Cedar Roof Replacement Costs

Let’s say you have a typical 30 square, 9/12 pitch cedar shake roof that needs replacing.  What is the potential cost range for such a roof?  Answer, $31,500 to $42,000.  You could choose a standard grade, 24” medium hand-split shake that costs $200 per square (material) or a heavy hand-split, treated 24” shake for $300 per square (material), resulting in a range of about $100 per square for material costs.  Here is a case study that describes different cedar roof types in Minneapolis. So your choice of cedar material will affect the final job total for no more than $3,000 (30 sq.. x$100) .  There are many cedar shake and shingle material options between these two extremes.  We will help you figure out what is best for your home and your budget.

Cedar Roof Pros and Cons in Minneapolis

PROS

1. Cedar is the only roofing material that can be maintained to prolong its service life.
2. Cedar offers the highest R-Value (insulation) of any common roofing material, typically 4x that of typical asphalt shingles.
3. Offers the timeless authenticity of a natural material at a low price relative to other natural materials such as clay or stone.
4. Offers supreme wind and hail resistance.

CONS

1. Requires maintenance over time
2. Moderate to high initial cost to install.
3. Not suitable for areas with natural wildfires

Cedar Roofing Resources

The Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau

Benefits of Cedar

National Roofing Contractor Association: Cedar Roofs

For Real Cedar Nerds: Pacific Red Cedar, California Incense Cedar