Full tear-off
All shakes, felt and old metal are stripped section by section.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Leonia, NJ
A roofer in Leonia can replace a worn-out cedar shake roof by tearing off the old shakes and felt down to the sheathing, repairing or adding decking and installing a new roof, whether that is new cedar or a different material. Call (551) 348-8956 to reach a local roofer.
Cedar roofs reach a point where repair stops making sense. After decades of weather, shakes lose thickness, split easily and no longer hold a nail, so new pieces have nothing solid to tie into. That is when replacing the roof costs less over time than chasing leaks.
Overlaying cedar shakes with new roofing is not a real option. The surface is too irregular to support new material flat, the old wood traps moisture and building codes typically require removal. Tear-off also lets the roofer see and fix every rotted board.
What sits under the shakes shapes the whole project. If new cedar goes back on, sound spaced boards can stay, but switching to another material means sheathing the roof solid. Any soft or split boards are cut out and replaced.
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement is often paired with cedar shake roof installation and cedar shake roof repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Leonia, NJ right now? Call (551) 348-8956 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Leonia.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof replacement process
Old wood roofs produce a lot of debris and some surprises.
Plan the new roof
You pick the new roofing first, then the roofer plans the deck, underlayment and flashing around it. Permits are pulled and any neighborhood or fire rules are checked.
Protect the property
The crew protects landscaping, siding and windows and sets a dumpster close to the house. Attic belongings under the roof are worth covering too, since dust falls through spaced boards.
Remove the old roof
The old shakes and felt are stripped section by section so the roof is never left open longer than needed. If an old asphalt layer was ever laid over the cedar, it comes off too.
Re-deck the roof
The roofer replaces soft boards and adds solid sheathing where the new material requires it. This is the step that makes the new roof flat and secure.
Dry-in
Ice and water membrane goes along the eaves and valleys, then underlayment covers the deck and new drip edge is installed. Cedar gets a ventilated layer, while other roofs get standard underlayment.
Install the new roof
The new roof goes on with new valley metal, step flashing, pipe boots and ridge ventilation. Cleanup includes rolling a magnet over the lawn for nails.
What is included
What a cedar replacement covers
Ice barrier
New underlayment and eave membrane protect the deck under the new roof.
New flashing
Fresh flashing goes in at every penetration for a watertight finish.
Debris removal
Debris is removed daily and stray nails are collected.
Deck repair
Rotted boards are replaced and solid sheathing is added if needed for the new roofing material.
Related service
Cedar Shingle Roof Replacement Leonia, NJ
Sawn cedar shingles were once the default roof on many older houses, and many are now due for replacement. It is common to find original shingles hidden under a later asphalt roof, both of which come off. With everything removed, the boards are checked and repaired or covered with solid sheathing.
Putting cedar shingles back preserves the character of an older house. Some historic districts require it, while others accept materials that imitate wood. A roofer in Leonia can help you weigh the look, the upkeep and the rules before you decide.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement Near Me
Cedar roofs around Leonia reach replacement age on older homes first, often after years of shade and moss. Across Leonia and nearby towns like Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park and Englewood, some owners put cedar back to keep the look while others switch to synthetic shakes, architectural shingles or metal, so it helps to see samples before the tear-off.
For cedar shake roof replacement in Leonia, NJ or nearby towns like Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park and Englewood, call (551) 348-8956 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Leonia
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Leonia, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Leonia and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement FAQ
Do I need new sheathing when replacing a cedar roof?
It comes down to the material you choose. New cedar can go on sound spaced boards, but asphalt shingles, metal and most synthetic products need solid plywood or OSB. Damaged boards always get replaced.
Should I put a new cedar roof back on?
Your own priorities decide it. Cedar offers real wood character but more upkeep than synthetic or metal options. Seeing samples side by side helps.
Can new roofing go over old cedar shakes?
Covering cedar shakes with a new roof is not a sound approach. The old wood stays damp under the new layer and the surface is too uneven to lay flat. A full tear-off is the standard approach.
How many days does it take to replace a cedar roof?
A typical house takes several working days. Cedar tear-offs produce a lot of debris, and re-decking adds time. The roofer opens only as much roof each day as can be dried in before evening.
What can I replace my cedar shake roof with?
You can put cedar back or choose a material that looks like it. Synthetic or composite shakes imitate the look with less upkeep, architectural asphalt shingles cost less and are common, and metal or stone-coated steel lasts a long time. Anything other than cedar typically requires sheathing the roof solid.
More questions? Call (551) 348-8956
Other services that may help
Cedar Shake Roof Installation
Cedar roof installation from the sheathing and starter course up to the ridge, laid to the slope and climate of the house.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Repair
Repairs for split shakes, rot at the butts, moss buildup and leaking valleys on wood roofs, without tearing off the shakes that still have years left.
Learn moreRoof Replacement
Replacing an aging roof with new underlayment, flashing, vents and roofing, built to current code from the decking out.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Full shingle roof replacement, from tear-off and deck repair to new shingles and flashing, so the new roof starts on a sound, dry deck.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Leonia roofer about cedar shake roof replacement
Call (551) 348-8956 for a local roofer in Leonia and nearby towns.