Natural Cedar Shake Roof Replacement—Designed to Dry, Resist Weather, and Age Gracefully.
A cedar roof is not specified by appearance alone. South Florida homeowners should compare shake versus shingle, grade, thickness, treatment, roof slope, ventilation, interlaid felt, fasteners, fire assembly, coastal exposure, product approvals, maintenance, repair stock, and the exact written warranty.
Natural cedar succeeds only when the wood, drying path, treatment, fastening, and complete assembly agree.
The responsible replacement path identifies the exact shake or shingle product, confirms the deck and water-control layers, resolves South Florida humidity/fire/coastal conditions, details every transition and rooftop interface, and closes out the roof with product, treatment, permit, warranty, maintenance, and repair-stock documentation.
Handsplit, tapersawn, shingle, decorative profile, grade, length, thickness, exposure, treatment, mill and bundle labels must be written—not summarized as “cedar.”
Open natural cedar systemHumidity, shade, roof slope, deck configuration, interlay, underlayment, intake/exhaust, above-deck drying and attic conditions must support moisture release.
Review drying strategyTreatment labels, fasteners, sheet-metal compatibility, tested fire assembly, roof zones and current approvals are product- and property-specific.
Open Florida wind & codeValleys, walls, ridges, solar, skylights, gutters, mixed roofs, HOA/historic samples and retained repair stock should be settled before ordering.
Compare repairabilityThe final roof file should preserve bundle labels, treatment records, permits, inspections, photographs, warranties, maintenance guidance and repair-stock inventory.
Verify Aastro credentialsMove to the next authority when the decision is no longer just “which cedar look?”
Natural Cedar Roof System
Use for grade, shake versus shingle, treatment, fire assembly, interlay, ventilation, coastal fasteners, current product documents, maintenance and repair-stock strategy.
Open cedar system authorityResidential Roof Repair
Use when a localized cedar condition may still be repairable or when active symptoms need diagnosis before a replacement recommendation.
Open repair authorityComposite Roof Comparison
Use when the homeowner wants a shake-like appearance without natural wood and needs material formulation, fire, impact, maintenance and warranty differences separated.
Compare composite replacementWind, Code & Documentation
Use for product approval, roof zones, deck attachment, secondary water resistance, permit-time verification and insurance-documentation boundaries.
Open wind & code authorityReal cedar project conditions—not generic stock photography.
These photographs are used as project/process evidence. They do not imply that one historic cedar detail, treatment, fastener or assembly is appropriate for another home.
Real cedar texture, exposure and weathered appearance used to ground profile and maintenance discussions.
Shows why profile, ridge units, exposure, thickness and future matching need project-specific documentation.
Supports the repair-versus-replacement boundary and the importance of retained repair stock and matching material.
What is a natural cedar roof?
A natural cedar roof uses sawn shingles or thicker shake products—usually Western Red Cedar—installed in overlapping courses so water is shed through exposure, headlap, keyway offset, compatible fasteners, underlayment, flashings, and roof details. The wood covering must be able to dry between wetting events.
Shingles and shakes are not interchangeable. Shingles are typically sawn for a uniform surface. Handsplit and resawn shakes retain a textured split face. Tapersawn shakes are sawn on both faces but create a thicker shadow line than shingles.
The visible wood is only the outer layer.
The actual sequence varies by product, deck, slope, treatment, approval, climate detail, and jurisdiction.
Choose the texture—then specify the actual grade, thickness, treatment, and assembly.
Natural cedar can move from rustic and deeply textured to smooth and architectural. Each profile changes exposure, headlap, interlay, fasteners, accessories, and maintenance expectations.
Handsplit & Resawn Shake
A split face and sawn back create irregular texture and heavy shadow. The proposal must define grade, length, butt thickness, exposure, interlaid felt, fasteners, treatment, ridge units, and ventilation.
- Commonly 18- or 24-inch products
- Typically 4:12 or steeper under CSSB guidance
- Felt interlay commonly required
- Premium and Number 1 grades differ
They may weather to similar colors—but they are different roofing products.
The contract should never use “cedar shake/shingle” as though it were one complete specification.
| Decision | Handsplit & Resawn Shake | Tapersawn Shake | Cedar Shingle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | Split face, sawn back, irregular texture | Sawn both faces, thicker and more uniform | Smooth sawn faces and tailored geometry |
| Typical look | Rustic, deep shadow, varied butt line | Substantial but refined | Traditional, precise, or contemporary |
| Roof slope | CSSB product guidance generally begins at 4:12 | CSSB product guidance generally begins at 4:12 | Selected Certigrade shingles may begin at 3:12 |
| Interlay | Commonly part of shake installation | Commonly required for shake installation | Shingle assembly uses a different coursing method |
| Specification | Grade, length, butt thickness, exposure | Grade, length, thickness, exposure | Grade, length, thickness, exposure |
| Do not assume | More texture means better performance | Smooth faces make it a shingle | Every cedar shingle may use the same exposure |
The roof must be designed from the deck outward.
Natural wood can perform only when the structure, water control, drying path, fastening, flashings, treatment, and maintenance requirements work as one system.
Tear-Off & Weather Planning
Remove the existing roof to the authorized substrate, define daily dry-in, disposal, property protection, and weather contingencies.
Deck & Structural Conditions
Evaluate plywood, plank decking, framing, deflection, fastening, decay, insect damage, and concealed moisture before covering the roof.
Deck Attachment & Water Control
Define deck re-nailing or attachment improvements, secondary water resistance, underlayment, eaves, valleys, walls, and penetrations.
Ventilation / Drying Strategy
Coordinate intake, exhaust, high-humidity solid-deck details, above-deck ventilation or cold-roof design, insulation, and air sealing.
Interlaid Felt for Shakes
Where the selected shake assembly requires interlay, specify the felt material, width, position, laps, and integration with valleys and flashings.
Cedar Field Material
Identify handsplit, tapersawn, or shingle product, species, grade, length, thickness, exposure, treatment, mill, and bundle labels.
Fasteners & Keyways
Specify compatible corrosion-resistant fasteners, penetration, nail location, keyway spacing, offset, starter, and roof-zone requirements.
Hips, Ridges & Accessories
Use compatible hip and ridge units, eave and rake details, ventilation components, valleys, flashings, and manufacturer-required accessories.
Permits, Inspections & Documentation
Complete current product-approval review, permit inspections, treatment records, bundle-label retention, final photographs, warranties, and roof file.
Humidity, salt, fire, wind, and drying make cedar specification more demanding.
The decision should be based on current written documents for the exact property—not on a cedar roof installed elsewhere.
Drying Potential
Shade, tree cover, roof geometry, deck design, underlayment, ventilation, and attic conditions can affect how long the wood remains wet.
Fastener & Metal Compatibility
CSSB guidance calls for Type 316 stainless fasteners within 15 miles of salt water. Flashings, gutters, treated lumber, and runoff also require compatibility review.
Complete Tested Assembly
Fire-retardant treatment is one component. Deck, underlayment, interlay, covering, accessories, and current local requirements control the roof classification.
Current Product Approval
Field, perimeter, and corner pressures, fastener schedule, deck, slope, exposure, treatment, and local approval must match the home.
Fire-retardant and preservative treatments solve different problems.
The treatment company—not a generic roofing claim—controls the treatment warranty, fastener requirements, accessory details, and limitations.
Fire-Retardant Treatment
- Pressure-impregnated fire-retardant treatment
- Available classifications depend on product and complete assembly
- Current treater and local approval documents must be reviewed
- Topical fire-retardant sprays are not a substitute for the specified product
Preservative Treatment
- Pressure-impregnated preservative treatment
- Relevant to high-moisture and high-climate-index environments
- Treater controls fastener, flashing, disposal, and warranty guidance
- Treatment does not eliminate ventilation or maintenance
The open field is often easier than the intersections.
Natural cedar changes dimension as moisture changes. Valleys, walls, hips, ridges, chimneys, skylights, solar attachments, and low-slope transitions require enough water capacity, compatible metals, correct clearances, and serviceable access.
Valleys
Width, metal, lining, course cuts, debris clearance, and water volume.
Walls & Chimneys
Step flashing, counterflashing, crickets, stucco terminations, and clearances.
Hips & Ridges
Compatible ridge units, exposure, fasteners, ventilation, and weathering.
Penetrations
Pipe boots, skylights, solar, vents, fastener compatibility, and future service.
Eaves & Rakes
Starter, drip edge, fascia, gutter, overhang, wind, and drying.
Mixed Roofs
Transitions to tile, shingle, metal, and low-slope membranes.
A cedar roof should be inspected, kept able to dry, and repaired with compatible stock.
Maintenance is not the same as sealing, saturating the roof with oil, or aggressively pressure washing the wood.
Keep It Clear
Remove leaves, needles, branches, and organic buildup from valleys, gutters, roof intersections, and shaded areas without damaging the wood.
Control Vegetation
Manage overhanging branches, shade, rubbing, and restricted airflow while protecting landscaping and the roof surface.
Inspect Details
Review splits, displaced pieces, fasteners, valleys, flashings, ridges, penetrations, gutters, and interior moisture evidence.
Retain Repair Stock
Keep labeled matching pieces, bundle labels, treatment records, invoices, photographs, and written repair procedures in the roof file.
Real cedar conditions belong where technical evidence matters.
These photographs come from Aastro’s cedar-roof project library in Boca Raton. They show the natural variation, ridges, valleys, weathering, and repair conditions that polished renderings cannot document.
- Use documented project imagery for condition evidence and case studies
- Use supporting imagery where it helps explain design options
- Do not imply one photographed detail is the approved detail for every home
Specify the product label and mill—not merely “cedar.”
Current manufacturer availability, grade, treatment, product approval, warranty, and Florida suitability must be verified before contract.
Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau
CSSB administers Certi-label product standards, independent inspection, installation resources, grade and exposure guidance, treated-product marks, ridge products, and manufacturer warranty administration.
Waldun Forest Products
Current product directions include handsplit and resawn shakes, tapersawn shakes, and cedar shingles in multiple lengths, grades, and thicknesses. Exact warranty and project suitability require written verification.
Watkins Sawmills
Current product directions include handsplit and resawn shakes, tapersawn shakes, cedar shingles, ridge units, and treated options. Watkins’ published warranty requires preservative treatment and a separate treater warranty for Florida installations.
Ten controlled steps from cedar evaluation to final roof file.
Natural cedar should not be ordered until the exact roof, current product, treatment, approval, installation detail, and maintenance obligations are understood.
Step 1
Inspect the existing cedar roof, attic, deck, flashings, drainage, and prior repairs.
Step 2
Confirm whether repair, selective restoration, or full replacement is the responsible scope.
Step 3
Choose handsplit, tapersawn, shingle, or decorative profile and review physical samples.
Step 4
Verify current mill, grade, treatment, bundle labels, product approval, and local requirements.
Step 5
Design deck, underlayment, ventilation or high-humidity detail, interlay, and fastening.
Step 6
Define valleys, walls, chimneys, skylights, solar, gutters, hips, ridges, and mixed-roof transitions.
Step 7
Establish concealed-condition pricing, repair-stock quantity, property protection, and change-order controls.
Step 8
Obtain permits, stage labeled materials, document bundle labels, and protect them from moisture before installation.
Step 9
Install, supervise, photograph, inspect, and correct details before concealment and final inspection.
Step 10
Deliver the roof file: permits, inspection records, product and treatment documents, warranties, photos, and maintenance guidance.
Answer seven questions to identify the most responsible next step.
This planning tool organizes the evaluation. It does not diagnose the roof, select a product, guarantee approval, or finalize price.
Separate the mill, treatment company, contractor, lender, and insurance carrier.
One party’s document does not replace another party’s obligation.
Mill / Manufacturer
Controls eligible product, grade, registration, material warranty, exclusions, maintenance, and claim procedure.
Treatment Company
Controls preservative or fire-treatment documentation, fasteners, accessories, handling, warranty, and limitations.
Aastro Workmanship
A 25-year workmanship warranty may apply to qualifying replacements. The signed contract and written warranty control exact coverage.
Financing
Promotional 0% interest for up to 18 months and terms up to 20 years may be available to qualified borrowers, subject to lender terms.
Insurance
The carrier controls underwriting, discounts, coverage, renewal, depreciation, and claim decisions. No savings are guaranteed.
Roof Lifespan
Warranty duration is not a prediction. Climate, treatment, installation, drying, maintenance, salt exposure, shade, and roof design affect performance.
Residential cedar-roof evaluation throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties.
Aastro uses county-specific inspection pathways. Pahokee and Belle Glade are excluded from standard website coverage, and remote locations may require manual review.
Palm Beach County
Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and approved surrounding communities.
Book Palm Beach InspectionBroward County
Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Davie, Weston, Pembroke Pines, and approved surrounding communities.
Book Broward InspectionProject verification remains a final gate.
Educational cedar guidance does not replace the permit-time documents for the exact project. Before production, Aastro should recheck the current product, grade/treatment labels, manufacturer or mill instructions, product approval/NOA where applicable, tested fire assembly, deck/underlayment/interlay, ventilation/drying detail, fasteners, flashings, roof zones, jurisdiction requirements and written warranties.
- No universal cedar lifespan or maintenance interval.
- No universal fire classification from treatment wording alone.
- No guaranteed insurer acceptance, discount or underwriting result.
- No universal coastal fastener rule beyond the current product/treater/manual and project requirements.
- No warranty promise beyond the executed written documents.
Natural cedar roofing questions to resolve before signing a contract.
These answers provide planning guidance. The current product documents, code, approval, permit, contract, and written warranties control the project.
What is the difference between a cedar shake and a cedar shingle?
Cedar shingles are generally sawn on both faces for a smoother, more uniform appearance. Handsplit and resawn shakes have a split face and sawn back, while tapersawn shakes are sawn on both faces but are thicker than shingles. The exact grade, length, thickness, exposure, treatment, and installation manual must be identified in the proposal.
Can natural cedar roofing be installed on a South Florida home?
Potentially, but it requires project-specific review. Humidity, drying potential, shade, salt exposure, roof slope, deck design, ventilation, fire requirements, product approval, local permitting, treatment, fasteners, and manufacturer warranty limitations all matter.
Why should the proposal specify Certi-label cedar?
Certi-label products are manufactured by Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau member mills under an independent inspection and grading program. A proposal should still identify the exact product type, grade, treatment, mill, bundle labels, installation standard, and project approval rather than rely on the word cedar alone.
What does Certi-Last mean?
Certi-Last identifies pressure-impregnated preservative-treated cedar shakes or shingles produced to CSSB standards. The treatment company controls its warranty, fastener guidance, accessory requirements, and application details. Preservative treatment does not eliminate the need for ventilation, drainage, maintenance, or correct installation.
What does Certi-Guard mean?
Certi-Guard identifies pressure-impregnated fire-retardant-treated cedar shakes or shingles. The required roof fire classification depends on the complete tested assembly and current project requirements. The treatment label alone should not be presented as a universal Class A roof.
Can cedar be both fire-retardant treated and preservative treated?
CSSB currently treats Certi-Guard fire-retardant and Certi-Last preservative treatment as separate product directions. The exact available treatment, tested assembly, treater documentation, and local requirements must be verified before specifying the roof.
What fasteners should be used on a cedar roof near salt water?
Fastener type must follow the cedar product, treatment company, current installation manual, product approval, and coastal environment. CSSB guidance calls for Type 316 stainless-steel fasteners within 15 miles of salt water; the complete project specification should also address flashings, gutters, treated lumber, and dissimilar-metal compatibility.
Do cedar shakes require interlaid felt?
Traditional shake systems commonly use interlaid felt between courses where required by the product and installation manual. Cedar shingles are installed differently. The proposal must identify whether the selected assembly uses interlay, a solid-deck high-humidity detail, a ventilated deck, or another approved configuration.
Why is ventilation especially important for cedar roofing?
Natural wood must be able to dry. Roof and attic design can affect heat, moisture, condensation, fungal decay, and serviceability. Intake, exhaust, deck configuration, underlayment, insulation, air sealing, shade, and roof geometry should be evaluated together rather than adding vents without a plan.
Should a cedar roof be sealed or pressure washed?
CSSB advises against sealing cedar because trapped moisture can accelerate deterioration. Aggressive power washing can damage the wood surface. Cleaning, moss control, topical treatments, and maintenance should follow current CSSB and manufacturer guidance and be performed without damaging the roof.
Can an existing cedar roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Possibly. Localized splitting, missing pieces, flashing defects, or isolated damage may be repairable when surrounding material, fasteners, underlayment, deck, and matching stock remain serviceable. Widespread erosion, decay, repeated leaks, poor ventilation, concealed moisture, or unavailable matching material can shift the decision toward replacement.
What should happen to leftover cedar after installation?
The project should retain labeled repair stock when practical, along with bundle labels, treatment records, invoices, installation documents, permits, warranty records, and final photographs. Future matching can be difficult because natural weathering changes color and texture.
Does a cedar warranty guarantee how long the roof will last?
No. Cedar performance varies with product quality, treatment, climate, proximity to salt water, installation, maintenance, ventilation, shade, and roof design. Manufacturer, treater, and contractor warranties are separate written documents with exclusions and procedures; a warranty term is not a guaranteed roof lifespan.
Will a cedar roof automatically qualify for an insurance discount?
No. Insurance eligibility and pricing are controlled by the carrier and policy. Fire classification, roof age, permitting, wind design, product approval, secondary water resistance, deck attachment, inspection results, and other property conditions may affect underwriting.
Can a cedar roof replacement begin with an instant estimate?
A planning estimate may be possible, but natural cedar roofs usually require field review of the existing assembly, roof geometry, slope, structure, deck, ventilation, fire and preservative requirements, coastal exposure, product availability, accessories, HOA requirements, and concealed conditions before a final proposal.
Where does Aastro provide residential cedar-roof evaluations?
Aastro provides standard residential evaluation pathways throughout Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Pahokee and Belle Glade are excluded from standard website coverage, and some remote locations require manual service review.
Is natural cedar the same as composite or synthetic shake?
No. Natural cedar is a wood roof covering with grade, thickness, treatment, drying, fastening and maintenance requirements. Composite or synthetic shake products use different materials, testing, accessories, fastening, fire/impact classifications and warranties. A shake-like appearance does not make the assemblies interchangeable.
What should a cedar proposal identify before materials are ordered?
The proposal should identify the exact shake or shingle type, species/product family, grade, length, thickness or butt dimension, exposure, treatment, mill or supplier, bundle-label requirements, deck and water-control layers, interlay where required, ventilation or drying strategy, fasteners, flashings, accessories, current approvals, tested fire assembly where applicable, repair stock and written warranty responsibilities.
Organize the cedar-specific questions before Aastro evaluates the home.
Submitting this form opens a pre-addressed email to Aastro Roofing. Send that email to complete your request. For immediate service, call 561-409-3280.
Choose the cedar appearance—then require the exact mill, grade, treatment, approval, and drying design to match it.
Start with an inspection, review current labeled products and physical samples, and require the proposal to define the complete assembly and maintenance responsibilities.
Verified Boca Raton cedar project media.
Natural cedar content is supported by actual Aastro project photography.
