Natural Cedar Roofing Is a Wood Roof System—Not Just a Look.
Shakes versus shingles, species, grade, thickness, treatment, deck, underlayment, interlayment, fasteners, wind design, drying, fire requirements and future repair stock all matter before the first bundle is installed.
A natural cedar roof is a discontinuous wood roof covering coordinated with the water-control and drying assembly beneath it.
The visible cedar is only one part of the roof. Water can pass through joints and around details, so underlayment, flashing, drainage and the complete approved assembly remain critical.
Florida distinguishes wood shingles from wood shakes. The selected product must meet applicable grading rules, carry the required labeling, and use an attachment system whose allowable uplift resistance is adequate for the project design pressures.
What usually separates one cedar roof from another?
Shake, tapersawn shake and cedar shingle are not interchangeable names.
Use the selector to see why product cut and grade change both appearance and installation.
Fire-retardant and preservative treatments solve different problems.
Current Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau materials identify separate treated-product directions. Verify the treatment, mill, label, handling, fastener compatibility, current approval and written warranty for the exact roof.
The cedar covering is one part of a ten-part roof system.
The design should preserve water shedding, wind resistance, drying and future repairability together.
Existing Roof
Repair history, layers, moisture, tear-off and salvage assumptions.
Deck & Framing
Sheathing type, attachment, condition and concealed wood.
Secondary Water Control
Current code-compliant deck-level water-control strategy.
Underlayment
Approved underlayment compatible with the cedar assembly.
Interlayment / Drying Detail
Shake-specific interlay or high-humidity strategy where required.
Shakes / Shingles
Exact species, grade, length, thickness, treatment and exposure.
Fasteners
Stainless ring-shank nails, penetration and roof-zone requirements.
Valleys / Flashings
Walls, valleys, penetrations, chimneys and corrosion compatibility.
Hips / Ridges
Purpose-made units, ventilation and accessory matching.
Roof File
Labels, permits, approvals, treatment records, warranty and repair stock.
Florida requires the exact cedar attachment system to resist the project uplift pressures.
Wood shingles and wood shakes have separate code sections. Both are installed under the code, manufacturer instructions, the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau roof manual or RAS 130, with the product approval defining allowable uplift resistance for the attachment system.
Cedar must be designed to shed water—and to dry after it gets wet.
The current CSSB roof manual includes ventilation, cold-roof and high-humidity solid-deck details because trapped moisture and slow drying can shorten service life.
Humidity
Warm humid air, shade and frequent wetting can keep wood moisture elevated. Drying strategy matters.
Ventilation
Coordinate intake, exhaust, attic pressure, conditioned spaces and any above-deck ventilation with the approved assembly.
Deck
Do not import a generic spaced-sheathing or cold-roof detail into Florida without approval and project-specific review.
Maintenance
Keep drainage and debris controlled and use cleaning/treatment methods that do not damage the wood or trap moisture.
Details that deserve extra review
- Valleys and roof-to-wall transitions
- Chimneys, skylights, vents and solar penetrations
- Shaded or tree-covered roof areas
- Low-slope transitions and roof geometry changes
- Gutters, debris collection and splash-back
- Coastal metal compatibility and runoff staining
A premium cedar roof should be planned for future matching on day one.
Cedar naturally changes color and surface character. Future repairs work best when the original roof file preserves what was actually installed.
| Control | Why it matters later | What to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Species / grade | Different grain, heartwood and quality can weather differently. | Bundle labels, mill, grade documentation |
| Thickness / length / exposure | Replacement pieces must fit the existing course geometry. | Product specification and sample pieces |
| Treatment | Preservative/fire treatment affects compatibility and warranty. | Treatment certificate and treater warranty |
| Fasteners / flashing metals | Coastal and treated-wood compatibility matters. | Fastener and metal specification |
| Repair stock | Exact matching stock may become difficult to source years later. | Protected attic/garage reserve where practical |
Real cedar conditions belong where technical proof matters.
These images are from verified Aastro natural cedar roofing work in Boca Raton—not synthetic shake substitutes.
Identify the most responsible next step for this home.
Seven questions route the homeowner toward repair, treatment verification, wind/fire review, drying analysis or replacement planning without pretending the website has approved the roof.
Bring the cedar question and the property question together.
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.
Questions to resolve before choosing natural cedar.
Are cedar shakes and cedar shingles the same product?
No. Shakes and shingles are different wood roofing products. Handsplit/resawn and tapersawn shakes are thicker and are manufactured differently from cedar shingles. Grade, exposure, fastening, interlayment, treatment and approved installation details can also differ.
Does Florida require a specific cedar grade?
The 2023 Florida Building Code identifies minimum grade requirements and requires wood shakes and shingles to comply with Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau grading rules. The exact product, label, approval and project requirements still control.
Can cedar roofing be installed in Broward County?
Potentially, but not by assumption. The exact product and attachment system must have an approval pathway applicable to the project, and its allowable uplift resistance must meet or exceed the design uplift pressure. Broward/HVHZ requirements must be verified for the actual assembly.
What fasteners are required for cedar shakes in Florida?
The 2023 Florida Building Code requires stainless-steel ring-shank nails for wood shakes and shingles, Type 304 generally and Type 316 for coastal areas, with at least two fasteners per piece and the required sheathing penetration. The approved product and installation documents may add requirements.
Is fire-retardant treatment the same as preservative treatment?
No. Fire-retardant treatment addresses fire performance while preservative treatment addresses biological deterioration and moisture-related durability. Current CSSB materials identify them as separate treatment directions; the selected product and complete roof assembly must be verified.
Does cedar need ventilation in South Florida?
Drying is a major design issue in a warm, humid climate. The current CSSB roof manual includes ventilation, cold-roof and high-humidity solid-deck details. The correct strategy depends on the approved assembly, attic design, insulation, air sealing, roof geometry and local requirements.
Can a cedar roof be pressure washed?
Do not assume aggressive cleaning is appropriate. Cedar surface fibers and installed details can be damaged by improper cleaning. Follow current CSSB, mill and treatment guidance and use a maintenance method that preserves the wood and water-shedding assembly.
Can cedar shakes be repaired individually?
Often localized pieces can be replaced when the surrounding roof remains serviceable, but matching species, grade, thickness, exposure, weathering, treatment and fastening matter. Keeping documented repair stock and bundle labels improves future repair planning.
Does cedar have a fixed service life?
No. Service life varies with species, grade, thickness, treatment, sun and shade, moisture exposure, ventilation and drying, fasteners, installation quality, maintenance, storm exposure and repair history. A website should not promise one universal lifespan.
What should a cedar roof proposal identify?
The proposal should identify product type, species, grade, length and thickness, treatment, mill/label, approval path, deck and underlayment, interlayment where required, fasteners, exposure, valleys and flashings, ventilation/drying design, fire requirements, repair stock, warranties and concealed-condition procedures.
Use current Florida and Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau documents at the time of design.
The code and manuals below establish the framework; the exact current product approval, manufacturer/mill instructions, treatment documentation and local permit requirements still control the actual project.