1. Character no manufactured product fully matches: Hand-split shakes vary in width, thickness and grain, giving a roof surface with irregularity that reads as genuinely handmade. Composite imitations have become very good, but on a close view cedar is still cedar.

2. Natural insulating value: Wood is a far better insulator than tile, slate or metal. A cedar roof contributes measurably more thermal resistance than a comparable thickness of any mineral material.

3. Weathers rather than degrades: Left untreated, cedar moves from warm honey brown through amber to a soft silver gray. Many owners choose cedar specifically for that progression.

4. Light on the structure: Cedar shake is light enough for standard framing, so there is no structural reinforcement to budget for.

5. A renewable material: Cedar is a harvested, renewable resource, and at end of life it is biodegradable rather than heading to landfill as an inert product.

Our Wood Shake Installation Process

Cedar is installed on spaced sheathing or a batten system so that air can move on both faces of every shake. A cedar roof that cannot breathe will not last, and this is where most failed installations went wrong.

1. Consultation and honest assessment: We start by talking about maintenance. Cedar is the highest-upkeep roof we install, and if that does not suit how you want to live, we will say so and show you composite shake alternatives instead of selling you the wrong roof.

2. Grade and treatment selection: We specify the shake grade and the treatment. Pressure-treated fire-retardant cedar achieves a Class A or B fire rating, and in much of Texas this is either required by code or by your insurer, so we establish that early.

3. Spaced sheathing or batten system: Cedar is laid on spaced sheathing or battens rather than solid decking, so air circulates behind the shakes and they can dry after rain. Skipping this is the single most common cause of premature cedar failure.

4. Underlayment and interlayment: Felt interlayment is woven between the courses on a shake roof, which is a specific technique that gives the roof its secondary water barrier.

5. Shake installation: Shakes are laid to the correct exposure for their length and your pitch, with staggered joints and the offsets between courses set properly. Stainless fixings are used throughout, because standard fasteners corrode against the natural tannins in cedar.

6. Maintenance briefing and handover: We finish by walking you through the actual maintenance schedule: keeping the roof clear of debris, managing overhanging branches, and when to plan for cleaning or re-treatment.