Traditional cedar wood roofs are most notable for their striking natural good looks. However, beyond their beauty, they offer a whole host of practical advantages such as eco-friendliness, durability, and weather resistance. Cedar roofs do require a certain amount of care, though, to extend their life and keep them at their best. All roofing materials have pros and cons associated with them, and cedar is no exception. But with cedar roofing, most homeowners find the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of all is the natural beauty of cedar. They will acquire a distinctive silvery gray patina as they weather, allowing them to blend into their natural surroundings and look lovely on traditional or modern style homes, country cottages, or beach houses.

In terms of cost-savings, cedar wood is long-lasting, making it an ideal roofing material. Due to its durability they are normally warranted for 20-25 years but they will generally last as long as 50-60 years or more if properly installed, maintained, and restored. Cedar roofs are naturally resistant to strong winds and are durable in hurricanes, heavy rains, hail storms, snowstorms and other types of severe storms while also standing up to great variations in temperature and freeze-thaw cycles. They are also earthquake resilient.

Cedar wood roofs are also energy efficient, providing a natural insulation up to two times that of asphalt shingles. This allows you to conserve home heating and cooling costs, and significantly save on energy bills.

What’s also great is that cedar contains natural oils which resist mildew or decay and repel bugs.

Not to be overlooked are the benefits of using an eco-friendly roofing material. Cedar roofs are environmentally friendly when their wood comes from sustainable sources. You may want to look for certification of sustainability by the Forest Stewardship Council. At the end of their life, discarded cedar shakes or shingles are recyclable as mulch.

Now talking about disadvantages, the only issues are the cost and maintenance.  Compared with other roofing materials, such as the popular asphalt shingles, cedar roofing shingles are more expensive and cost more to install. But when you consider that your home is perhaps the largest investment of your lifetime, it makes sense to top it with a high quality, long-lasting roofing material. Top quality roofing, like cedar wood, comes with a higher price. However, over time, the longevity of cedar wood roofing provides a higher return on investment.

When it comes to roof maintenance, just about all roof types need some form of care to ensure their performance. Cedar roofs require regular maintenance. Fallen leaves and other debris should be removed twice a year, in spring and fall. This is not just for esthetic reasons. An excessive amount of debris will obstruct rain and melted snow from draining off your roof.

Choosing a cedar roof is an individual decision where the pros and cons of cedar shingles can vary depending on your individual needs. Some of these needs may be your climate, location, the home surroundings in terms of trees and sun exposure, your desired maintenance commitment and, of course, your budget. If you’re considering enhancing your house with cedar roof contact us and we will be glad to analyze your situation and provide with any information that you need.