Adept Construction removed the worn natural cedar shakes from a brick contemporary home in Homer Glen, IL, in Will County, and replaced them with Brava Composite Cedar Shake, a synthetic shake made from recycled materials. The before photos were taken in August 2024 and the job was finished by June 2025.
Project at a glance
- Location: Homer Glen, IL (Will County)
- Completed: by June 2025
- Service: cedar shake replacement
- Removed: natural cedar shakes
- Installed: Brava Composite Cedar Shake
About the area
Homer Glen is a village in Will County that incorporated in 2001. This home sits among mature trees that shade the shakes for much of the day.
The challenge and how we solved it
The challenge: the natural cedar shakes had turned dark and patchy, with moss and algae growing on the shaded sections and many shakes cupped or split along the corners.
The solution: the crew removed the old cedar and installed Brava Composite Cedar Shake, which keeps the hand-split cedar look without the regular treatments natural cedar needs.
What we did
- Removed the old natural cedar shakes.
- Installed Brava Composite Cedar Shake on the shake-covered sections of the home.
- Wrapped the corners and edges with matching composite shake.
The finished project
Why these materials
Brava Composite Cedar Shake. Brava makes its shake from compressed recycled plastics and other materials, and says the product can be recycled again when the roof is eventually replaced. Brava gives it a Class 4 impact rating, offers Class A or Class C fire ratings, rates it for winds of 110 mph and up, and backs it with a limited 50-year warranty that includes hail. Brava also lists it as freeze/thaw resistant and color-fast. By comparison, Brava puts the average life of a natural cedar roof at 15 to 20 years, and that assumes regular maintenance.
Keeping it in good shape
- Keep tree branches trimmed back from the house. Shade and falling debris were behind most of the moss on the old shakes.
- Clear leaves and needles from valleys, corners and gutters after fall so water can run off freely.
- Check the roof from the ground after severe storms. The National Weather Service Chicago office issues severe thunderstorm and high wind warnings for DuPage and Will counties, and lifted or missing shingles should be looked at before the next storm.
- Watch for long icicles or ice ridges at the eaves in winter. They can point to attic heat loss and ice dams that push water under the roof edge.
- Rinse heavy dirt or pollen off with a garden hose rather than a pressure washer.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Adept Construction replaced natural cedar shakes with Brava Composite Cedar Shake on this Homer Glen home, finishing the job by June 2025.
Synthetic shake keeps the cedar look without the regular treatments natural cedar needs. Brava rates its composite shake Class 4 for impact and backs it with a limited 50-year warranty.
Brava puts the average life of a natural cedar roof at 15 to 20 years, assuming the owner keeps up with maintenance.
Yes. Brava says its shake is made from compressed recycled plastics and other materials and can be recycled when it is replaced.
Planning a project in Homer Glen?
Adept Construction has served DuPage and Will County homeowners since 1997. See our Homer Glen roofing services, learn about composite roofing and cedar shake roofing. You can also see more Adept projects or request a free roof estimate.
