Cedar Shake Roofing and Cedar Roof Repair in Naperville, Downers Grove and DuPage County
Cedar Shake Roof Installation, Repair and Replacement
Adept Construction installs, repairs and replaces cedar shake and cedar shingle roofs on homes across DuPage County, from offices in Naperville and Downers Grove. We replace split, cupped and missing shakes, repair flashing at chimneys, valleys and walls, and install full cedar roofs using heavy #1 grade handsplit shakes. When a cedar roof is past saving, we’ll price a cedar-to-cedar replacement and a switch to composite shake side by side.
Adept Construction, Inc. is a family-owned Illinois roofing contractor (license No. 104.011123) that has worked on cedar roofs since 1997 and also installs every other roof system, so a cedar-versus-composite decision gets an honest comparison. Every job gets a written, itemized estimate, and our work carries a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Cedar Shakes vs Cedar Shingles
Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces, so they’re thinner, smoother and more tailored-looking. Cedar shakes are thicker. Handsplit shakes have one split face and one sawn back, and tapersawn shakes are sawn on both faces but cut thicker than shingles, according to the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau. Shakes give the rough, rustic texture most people picture when they think of a cedar roof. Both are installed on new roofs and on cedar-to-cedar replacements.
Cedar Shake Types and Grades
The two cedar shakes used on most roofs are handsplit and tapersawn. Grade matters as much as type. Premium grade shakes are 100% edge grain, while No. 1 grade shakes allow up to 20% flat grain per bundle. Edge-grain wood resists cupping and splitting better as the roof weathers.
Handsplit Shakes
Handsplit shakes have a split face with a naturally rustic texture and a sawn back. They come in medium and heavy thicknesses. Adept Construction installs heavy #1 grade handsplit shakes rather than thinner, lower grades.
Tapersawn Shakes
Tapersawn shakes are sawn on both faces for a cleaner, more uniform look, and are thicker than cedar shingles. Most are about 5/8 inch thick at the butt.
Cedar Shake Roof Repair
Yes, a cedar shake roof can be repaired. Individual shakes can be replaced without disturbing the rest of the roof, and prompt repairs extend its life. Signs a cedar roof needs attention:
- shakes that are split, cracked or missing, especially after wind,
- shakes that have cupped or curled at the edges,
- moss, lichen or dark staining on shaded slopes that stay damp,
- gaps where shakes have shrunk or slipped, and
- leaks at chimneys, valleys, skylights or walls, where flashing fails before the wood does.
We replace damaged shakes with matching wood, reflash chimneys and valleys, and tell you in writing how much life the rest of the roof has. Our guide to cedar shingle repair explains what’s repairable.
Cedar Shake Roofing in Naperville, Downers Grove and Hinsdale
Cedar shake roofs are concentrated on the larger, older homes in the area. In Downers Grove that means lots in Brookeridge, Denburn Woods and Orchard Brook. In Naperville it’s White Eagle and Hobson West, and cedar is common in Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Lemont. Mature trees keep many of these roofs shaded, and shaded cedar stays damp longer, which is where moss and early decay start.
How long does a cedar roof last? About 30 to 40 years, according to the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau, depending on the grade, the installation and how much sun and air the roof gets.
Replace with cedar, or switch? When a cedar roof reaches the end of its life, we price a cedar-to-cedar replacement and composite shake side by side. Composite keeps the look with far less upkeep. See our cedar roof replacement cost guide.
Permits: the City of Naperville requires a building permit for a wood shake or shingle re-roof, unlike a like-for-like asphalt shingle replacement. We apply for it and include the fee in the estimate. Homeowners in other towns can start from the Naperville or Downers Grove service-area page.
Cedar Shake Roofing FAQs
A cedar shake roof lasts about 30 to 40 years, according to the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau. Grade, installation quality, ventilation and how much sun the roof gets all affect the real number; shaded, damp roofs age faster.
Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces and are thinner and smoother. Cedar shakes are thicker: handsplit shakes have one split face and a sawn back, and tapersawn shakes are sawn on both faces but cut thicker than shingles.
Yes. Split, cupped or missing shakes can be replaced individually, and failed flashing at chimneys, valleys and walls can be redone without replacing the roof. Prompt repairs extend a cedar roof’s life; widespread decay or a roof near 30 to 40 years old is usually a replacement.
Warning signs are shakes that are split, cracked, cupped, curled or missing; moss, lichen or dark staining on shaded slopes; gaps between shakes; and leaks or stains near chimneys, valleys and skylights.
Adept Construction installs heavy #1 grade handsplit cedar shakes. Under the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau’s grading, Premium grade is 100% edge grain and No. 1 grade allows up to 20% flat grain per bundle.
Yes. The City of Naperville requires a building permit for a wood shake or shingle re-roof, while a like-for-like asphalt shingle replacement that keeps the existing sheathing does not need one. Adept Construction applies for the permit and includes the fee in the estimate.
Upkeep and cost. Cedar costs more than asphalt, and on shaded, damp roofs it needs attention to keep moss and decay from shortening its life. That is why many homeowners replacing an old cedar roof choose composite shake, which keeps the look with far less maintenance.
Cedar keeps the natural wood look and suits older and historic homes; composite shake costs less to maintain and resists impact and rot. Adept Construction prices both side by side; see composite roofing.
A cedar shake roof is priced by its size in squares, pitch and height, the shake type and grade, tear-off of the old roof, decking repairs and the permit fee. Cedar costs more per square than asphalt shingles. Adept Construction gives a free written, itemized estimate; see our cedar roof replacement cost guide.
Yes. Adept Construction installs and repairs cedar shake roofs in Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Lemont, Naperville, Downers Grove and nearby communities, from offices in Downers Grove ((630) 964-8708) and Naperville ((630) 360-2730).