Cedar shake roofs in Calgary: what to know
A cedar shake roof can work in Calgary, but it needs more care here than in wetter, milder places, and it is not the easiest roof for a hail belt city. That is the honest starting point.
Plenty of older Calgary homes were built with cedar roofs, and many still have them. Homeowners who call us about cedar usually fall into one of three groups: they want to keep an existing cedar roof going a while longer, they want to replace worn cedar with new cedar, or they are ready to move to a material that asks less of them. We do all three, and we do not push anyone toward one answer.
The right choice depends on how long you plan to stay, how much the cedar look matters to you and how your insurer treats wood roofs.
Shakes vs shingles: what is on your roof?
Cedar shakes are split from the log and are thick and rough; cedar shingles are sawn on both sides and are thinner and smoother. Both are wood, but they look and wear differently.
- Hand-split shakes have a heavily textured, irregular face and a rustic, shadowed look. They are the thickest option.
- Taper-sawn shakes are split on the face for texture and sawn on the back for a consistent taper, so they lie more evenly.
- Cedar shingles are sawn smooth on both faces, thinner and more uniform, giving a tidier, tailored appearance.
Thickness matters in Calgary. Thicker wood holds up longer against sun, drying and hail, while thin shingles erode and split sooner.
How Calgary’s climate affects cedar
Calgary’s climate is tough on wood because it is dry, sunny, windy and prone to hail. Cedar that might age slowly in a damp coastal climate dries out and weathers faster here.
Pros and cons of cedar shake roofing
Cedar’s biggest strength is its appearance; its biggest drawbacks in Calgary are maintenance, fire and insurance questions, and weather wear.
| Advantages | Drawbacks | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Natural texture and character no other material fully matches | Weathers to grey unevenly; damaged areas stand out |
| Insulation | Wood adds some natural insulating value | Little effect if the attic is poorly insulated or ventilated |
| Maintenance | Individual shakes can be replaced | Needs regular attention to debris, flashing and splitting |
| Fire | Treated shakes improve fire performance | Untreated cedar is combustible |
| Insurance | Some insurers accept well-kept cedar | Others charge more, limit coverage or decline older wood roofs |
| Cost | Adds value to homes where the look fits | Costs more than asphalt to buy, install and maintain |
| Installers | Skilled cedar work produces a beautiful roof | Fewer crews specialize in wood, so workmanship varies |
Fire rating and insurance
Fire performance and insurance are the two questions every Calgary homeowner should settle before choosing cedar. Both depend on the specific product and your specific policy.
Untreated cedar burns, and weathered, dry shakes burn more easily. Shakes that are pressure-treated with a fire retardant perform much better and can reach a higher fire rating. Insurance is less predictable. Some insurers price wood roofs higher, some add conditions and some are reluctant to cover older cedar at all. Roof age also affects hail and storm claims: a roof under 15 years old may be paid at full replacement minus the deductible, one aged 15 to 25 years is often depreciated 50 to 80 percent, and one over 25 years may be paid at actual cash value or denied. Policies vary, so call your insurer and check any local requirements for your property before you commit.
Signs a cedar roof is at the end of its life
A cedar roof is near the end when damage is widespread rather than isolated. Look for these signs:
- Widespread splitting across many shakes on every slope, not just a few.
- Thin, eroded shakes worn down so much that the nails or the course below show through.
- Curling and cupping that leaves gaps for wind and water.
- Missing shakes after windstorms or hail.
- Soft spots when walking the roof, pointing to rotten wood or decking.
- Leaks or stains on ceilings, or daylight visible through the roof from the attic.
- Rot around valleys, chimneys and shaded areas where debris collects.
One or two of these on a small area can often be repaired; most of them across the whole roof usually means replacement.
Repairing or maintaining an existing cedar roof
A cedar roof with mostly sound, thick wood can often be kept going with targeted repairs and simple upkeep. The goal is to stop water getting behind the shakes.
- Replace individual shakes. Split, loose or missing shakes are cut out and new ones slipped into place and fastened without disturbing the courses around them.
- Redo worn flashing. Chimneys, walls, skylights, vents and valleys are where cedar roofs leak first, and old flashing often outlasts its seal.
- Keep the roof clear. Remove needles, leaves and debris from valleys and the spaces between shakes so wood can dry after rain and snowmelt.
- Trim overhanging branches. Less shade and debris means drier wood.
- Avoid pressure-washing. High-pressure water tears wood fibres, forces water under the shakes and shortens the roof’s life. Gentle cleaning is the safer approach.
Repairs are worth it when the nearby wood still has life in it. If new shakes sit among badly eroded ones, you are paying to patch a roof that needs replacing.
Replacing cedar: your options
When a cedar roof is done, you can replace it with new cedar or switch to a material better suited to Calgary’s hail and wind. Each has an honest case.
New cedar shakes
Cedar-to-cedar keeps your home’s original character and suits heritage-style houses. Choose thicker shakes, consider fire-retardant treated wood and confirm with your insurer first. Expect to keep maintaining it.
Class 4 impact-resistant asphalt shingles
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles carry the top UL 2218 impact rating, the strongest hail protection available in a shingle. Many come in heavy, dimensional profiles that give a shake-like shadow line from the street.
Synthetic or composite shakes
Synthetic shakes are moulded to look like split cedar without drying, cracking or needing debris care the way wood does. They are a common choice for homeowners who want the look without the upkeep.
Metal shake profiles
Metal roofing can be pressed into shake-style profiles. It is non-combustible, lasts decades and sheds snow, though large hail can leave cosmetic dents.
If budget comes first, a quality asphalt shingle roof remains the most common replacement for worn cedar.
Cedar vs Class 4 shingles vs synthetic shakes vs metal
Cedar wins on natural character, Class 4 shingles on hail protection for the cost, synthetic shakes on low-maintenance wood looks, and metal on longevity.
| Cedar shakes | Class 4 shingles | Synthetic shakes | Metal shake profiles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Authentic wood | Dimensional shingle, shake-style options | Imitates cedar closely | Shake pattern in metal |
| Hail | Weakens as wood dries | Top UL 2218 rating | Varies by product | Can dent, usually cosmetic |
| Maintenance | Highest | Low | Low | Very low |
| Fire | Combustible unless treated | Good | Varies by product | Non-combustible |
| Insurance | Often questioned | Varies by insurer | Varies by insurer | Varies by insurer |
| Up-front cost (relative) | High | Moderate | High | High |
Our cedar shake installation and replacement process
Whether you choose new cedar or another material, our replacement follows the same careful sequence:
- Tear-off to the deck. We remove the old shakes and any underlying layers instead of roofing over wood.
- Assess the sheathing. Many older cedar roofs sit on spaced boards. For new cedar, we discuss spaced sheathing versus a solid deck with a ventilating layer; for shingles, synthetics or metal, we install solid sheathing over the boards.
- Deck repairs. Rotten or damaged boards are replaced.
- Ice-and-water shield. A self-adhering membrane goes along the eaves and in the valleys, where ice dams and freeze-thaw cause the most trouble.
- Underlayment and interlayment. New cedar shakes get interlayment between courses; other materials get synthetic underlayment.
- Drip edge and flashing. New drip edge at the roof edge, plus valley, wall, chimney and vent flashing.
- Proper fastening. Corrosion-resistant nails placed correctly for each shake, with the right spacing so wood can swell and shrink.
- Ventilation. Balanced intake and ridge venting keep the attic dry and help wood roofs dry out from below.
- Cleanup and magnetic nail sweep. Old cedar makes a lot of debris, so we clear it and sweep the yard for nails.
A full replacement needs about 3 to 5 dry days. Snow can arrive as early as the third week of September, so book fall work by mid-September.
What affects the cost of a cedar roof or cedar replacement
Cedar roof cost depends mainly on the material you choose, the size and shape of the roof and what is found under the old shakes. We measure your roof before giving a number.
- Material choice. New cedar, Class 4 shingles, synthetic shakes and metal are priced very differently.
- Shake grade and thickness. Thicker, fire-retardant treated cedar costs more.
- Roof size. Roofs are measured in squares (100 sq ft), and roof area is usually about 1.3 to 1.5 times the home’s floor area.
- Complexity and pitch. Valleys, dormers, chimneys and steep slopes add labour.
- Tear-off and disposal. Removing thick cedar is heavier work than stripping shingles.
- Sheathing. Adding a solid deck over spaced boards is often part of a cedar replacement.
- Timing. Summer is peak season, with backlogs of 4 to 6 weeks.
For a broader breakdown, read our roof replacement cost guide for Calgary. Questions first? Contact us or book your free roof inspection.
Other roof types
Asphalt shingle roofing is Calgary’s everyday default, and Class 4 impact-resistant shingles add serious hail protection. Metal roofing suits long-term owners. For low-slope additions, see flat roofing and rubber roofing.