North Shore Cedar Roof Comparisons:

Here are the four most common Cedar roofs on the North Shore:

18” Machine Sawn Perfection Shingles, with 5.5“ Exposure (Lifespan 18 – 23 Years) Cedar shingles are used for both roof and side wall applications and offer a lighter, more refined appearance than hand-split shakes. Certain architectural home styles are more appropriate for Sawn Shingles, which is the primary reason they are chosen. On average, this material is 3/8” thick at the butt end and is installed with 5.5” Exposure.

18” Tapersawn Shakes, with 7.5“ Exposure (Lifespan 20 – 25 Years) We frequently urge clients to consider using Tapersawn Shakes instead of 18” shingles because they offer the same clean, architectural appearance but are substantially thicker. Remember, when it comes to cedar roofing, thicker is better. On average, this material ranges from 5/8” or 3/4” thick at the butt end and is installed with 7.5” Exposure. Expect to get between 20-25 years of service out of a Tapersawn Shake roof.

24” Medium Hand-Split Shakes, with 10“ Exposure (Lifespan 18 – 23 Years) The most common cedar roofing material, Medium Shakes are the workhorse of the industry. They are the go-to choice for home builders, primarily because it is the most affordable wood roof one can find. On average, this material ranges from 1/2” to 5/8” thick at the butt end and is installed with 10” Exposure. Expect to get between 19 and 24 years of service out of an unmaintained Medium Shake roof.

24” Heavy Hand-Split Shakes, with 10“ Exposure (Lifespan 25 – 30 Years) We encourage our clients to consider Heavy Shakes whenever possible, because they offer substantially more long-term performance for a small increase in cost up front. On average, this material ranges from 3/4” to 7/8” thick at the butt end and is installed with 10” Exposure. Expect to get between 25 and 30 years of service out of an Heavy Cedar Shake roof.