Cedar Shake Roofing - A Green Building Product

You need a new roof, and you've always liked the look of cedar shakes. But, you're concerned about the environment and don't want the neighbors pointing at your roof for the wrong reasons. Relax! You can have your cedar shake roof and sleep easy at night knowing you made a green choice.

How a Cedar Shake Roof Can Be Green

Trees harvested from managed new growth forests, where new trees are planted to replace the removed trees, are like vegetables or fruit--sustainable. In fact, wood products from these managed new growth forests are considered green building products because the trees are grown using forestry methods endorsed by environmentally responsible organizations.

A cedar shake roof usually consists of red or white cedar, both of which grow fairly quickly. But, how can you tell if the wood came from a responsibly managed forest? Two independent non-profit groups monitor managed forests. They make sure trees are grown properly, not harvested until ready, and new trees are planted to replace those harvested. The groups also monitor the chain of custody. So, you know your cedar shakes come from managed forests.

Look for these certifications when purchasing cedar for your cedar shake roof:

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• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified: the FSC is an international organization, and 57 countries follow its policies.
• Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Certified: the PRFC is also an international organization which monitors forest management methods in more than 35 countries.

When you choose cedar with a FSC or PEFC certification, your cedar shake roof falls under the classification of green building practices. That way, you can have the environmentally friendly roof you want and know your neighbors are pointing at your roof for the right reasons.