Your Do-It-Yourself Guide to a Cedar Shake Roof

Cedar shake roofs are popular among homeowners who want their homes to have a distinctly rustic look. A dedicated do-it-yourself homeowner can put a cedar shake roof on a house in a few days.

Here's how to get the job done right:

Invalid Zip
• Remove the existing roof down to the plywood. A good, strong base is needed to support cedar shake roofs due to their weight. Strengthen or repair the base as needed to avoid a sagging roof later on.
• Apply a single line of tar paper. Start on the lower edge of the roof. Tack the paper with galvanized roofing nails.
• Nail the first cedar shake with the large end down. The first cedar shake should hang about an inch and a half over the gable end of the roof and an inch or two over the fascia. Nail it with two or three cedar shake roofing nails.
• Set the first row of cedar shakes. Snap a chalk line to keep them straight and leave a small gap of 1/2 to 5/8 inch between them. This allows for natural expansion of the wood. Place nails where the next row of cedar shakes can cover them.
• Overlap the first row of cedar shakes. After a few rows, there should be a thickness of three cedar shakes at any given point on the roof.
• Repeat the process. Work your way up to the apex of the roof.
• Use galvanized flashing in the valleys as you go. Flash vents and pipes with a rubber fitting boot and caulking. Use a utility knife to trim the adjoining cedar shakes.
• Line the apex with cedar ridge-caps. This prevents water from getting underneath the lower rows.

Installing a cedar shake roof takes some time and concentration, but it's certainly something a do-it-yourself homeowner can accomplish. Do it right and enjoy your new roof for years to come.