Valley metal
Open valleys are cleared and resealed where needed before the leak reaches the roof boards.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Repair Morristown, NJ
A roofer in Morristown can repair a cedar shake roof by replacing split, cupped or missing shakes, fixing valley and ridge leaks and clearing moss, and tell you honestly how many good years the roof has left. Dial (862) 363-5004 to talk with a local roofer about the repair.
A cedar roof does not fail all at once. Years of wetting and drying make shakes cup and crack, and a crack that lines up with the gap in the course below lets water straight through. On the shady side, moss and needles hold water against the wood and the butt ends start to rot.
A weathered silver color is normal for cedar and says nothing about whether the roof still works. Signs that matter are thin, eroded butts, shakes that break at a touch, corroded nails and staining on the roof boards underneath. A roof with mostly sound wood is a repair job, while one that crumbles everywhere is a replacement conversation.
Stay off the roof while you wait for the visit. Wet or moss-covered shakes are extremely slippery, and brittle shakes crack under a person’s weight. Jot down which side of the house the leak is on and whether it only appears in long, steady rain.
Cedar Shake Roof Repair is often paired with cedar shake roof replacement and roof moss removal, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Morristown, NJ right now? Call (862) 363-5004 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a cedar roof repair
A good cedar repair fixes the cause and leaves the sound shakes alone.
Check the wood
The inspection covers the field of the roof, the valleys, the ridge and the flashings, plus the underside of the roof boards from the attic. The goal is to decide whether the roof is a repair or is near the end of its life.
Clean the keyways
Moss and debris are cleared by hand and with a low-pressure soft wash, never a pressure washer, which shreds the wood fibers.
Swap out bad shakes
Damaged shakes are split out, their nails are cut with a ripper, and new cedar of matching length and thickness goes in with the right side gaps. Side gaps are left on purpose, since cedar swells in rain and needs room to move.
Fix the valleys
Most cedar roofs use open metal valleys, and rusted, punctured or debris-clogged valley metal is a common leak source. Valleys move more water than anywhere else on the roof, so they get extra attention.
Ridge cap repair
Ridge caps take the most weather, so cracked pieces are swapped and loose ones are refastened. Any felt or ridge vent under the caps is checked at the same time.
Treat the roof
After the repair, zinc or copper strips can be added near the ridge to discourage moss on future rains. Trimming back branches helps as much as any product.
What is included
What cedar roof repair covers
Flashing repair
Leaking flashing where the roof meets a wall or chimney is renewed without relying on a tube of caulk.
Roof cleaning
Moss, lichen and packed debris are cleared by hand and soft wash which slows rot at the butt ends.
Hip cap repair
Weathered cap pieces are refastened or renewed with longer nails into solid wood.
Shake replacement
Cracked or broken shakes are cut out and new cedar is slipped in without lifting the healthy courses around them.
Related service
Cedar Shake Roof Maintenance Morristown, NJ
Cedar shake roof maintenance is mostly about one thing: helping the wood dry out after it gets wet. That means clearing needles and leaves from the keyways and valleys, keeping gutters flowing, trimming branches back and removing moss before it grows thick. How often depends on tree cover, with shaded roofs needing more frequent attention.
One thing to avoid is any cleaning that blasts the wood. A strong water jet strips the surface fibers, thins the shakes and forces water up under the courses. A soft wash with a cleaner made for wood, a gentle rinse and a breathable preservative is the safer approach in Morristown.
Related service
Wood Shake Roof Repair Morristown, NJ
Wood shake roof repair covers more than cedar, since some older homes have redwood or pine shakes, though cedar is by far the most common. Shakes are split rather than sawn, so they are thicker and rougher than cedar shingles, and replacements need to match that thickness to sit flat in the course. New wood stands out at first, then fades to match the older shakes over time.
On many shake roofs, strips of felt woven between courses act as a second barrier, and that felt is checked whenever shakes come out. If the felt is gone across large areas, that is a sign the roof is closer to replacement than repair. In Morristown, ask about the hidden layers, not just the shakes.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Repair Near Me
Cedar shake repair calls in Morristown usually come from homes whose wood roof has weathered for years, and the usual trouble is moss on shaded slopes, split shakes and worn valleys. From Morristown out to neighboring communities such as Cedar Knolls, Morris Plains, Whippany and Madison, wood roofs that get regular cleaning and repair last far longer than ones left alone, and small repairs keep it that way.
Need cedar shake roof repair around Morristown? Call (862) 363-5004 for a Morristown roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Morristown
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Morristown, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Morristown
Roofers in Morristown know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about cedar shake roof repair
How long does a cedar shake roof last?
A well kept cedar shake roof commonly lasts 25 to 35 years, and thick heavy shakes can go longer. How the roof is maintained makes a bigger difference than almost anything else. Catching leaks early is what keeps a cedar roof in repair territory.
Why is moss bad for cedar shakes?
Moss holds water against the wood like a sponge. Wet wood under moss decays faster and the roots can lift shake edges. Soft washing, more sunlight and a preservative treatment keep the roof dry enough to resist it.
Can a few cedar shakes be replaced without redoing the roof?
Cedar is one of the easiest roofs to repair piece by piece. A special flat tool cuts the old nails, and the new shake is slid up into the gap and nailed under the next course. The new wood looks lighter at first and weathers to gray.
Should I pressure wash my cedar shake roof?
Pressure washing is one of the fastest ways to wear out a cedar roof. It removes wood along with the dirt and leaves the shakes thinner and more absorbent. A soft wash with a wood-safe cleaner and a gentle rinse removes moss and grime without that damage.
How do I know if my cedar shake roof is past repair?
The condition of the shakes across the whole roof decides it, not just the damaged area. If a large share of the shakes are split, curled or rotted, or the roof leaks in many places, replacement is usually the better use of money. A roof with mostly solid shakes and a few bad areas is usually worth repairing.
More questions? Call (862) 363-5004
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Full replacement of worn-out wood roofs, from tear-off and sheathing to the new ridge, when the old shakes are too thin to repair.
Learn moreRoof Moss Removal
Gentle moss removal and treatment that kills the roots and slows regrowth, and repairs to any shingles the moss damaged.
Learn moreRoof Cleaning
Roof cleaning by soft wash for algae, lichen and grime, so the roof looks clean without being damaged.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Installation
Installing cedar shakes or shingles with proper exposure, valleys, ridge caps and ventilation, with every layer chosen before the first shake goes on.
Learn more
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