Wall flashing
Rusted or loose flashing at penetrations is replaced without relying on a tube of caulk.
Cedar Shake Roofing
Cedar Shake Roof Repair Lyndhurst, NJ
Most cedar shake roofs in Lyndhurst can be repaired one damaged shake at a time, as long as the wood around them is still solid, before water reaches the sheathing below. Dial (551) 348-2859 to talk with a local roofer about the repair.
A cedar roof does not fail all at once. Sun dries the top of each shake while the underside stays damp, so the wood cups, curls and eventually splits along the grain. Shade, moss and packed debris keep the butts wet long enough to rot, which is where most leaks on older wood roofs start.
A weathered silver color is normal for cedar and says nothing about whether the roof still works. A roofer checks shake thickness at the butts, how many shakes crumble or snap when pressed, whether the nails are rusting through and how the sheathing feels from the attic. When the majority of shakes are still solid, replacing the bad ones and fixing the details extends the roof for years.
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. From the ground, note missing shakes, green patches, curled edges and where any stain shows up inside after rain.
Many cedar shake roof repair calls in Lyndhurst also turn up a need for cedar shake roof replacement or roof moss removal.
Need cedar shake roof repair in Lyndhurst? Call (551) 348-2859 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The cedar roof repair process
A good cedar repair fixes the cause and leaves the sound shakes alone.
Start with an inspection
Each slope is checked for split, cupped and rotted shakes, and the attic is checked for stained or soft sheathing. The goal is to decide whether the roof is a repair or is near the end of its life.
Remove moss first
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. Spacing matters because shakes jammed tight buckle when they absorb water.
Fix the valleys
Open valleys collect leaves, so they are cleared, and worn metal is replaced with new galvanized, aluminum or copper valley. Shakes along the valley are trimmed back so water stays in the metal channel.
Ridge cap repair
Broken caps along the ridge and hips are replaced, alternating the overlap the way the original caps were laid. Any felt or ridge vent under the caps is checked at the same time.
Treat the roof
A breathable wood treatment can be applied to help the shakes resist rot and weathering. Clear gutters keep water off the lowest course.
What is included
Repairs a cedar roofer can handle
Hip cap repair
Broken hip and ridge caps are swapped with longer nails into solid wood.
Shake replacement
Split, cupped and missing shakes are replaced one at a time using corrosion-resistant nails hidden under the course above.
Moss removal
Growth is removed gently so the wood fibers are not torn instead of with a pressure washer that strips the wood.
Valley repair
Rusted or punctured valley metal is patched or replaced with shakes trimmed back from the center line.
Related service
Cedar Shake Roof Maintenance Lyndhurst, NJ
Regular care on a wood roof comes down to drainage, airflow and catching small splits early. The routine is simple: clean the keyways, clear the valleys and gutters, cut back branches and deal with moss while it is still thin. How often depends on tree cover, with shaded roofs needing more frequent attention.
The biggest mistake with cedar is pressure washing. A strong water jet strips the surface fibers, thins the shakes and forces water up under the courses. Gentle cleaning followed by a wood treatment keeps a Lyndhurst cedar roof looking good without shortening its life.
Related service
Wood Shake Roof Repair Lyndhurst, NJ
Whatever the species, wood shake repair follows the same rules: cut the old nails, slide in new wood and leave room to swell. Hand-split and resawn shakes have a rough face and heavy butts, and replacement pieces are chosen to match. A new shake starts out light tan and weathers to the same gray as the rest of the roof within a season or two.
On many shake roofs, strips of felt woven between courses act as a second barrier, and that felt is checked whenever shakes come out. Damaged interlay is replaced in the repair area so the second layer works again. In Lyndhurst, ask about the hidden layers, not just the shakes.
Local help
Cedar Shake Roof Repair Near Me
In Lyndhurst, wood shake roofs show up on established homes where the original cedar is now decades old, and the usual trouble is moss on shaded slopes, split shakes and worn valleys. Homes in Lyndhurst and nearby towns like Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington often sit under mature trees that keep cedar damp, so keeping the roof clear matters as much as the repairs, which is why it pays to catch damage early.
For cedar shake roof repair in Lyndhurst, NJ or nearby towns like Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington, call (551) 348-2859 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Lyndhurst
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Lyndhurst, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Lyndhurst know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Cedar Shake Roof Repair questions
How long does a cedar shake roof last?
Most cedar roofs last somewhere between 20 and 40 years, depending on thickness, climate and care. Roofs under trees or in damp shade wear out faster, and roofs that are cleaned and repaired last longer. Fixing damaged shakes early protects the boards underneath and keeps the roof going.
Why is moss bad for cedar shakes?
Moss itself is soft, but the moisture it holds is the problem. Wet wood under moss decays faster and the roots can lift shake edges. Clearing it gently and trimming branches for more sun usually stops the damage before repairs get large.
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. Ask for a low-pressure soft wash instead.
When should a cedar roof be replaced instead of repaired?
Look at the whole field of shakes, not the worst spot. Brittle shakes that crack as the roofer works around them, widespread rot and failing nails point toward replacement. If most shakes are still thick and hold a nail, repair is the reasonable choice.
Is it possible to repair just part of a cedar shake 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.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2859
Often needed together
Cedar Shake Roof Replacement
Replacing an old cedar shake roof down to the boards, then rebuilding it right, with the deck brought up to what the new roof needs.
Learn moreRoof Moss Removal
Clearing thick moss off a roof and checking the shingles it lifted, so water drains the way the roof was built for.
Learn moreRoof Cleaning
Low-pressure roof cleaning that removes dark streaks without stripping granules, and options to slow the stains from coming back.
Learn moreCedar Shake Roof Installation
New cedar shake roofs built with the right sheathing, felt interlay, spacing and stainless fasteners, with every layer chosen before the first shake goes on.
Learn more
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