Cedar Shake Roofing in Pittsburgh

Rankmako provides cedar shake roofing for homeowners across the Pittsburgh area.

PITTSBURGH · CEDAR SHAKE SPECIALISTS · BOOK ONLINE

Cedar Shake Roofing Built to Weather Pittsburgh Winters

We install, repair, and restore Western red cedar and Alaskan yellow cedar roofs across Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Licensed crews, breathable install detail engineered for freeze-thaw climates, zinc ridge strips for humid summers, and free on-site inspections — request your written estimate in under two minutes.

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Call (412) 625-8360

Properly installed cedar shake roofs last 30–40 years — we build to that standard, not the 15-year minimum.

Hand-Split Grade 1 Shakes

In addition, western red cedar or Alaskan yellow cedar — 100% edge-grain heartwood, kiln-dried below 20% moisture, in medium or heavy resawn thicknesses.

Breathable Install Detail

As a result, skip sheathing or elevated batten install with 30-lb felt interlayment between courses — the detail that survives Pittsburgh freeze-thaw cycles.

Zinc or Copper Ridge Strips

Inhibits the moss and algae that shorten shake life by 5–10 years in humid Pennsylvania climates. For example, included on every full install.

Full Tear-off & Cleanup

In fact, ground tarps, magnetic nail sweep, tear-off haul-away, gutter debris removal — driveway usable before dark, lawn back in shape by day two.

Cedar shake style residential roof in Pittsburgh
Finished residential roof after a Pittsburgh cedar shake install

How Our Pittsburgh Cedar Shake Roofing Compares

Roofing option Expected lifespan Curb-appeal texture Fire rating
Cedar shake (installed by us) 30–40 years High — natural, dimensional Class A available (CCA-treated)
Standard asphalt shingle 15–20 years Flat, uniform Class A stock
Synthetic cedar look-alike 25–30 years Moderate — molded polymer Class A stock
Cedar shake — unmaintained 15–20 years Fades, cups, splits Untreated Class C

Types of Cedar Shake Roofing for Pittsburgh Homes

“Cedar shake” covers more than one product, and the choice affects both the look and how the roof holds up through Pittsburgh’s freeze-thaw winters and humid summers. The species, the cut, and whether the shakes are fire-treated all change performance and, on older homes, how close a re-roof can get to the original material. Here’s what actually separates the options.

Hand-Split (Resawn) Shakes

Split rather than sawn, so each shake has an irregular, deep-shadow-line face — the closest match to the original roofing on most pre-1950 Pittsburgh homes. The rustic texture is the main draw; the tradeoff is a higher material and labor cost than a sawn shake.

Taper-Sawn Shakes

Machine-sawn on both faces for a smoother, more uniform butt line. Less rustic than hand-split, but the consistent thickness makes installation faster and typically brings the labor cost down — a common choice on new builds or additions that don’t need to match an existing hand-split roof exactly.

Western Red Cedar vs. Alaskan Yellow Cedar

Western red cedar is the material most Pittsburgh installers stock — naturally oily heartwood that resists rot and insects, provided the roof deck is properly vented. Alaskan yellow cedar is denser and slightly more decay-resistant, but it costs more and isn’t always readily available, so it’s usually a special-order choice rather than the default.

Fire-Treated (Class A) Shakes

Pressure-impregnated with a fire retardant to reach a Class A fire rating — untreated wood shakes are typically Class C at best. Several insurers require Class A treatment before they’ll write or renew a policy on a wood-roofed home, so it’s worth confirming with your carrier before choosing untreated shakes.

For most Pittsburgh homeowners the decision comes down to two questions: does the house need to match an existing hand-split roofline, and does your insurance carrier require Class A fire treatment. Both are worth settling before a written scope goes out.

How the Job Runs

01

Get a Quote

Similarly, submit address plus 3–4 roof photos or book a free 30-minute on-site inspection — written estimate returned within 2 business days with a line-item scope.

02

Confirm Details

Because of this, choose cedar grade, thickness, fire treatment, and ridge-strip option — we lock the install date and order material once you sign.

03

We Handle the Rest

What’s more, tear-off, felt interlayment, shake install, and full cleanup — most residential jobs run 3–6 working days depending on square footage and pitch.

04

Final Walkthrough

In particular, on-site walkthrough, warranty paperwork, photo documentation, and a 5-year maintenance schedule dropped straight to your calendar.

Service Options & Pricing

Cedar Shake Repair

Isolated shake or ridge-line replacement

In addition, storm damage, targeted leaks, moss removal

Quote on request

Partial Cedar Re-Roof

One slope or damaged section

Mixed-age roofs, phased budgets

Quote on request

Full Cedar Shake Replacement

Whole roof — tear-off, underlayment, install

As a result, end-of-life roofs, restorations, insurance-approved rebuilds

Quote on request

Pennsylvania homeowners are protected under the state’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which requires a written contract for any home improvement job over $500.

Frequently Asked Questions

Materials, Cost & Codes

How long does a cedar shake roof last in Pittsburgh?
Properly installed cedar shake roofs typically last 30–40 years in Pittsburgh, provided they sit on breathable skip sheathing with 30-lb felt interlayment between courses. In addition, zinc or copper ridge strips add another 5–10 years by inhibiting moss and algae.
Is cedar shake worth the extra cost over asphalt?
Cedar shake costs roughly 2–3× asphalt but lasts about 2× as long and holds resale value better on historic and architectural homes. As a result, on contemporary tract housing, asphalt is usually the smarter economic choice.
What's the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
Shakes are hand-split with a textured, three-dimensional surface — the traditional look for historic homes. For example, shingles are sawn on both sides, thinner, and lie flat for a tailored profile. For example, shakes shed water faster; shingles look more refined.
Do cedar shake roofs need fire treatment in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania does not universally mandate Class A fire treatment, but many insurers require CCA-treated shakes to write or renew a homeowner's policy. In fact, we install pre-treated Class A shakes on request.
How often does a cedar shake roof need maintenance?
Plan on a light cleaning every 2–3 years and a preservative or oil treatment every 5–7 years. Similarly, moss removal after wet seasons is critical in Pittsburgh's humid climate — organic buildup traps moisture and accelerates shake decay.
Can you re-cover an existing asphalt roof with cedar shake?
No — cedar shake requires a full tear-off and breathable underlayment. Because of this, layering shake over asphalt traps moisture, cooks the underside of the shakes, and voids most manufacturer warranties.

Areas, Timing & Warranty

Do you handle insurance claims for storm damage?
Yes. What’s more, we document damage with a written report and photo set, meet the adjuster on-site if requested, and invoice approved scope directly through your policy.
What areas around Pittsburgh do you serve?
We install and repair cedar shake roofs throughout Pittsburgh and adjacent Pennsylvania communities. In particular, see our service area page for the full list of ZIP codes covered by licensed crews.
What's the best time of year to install cedar shake in Pittsburgh?
Spring through mid-fall — roughly March to October — is the ideal window. In addition, we avoid installs below 40°F because underlayment adhesive and sealant chemistry needs warmer temperatures to cure correctly.
Do you offer warranties on cedar shake installations?
Yes. As a result, material warranties are set by the manufacturer (typically 25–30 years on Grade 1 shakes), and we back our workmanship with a written 10-year labor warranty transferable to a new homeowner within the first 3 years.

Repair, Installation & Coverage

Repair or full replacement — how do I know which my cedar shake roof needs?
An inspection distinguishes localized failure — a cluster of split or curled shakes, an isolated moss patch — from systemic failure, where curling and soft, spongy sections show up across multiple slopes or fastener failure is visible from the attic. Spot repairs make sense for the first case; once failure is spread across most of the roof, patching costs more over time than a full re-cover.
Does a cedar shake roof need a different deck than an asphalt roof?
Yes. Cedar shake needs breathable skip-sheathing — spaced boards, not a solid deck — so air can circulate behind each shake. A home currently roofed in asphalt over solid plywood usually needs furring strips or skip-sheathing added over the existing deck before shakes go down. Skipping that step is one of the more common causes of premature rot.
Is cedar shake roofing harder to insure in Pittsburgh?
It can be. Some insurers surcharge or decline coverage on untreated wood roofs because of fire risk, and Class A fire-treated shakes are frequently required to qualify for standard homeowner’s coverage. Confirm the requirement with your carrier before choosing untreated shakes — it’s cheaper to plan for upfront than to re-roof for an insurance requirement later.
Hand-split or taper-sawn — which is right for a historic Pittsburgh home?
Hand-split shakes are the closer match for a Victorian or century home that originally had a hand-split roof — the irregular, deep-shadow face reads as authentic from the street. Taper-sawn is a reasonable choice when there’s no original roofline to match, or when a more uniform look and a somewhat lower labor cost matter more than an exact historic match.

Book Your Pittsburgh Cedar Shake Inspection.

Free on-site assessment, written estimate in 2 business days, and no obligation to book. In fact, insurance-claim documentation included at no extra cost.

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