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Cedar Shakes: A Good Roofing Choice In Snowy Areas

11 July 2023 by Leslie Turner

When you live in an area that receives heavy snowfall, you have to take this into account when making decisions about your home and yard. It's especially important to consider snowfall when selecting a roofing material. Classic roof materials that perform well in snowy areas include standing seam metal roofs and concrete tile. But there's one other roof material that does not always get the attention it deserves for its performance in snow: cedar shakes. Here are some advantages of using cedar shake roofing in areas where it snows.

The Shakes Should Not Mold or Rot Easily

People often assume that wood roofing is a poor choice in snowy areas because it will get wet and start rotting. This would be a concern if you were to make a roof from pine or oak. However, it's not a concern with cedar. The natural oils in cedar make it almost impervious to rot. Mold won't grow on the cedar, either. So, with cedar shakes, you get to enjoy the natural look of a wooden roof without the worry of rot or mold once the snow melts in the spring.

The Shakes Are Easy to Replace

With snow, you sometimes get ice. Ice can pry roofing materials off the roof, and it can also crack your roof materials. This is an issue with almost every kind of roofing. However, some types of roofing are easier to repair than others, and cedar shakes are definitely one of the easiest roof materials to repair. Each shake is its own individual piece and is attached to the roof with just a couple of nails. If one shake fails due to ice damage, a roofer can easily pop it off and replace it. The repair only takes a few minutes.

The Shakes Bend A Little

Cedar shakes are cut with the grain. As such, each shake consists of long pieces of wood grain, which have some flexibility and give. This is very beneficial in snowy areas. When there is heavy snowfall, the shakes will bend under its weight instead of cracking. This means less roof damage to worry about and a lower risk of leaks when big snowstorms roll in. 

If you live in a snowy climate and want a natural-looking roof, consider cedar shakes. Many homeowners are very pleased with them, and they are often quite affordable to have installed. Contact a roofing company to learn more.

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