Cedar is one of the most common roofing materials and it is used for residential and commercial buildings alike. This flexibility makes cedar a great choice for your home.

Apart from the cedar roof’s beauty and excellent durability, there are also other advantages that make it one of the best choices for roofs. Did you know that cedar contains natural preservatives that prevent decay from insect damage or moisture protect your house from the elements? Cedar roofs also support a variety of finishes, from paint to stains or oils and solid coatings. It also provides good thermal insulation and will help prevent temperatures from escaping or penetrating your house.

Shakes or Shingles?

Choosing between shakes or shingles really depends on the overall look you want to achieve.

Cedar shakes are a great choice for those who are looking for a more rugged or rustic look. Because they are split from wood blocks, they will be more uneven in thickness and width than shingles. Shakes can either be split by hand or taper-sawn. Manually splitting cedar shakes will create a rougher, more textured look great if you want that rustic effect. Sawn shakes still maintain the thickness and durability of a shake but achieve more of that tailored look a shingle has without sacrificing its ruggedness.

Speaking of shingles, these can either be sawn or sanded. They have a more refined look overall, with a consistent thickness and width. Sawn shingles still have that rustic appearance of shakes but also have a tailored appearance, while sanded ones are smoothed on both their sides, which makes them look even more refined.  For all your roofing material options, check with American Custom Contractors to find what is best for your home.