The most common replacement we do on older shake roofs isn't more shake. Here's what a conversion involves, why the decking matters, and what it costs.
When an old cedar shake roof finally gives out, most Puget Sound homeowners don't replace it with new shake. They convert to architectural shingles, and the reasons are practical: new shake costs more upfront ($14 to $20 per square foot installed versus $6.50 to $9.50 for architectural), needs regular maintenance in our climate, and insurers increasingly price it accordingly. A conversion is a bigger job than a normal re-roof though, and knowing why helps you read the quotes.
#Why the decking is the whole story
Shake roofs were installed over skip sheathing, spaced boards with gaps that let the shakes breathe from underneath. Shingles can't go on that. They need a solid deck, so a conversion means sheeting over the skip decking with new plywood or OSB before any roofing goes on. That's the structural difference between a conversion quote and a normal re-roof quote, and it's also where surprises live: decades of minor leaks through old shake often leave rotted skip boards that only show up once the shakes come off. A good quote prices the sheeting explicitly and sets a per-sheet price for rot repair, so the change order math is agreed before anyone finds anything.
#The process, start to finish
Tear-off of the shakes and felt down to the skip sheathing, with disposal (shake tear-off fills dumpsters fast, which is part of the added cost). Repair of any rotted skip boards. New structural sheathing over the entire deck. Ice and water shield at eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment over the field. All-new flashing, drip edge, and pipe boots. Ridge venting sized for the attic, since shake roofs breathed through the deck and the new roof can't. Then the architectural shingles. Most conversions run 2 to 4 days, a day or so longer than a standard re-roof.
Will it change how the house looks?
Some. Shake has a texture that shingles imitate but don't match. Higher-end architectural lines with staggered shadow bands get reasonably close, and on most homes the visual change reads as a refresh rather than a downgrade. If keeping the shake look matters a lot, composite shake products exist, but they price closer to $10 to $14 per square foot.
#Is your shake roof actually ready for this?
Not every tired-looking shake roof needs converting yet. If the shakes are sound and it's mostly moss and grime, restoration can buy years for a fraction of the cost. We wrote up how to tell the stages apart in our shake repair vs restore vs replace guide. A lot of our shake conversions happen in Shoreline, Woodinville, and the older Eastside neighborhoods, and the free inspection tells you which side of the line your roof is on. Reach out and we'll take a look.
Written by
Everpeak Roofing
Licensed Seattle roofers, WA Contractor Lic. #EVERPRL743KE. We write from what we actually see on roofs across the Puget Sound.
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