Nothing else looks like real cedar — and nothing else asks as much of its owner in our climate. We repair and replace shake roofs, and we're honest about when an alternative serves better.
Cedar is a beautiful roof and a demanding one. Owning shake on the Western Slope means knowing what the climate does to it — so here it is, straight.
Real cedar weathers into a texture and silver-gray patina that even the best synthetics only approximate. On the right house it's worth the upkeep — that's an aesthetic judgment we won't argue you out of.
High-altitude UV pulls the oils out of cedar the same way it dries asphalt — shakes cup, curl, and split as they dehydrate. The climate that ages every roof here ages wood fastest of all.
Hail that bruises asphalt splits and shatters dry shakes. After a storm, shake damage is often severe but easy to miss from the ground — a free inspection with photos is the honest starting point.
Some insurers surcharge, depreciate, or decline aging shake roofs — it varies by carrier and by the roof's condition. Worth a conversation with your agent, and we'll document the roof's actual state either way.
Cedar shake roofs reward owners who keep debris out of the keyways, replace split shakes promptly, and let the roof breathe. Neglected, the same roof can fail a decade early. We do exactly this kind of upkeep.
When a shake roof is done, many owners keep the look without the upkeep: composite shake carries a Class 4 impact rating, or Class 4 architectural shingle saves the most. We'll price the honest options side by side.
Split and storm-damaged shakes replaced and woven in, ridge and flashing repairs, full shake replacement for owners staying with cedar, and honest side-by-side estimates when you're weighing the alternatives. Storm damage runs through the same claim process we handle on every roof type.
Weighing replacement options? Start with what drives roof cost in the Grand Valley — shake sits at the premium end, and knowing why helps the comparison make sense.
It depends more on maintenance than any other roof type. A well-kept shake roof gives decades of service; a neglected one in our sun can fail years earlier. The honest answer for your roof takes an inspection, and ours are free.
Yes — split and storm-damaged shakes come out individually and new ones weave in. New cedar reads brighter than weathered cedar at first; it silvers to match over time, and we'll show you what to expect before we start.
Split and shattered shakes from hail are functional damage and generally covered, though carriers treat aging shake differently — some depreciate it steeply. We document thoroughly and walk the claim with you either way.
If the look is why you bought the house, maybe. If you're tired of the upkeep, composite shake keeps the profile with a Class 4 impact rating, and Class 4 architectural shingle saves the most. We'll estimate the options side by side and let the numbers talk.
Preservative treatments exist and results vary — what reliably buys years is the unglamorous stuff: keeping debris out of the keyways, replacing split shakes promptly, and letting the roof breathe. We'll tell you honestly whether a treatment is worth it on yours.
Untreated cedar is combustible, and homes near open country should weigh that honestly. Fire-treated shakes exist, and Class A-rated alternatives like composite shake carry the look with a better fire story — we'll walk you through both.
Storm damage, a stubborn leak, or just an honest condition report on an aging cedar roof — we'll photograph what we find and tell you what it actually needs.
