Cedar Shake & Shingle Roof Cost (2024 Guide) • Details & Types

By Jack Gray, Roof Online Editor • Last updated July 19, 2024

Introduction

As professional roof consultants, we have to produce accurate roof replacement budget projections for our clients every year. This means keeping up-to-date with changing material and labor costs for all kinds of roofing, including cedar shingles and shakes.

In this article, I’m going to explain the factors that determine cedar roof costs. I’ll also give you the typical costs for various types of cedar shingle and shake roofs in 2024.

Keep in mind that the final cost of any particular cedar shingle roof will depend on several variables, including roof size, roof pitch, roof complexity, local labor costs, local code restrictions, and the quality and size of the shingles or shakes.

On average, the cost of a cedar shingle roof replacement in 2024 ranges from $9.95 per square foot for cheaper white cedar shingles to $15.65 per square foot for a western red cedar shingle roof with a Class A fire rating.

For an average 1,700-square-foot roof, this puts the national average cost of a cedar roof replacement at around $23,000.

Average Roof Size

A precise value for the average roof size for existing U.S. single-family homes is not directly available from any official source.

We used publicly available data for average home square footage and the percentage of 1-story versus 2-story homes, as well as adjusting for typical eave overhangs and the average roof pitch multiplier, to estimate an average U.S. roof size of a little under 1,700 square feet.

Cedar Shake and Shingle Roof Cost in 2024

The cost estimates shown in the tables below are for roofs that use the highest-grade cedar shingles or shakes. You may be able to save money by using lower-grade products, but we rarely recommend trading roof lifespan and performance for cost savings during a roof installation.

Keep in mind that the costs listed below are national averages, and roofing costs can vary quite a bit according to location.

To get a more accurate idea of what a new cedar roof will cost in your area, see our article “Relative Construction Costs by U.S State” and apply your state multiplier to the national average cost.

The cedar roof cost estimates given below are for replacing a roof that has a 6/12 pitch or below. These numbers cover all typically necessary cedar roof system components as well as removing and disposing of existing roofing materials.

Table 1: Cedar Shake & Shingle Roof Cost per Square Foot

Table 2: Cedar Shake & Shingle Roof Cost by Roof Size

Key Selling Points of Cedar Shingles and Shakes

Appearance

Cedar is a popular choice for roofing because of its natural beauty. Its rich, warm tones and organic texture make it an attractive option for many homes. In addition, cedar is a sustainable material that ages gracefully over time with proper maintenance and care.

Insulation

One minor advantage of cedar shake and shingle roofing is the insulation value it provides, which can help to reduce energy costs by keeping the building cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. A wood shingle roof typically provides more than twice the R-value of an asphalt shingle roof.

Longevity

If a cedar roof is installed properly, in the appropriate climate, and uses high-quality materials, its useful service life can exceed 40 or even 50 years.

Sustainability

Cedar is also one of the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly roofing materials. It’s much better for the environment than asphalt shingles, which are essentially a petroleum product.

Weather Resistance

Cedar shingles and shakes are typically very resistant to hail damage. Products are available that can achieve a Class 4 impact resistance rating (the highest rating).

Cedar shingle and shake roofs typically have superior wind resistance as well. Products are available that will meet the strictest local wind uplift resistance requirements.

Cedar Roof Cost Factors

As with any roof replacement, the two biggest cost factors are labor and materials. Total costs for cedar shake and shingle roofs typically break down to roughly 20% to 30% for labor and 60% to 70% for materials.

The actual cost breakdown will typically be determined by the quality level of the materials and local rates for labor.

Material Costs

Material costs for a cedar shake or shingle roof are determined by the size of the roof, the quality grade and length of the shingles, the coverage rate and weather exposure of the shingles, and the types and amounts of roofing accessories, such as flashings and ventilation products, that are used.

Wood shingle roofs will often include strips of copper that are added between shingle courses every 10 courses or so to inhibit algae growth. This can be a fairly expensive option.

Local Code Restrictions

If you live in an area where wildfires are an issue, your local building code probably prohibits the use of cedar shake or shingle roofing unless the roof achieves a Class A fire rating.

This means that you will at the very least have to use shakes or shingles that have been pressure-treated with fire-retardant chemicals and include a special fire-resistant underlayment component in the roof system.

The additional components needed to achieve a Class A fire rating for a cedar roof will typically add an extra $1 to $3 to the cost of the job.

Labor Costs

In terms of local labor costs, you can expect to pay more if you live in an area with a higher cost of living. States where commercial roofing is typically performed by union roofers tend to have higher residential roofing labor costs as well.

Roof Complexity

In terms of labor costs, the complexity of the roof is a major factor in the price you’ll pay for a cedar roof installation. Complex roofs require additional time and often a higher level of skill on the part of the installer.

Obstacles such as chimneys, skylights, rising walls, and valleys interrupt the flow of the installation, requiring extra measurements and calculations. Shingles need to be carefully trimmed to fit around these items and flashing materials need to be properly installed.

It can take twice as long (or longer) to install a square of roofing in a complicated roof area than in a simple area.

How Steep the Roof Is

As with roof complexity, a steeper roof pitch will slow down the pace of the work and increase labor costs. Steeper roofs require safety protocols that include the use of additional equipment and procedures. This makes the work take longer.

If a roof has a pitch greater than 6/12, you can figure on pay 20% to 50% more for labor. Generally, the steeper the roof, the longer the work will take.

Removal of Existing Roofing

Although it isn’t always required by code, you should always remove any existing roofing materials, including old shingles and underlayment, before installing a new cedar roof.

Cedar shakes and shingles are relatively rigid materials and much more sensitive to an uneven substrate than flexible materials like asphalt shingles.

Wood shingles installed on top of an existing asphalt shingle roof will also not be able to dry out properly. They will tend to warp and a roof like that usually fails prematurely.

Regardless, If you already have two layers of roofing on your roof, the building code requires that all roofing be removed down to the deck before you install a new roof.

Removal and disposal of the old roof shingles will normally add around $1 to $3 per square foot to the total price of the job, but it can cost more in some areas.

Local Taxes, Fees, and Permits

Building permit fees, dumpster rental, disposal fees and/or local taxes may apply to your roofing job and should be factored into the total cost.

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