Swapping worn cedar shakes for composite shingles in Vancouver, WA

Converting from cedar shakes to composite is one of the most common roofing jobs in Clark County right now. A wave of homes built from the 1970s to the 1990s got shake roofs, and many have reached the end of their life together. Owners want a roof that sheds rain, resists moss better, and does not need hand repairs after every windstorm. Architectural composite shingles do that and still give a dimensional look.

The job is more involved than a standard shingle re-roof. Shake roofs are usually nailed to spaced boards with gaps between them, which works for wood but cannot support composite shingles. So after tear-off, our crews cover the old boards with new plywood or OSB sheathing to create a solid deck. That step is what makes this its own service, and it is why the price differs from a normal replacement.

Why the decking has to change

Cedar shakes were designed to breathe, so builders nailed them to one-by boards spaced a few inches apart. Air moves through the gaps and helps the wood dry. Composite shingles need the opposite: a continuous, flat surface to nail into and to support them across the whole slope. Laying shingles straight over spaced boards leaves unsupported spans where nails miss and shingles sag or crack. Leaks and blow-offs tend to follow within a few seasons.

Our approach is to strip the shakes and felt, check every board for rot, replace the worst ones, and then sheath over the top with new panels. This adds height at the eaves and rakes, so drip edge and trim need adjusting. In some homes, older boards are in such poor shape that pulling them and sheathing directly to the rafters is cleaner. We decide that once the shakes are off and the boards are visible.

What is included in a conversion

A conversion is a complete roof system, not just new shingles. We install the parts that keep the roof dry for the long term, and we change details that suited wood but not composite. Every penetration gets new flashing, and the attic ventilation is set up to match the new, tighter deck. If we find rotted fascia boards at the eaves once the old roof is off, we show you the damage and the price before replacing them.

• Full tear-off of shakes, felt and old ridge
• New plywood or OSB sheathing over spaced boards
• Ice and water barrier at eaves and valleys
• Synthetic underlayment across the whole deck
• New drip edge, step flashing and pipe boots
• Ridge and soffit venting balanced for the attic

Picking a composite shingle to replace shakes

Owners leaving cedar often want a roof that still looks textured from the street. Architectural shingles have a layered, shadowed look that reads well on Craftsman and Northwest contemporary homes. Darker browns and weathered wood tones keep the warm feel of cedar, while grays and blacks give a cleaner modern look. We bring full-size sample boards and suggest viewing them against your siding in daylight. Lighter colors tend to show moss and streaks sooner.

For shaded lots, we suggest shingles with algae-resistant granules, which slow the dark streaks that show up on north slopes. Heavier designer shingles mimic the depth of shakes more closely but cost more. If your HOA has a color or material list, we work from it. Manufacturer warranty terms vary by product, and we walk through what each one covers in plain terms before you choose, and we leave the paperwork with you.

Planning the conversion day

Shake tear-offs produce a lot of heavy debris and thousands of nails. We place tarps over plants and decks, set a dumpster or trailer close to the house, and run magnets across the lawn and driveway afterward. Most average homes take two to four working days, depending on size, pitch and how much decking is needed. We keep the roof dry each night with underlayment or tarps, and we check the forecast before starting during the rainy season.