We love our house, don't get me wrong, but what was the builder thinking when he put a cedar shake roof on it? I get it: they have a certain "look" that some folks like...kind of rustic. But if you've spent any time in this part of Colorado you know that there are weeks on end in the summertime when it feels like you're standing ten feet from the sun.
The altitude, thin air, and clear skies don't exactly make for the best bedfellows with a cedar shake roof. A normal composition material roof should last a good 20 years or more if its done right. After about 10 years a cedar shake roof looks like it could use some TLC if not a total replacement.
That's why it's so funny when we have one of our "freak" Colorado hail storms. 
I swear to God we saw half the people on our block standing in their driveways smiling and crossing themselves like mad monks during our last hail storm. Me too. All I could think was that maybe, just maybe the hail would do enough damage to justify my homeowners insurance to replace our roof. A man can dream, right?
But alas, Allstate would not buckle. And though many of our neighbors got their total replacements, we were left w/our warped wood roof.
Maybe that's why I was so relieved to find Anthony Valdez from Elkhorn Enterpises (303-564-8669). He does cedar shake repair, and he's the only roofer I've ever had out to look at my house who didn't quote me thousands of dollars and recommend a total replacement. A couple hundred bucks, a few replaced panels, some caulk, and we're back in business. I love it when a service provider insists he can save you money and then delivers.
So the good news is that I now understand a cedar shake roof can "look" to be in much worse condition than it is actually in. I still hate the way these things look after ten years in the Colorado sun. And I want to sit down for a long heart to heart w/all the contractors who said, "hmm, strong sun, winter ice...perfect, let's give it a wood roof!".
But at least now I've got a great contractor to recommend when one of my Colorado real estate clients finds themselves in a similar predicament with their charming cedar roof.
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you know what would be really cool? post some before and after pics of the roof!
I had no idea they were that good. Is there any cost saving from cedar to shingles?
Susan,
Believe it or not, cedar is more expensive. So from my experience there is every reason to go w/the asphalt/composition shingles as opposed to cedar. Also, your insurance rates go down if you DON'T have cedar, as cedar is more of a fire hazard.
There used to be a lot of subdivisions that would not allow a composition roof and required wood. I guess they thought asphalt was tacky looking. Many of them were at that time, but with the new 30 and 40 year dimensional asphalt shingles, they look good and last a long time too.
I remember a really bad hail storm in Denver about 16 or 17 years ago where whole neighborhoods got new roofs. I drove home from work that night and saw tree limbs down, windows broken out and some very dimpled cars. Luckily I worked in Aurora and lived in Evergreen, and mostly it was Englewood that got badly hit.
Bob, that roof looks pretty good, now. Did Anthony Valdez put a sealant on it? That can extend the life of wood shakes a lot. I've had good luck with CWF-UV, made by the Flood Co. It comes in a clear coat, or in cedar tinted, maybe other tints as well. Goes on pretty thick and lasts several years. You're right that an older shake surface can look pretty bad, but it's amazing how much a sealant can improve it, especially if it has some tint in it.
Bob, you may have to replace that roof at some point in time. I had heard that Boulder county is going to require that all wood shake roofs be replaced within the next 10 years. May want to keep that in mind if your house is in Boulder county.
And, yes, I whole heartily agree that they shouldn't put wood-shake roofs up in this part of the country. They look nice for a few years, but need almost annual maintenance to keep them up. Insurance rates are higher, as I well know being in the business. Good luck, and let me know if I can help you out with rates.