Thank you for scheduling a consultation with The Cedar Roof Company. We look forward to meeting with you to review the roof and discus your options for its care. Before this appointment, we request that you please take a moment to read this important message from Cedar Roof Company Installation Manager Mike Malone, and invite you to explore our website. By learning more about the importance of using high quality products and experienced, knowledgeable professionals for your roof installation, we hope that you will better understand the value that The Cedar Roof Company can bring to your project.
Dear Customer,
Before we meet, I would like to share with you a few things that I wish all cedar roof homeowners knew before hiring a roofing contractor.
The Cedar Roof Company has dedicated itself to empower homeowners, real estate agents and home inspectors with the same working knowledge of cedar shake and shingle roofs as that of industry professionals. In many cases we have been asked to perform evaluations on roofs where age was not the sole reason for inquiry. The average roofing company does not install wood roofs. The well established roofing company may only do one or two cedar roofs a year. Wood roofs are a specialty.
Get What You Pay For
Dealing with a cedar shake or shingle roof is much different than your typical asphalt composite roofing shingles. The attention to detail and proper methods of installation make cedar a unique material that requires more time and pride in perfecting a craft. Most people don’t view roofing as a craft and nor do most roofing contractors who “bang out” job after job. This is where the term “You get what you pay for” comes into play.
That is not the case in many scenarios. The customer doesn’t always get what they pay for. The client is entitled to have their roofing installed properly by the guidelines set forth by the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, whose manual is available online free of charge. Cedar roofing 101 as I call it. It is embarrassing in some cases to have to tell the homeowner they unfortunately got a poor quality job. With the amount of information available at your fingertips today this is inexcusable. A little due diligence on the contractor’s end goes a long way in determining the longevity of a cedar roof.
When we speak of life expectancy of a cedar roof, there are many variables that come into play other than doing the job right the first time. Following the local building codes is a must. A quality roofing contractor will meet and exceed these parameters. The grade of the cedar is a huge factor. Always specify “Certi Label” premium grade shakes and #1 grade shingles. These are the highest available. The mill that harvests the trees and cuts them into the finished product is another major factor. Always get a lengthy warranty from the installer that backs up their workmanship. Anything less than ten years is insufficient.
Choosing the Right Roofer
A brand new cedar roof represents itself. The look of new wood vs the old is astonishing and it’s not until well after the job is complete that most of the issues arise. Many homeowners believe they got a great roof because the aesthetic of a new cedar shake or shingle roof leads them believe this to be true. To be sure the contractor is qualified, ask if they are certified with the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau and provide the certificate they have been issued for the current year. Have the contractor supply you with completed job addresses that are current and a few from the past so you can see how they are weathering.
After taking all this into account, the final obstacle is the installers working for your contractor. We recently evaluated a roof in New Jersey where a portion of the roof was installed correctly and most was not. The roof was only eight months old. Quality control is the responsibility of the company hired. Depending on the defect of the installation determines the course of action. In most cases the new roof will require full replacement or continued repairs throughout its life. Improper installation equals shortened life span, which brings us back to “you did not get what you paid for”.
Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I hope that you will take some time to explore our site and learn more about The Cedar Roof Company and the services we offer. l am looking forward to meeting you and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have.
