Wood shake roof replacement in Long Beach, CA

Wood shake was a popular roof on Southern California ranch homes for decades. Fresh cedar looks warm and textured, but years of strong sun dry it out. Shakes split, cup and thin until they no longer shed water, and the dry wood becomes a fire concern during Santa Ana wind season.

Most owners who replace shake today choose a material that keeps a similar textured look but resists fire much better. Our crews remove the old shake safely, rebuild the deck it was nailed to and install the new roof.

Why owners move away from wood shake

Untreated or aging wood shake can catch embers blown ahead of a fire. Dry, split shakes also hold leaves and debris in their gaps. Even treated shake loses some of its fire treatment over the years in sun and rain.

Beyond fire, old shake leaks. As the wood thins and splits, gaps open between pieces. Moss and debris hold water on north slopes, and nails loosen as the wood shrinks and swells. Insurers and buyers also tend to look hard at an old shake roof.

• Ember and fire exposure during Santa Ana winds
• Splits and thinning that let rain through
• Loose and missing shakes after wind
• Debris and moss trapped between shakes
• Concerns from buyers and home insurers

Replacement options that keep a shake look

Designer asphalt shingles with a thick, rough-cut profile give a shake look at the lowest cost. Stone-coated steel in a shake profile is light, fire resistant and has deep shadow lines. Composite or synthetic shake, made from engineered polymers, closely copies the shape and texture of cedar.

Some owners take the chance to change the look completely, to a smooth architectural shingle or standing seam metal. We bring samples of each so you can compare texture and color on your own house.

• Designer asphalt shingles in a shake style
• Stone-coated steel shake panels
• Composite or synthetic shake
• Architectural shingles or metal for a new look

Spaced sheathing under shake roofs

Many shake roofs were nailed to spaced boards, with gaps between them so the wood could breathe. Shingles, steel and most composite products need a solid deck. During tear-off we either cover the spaced boards with new plywood or OSB, or remove them and sheathe the roof fresh.

This step is where a shake replacement differs most from a normal re-roof. It adds material and labor, but it gives the new roof a flat, solid base and lets us find and replace rotted rafter tails and fascia along the way.

Tearing off shake without making a mess

Old shake breaks into splinters and dust, and the nails can scatter across a yard. We tarp landscaping, cover windows and pools and run debris straight into a bin. Every day ends with a magnet sweep of the driveway and yard.

Shake roofs often have layers of felt interlaced between courses, plus old patches. We strip it all down to the framing or spaced boards so nothing old stays under the new roof.

When to call about wood shake roof replacement

Wood shake roofs still left in Long Beach

Wood shake shows up on some 1950s and 1960s ranch homes in Los Altos, the Plaza, El Dorado Park Estates and Bixby Knolls, and on a few homes in nearby Lakewood and Cerritos. Many have already been replaced, so the shake roofs that remain are usually old and worn.

Replacing shake is a re-roof, so it needs a Long Beach building permit. Fire-related roofing rules can differ between cities and areas, and Title 24 may require a cool-rated product on the new roof, so we check what applies before ordering. In historic districts, a shake-look material can help keep the original character of the house.