Cedar Shake Roofing in Martinsburg, WV
Hand-split cedar shake roofs and repairs by Jade Roofing & Construction, based in Martinsburg, WV. We install Waldun cedar and DaVinci composite shake across the Eastern Panhandle, Washington and Frederick Counties, and Franklin County, PA.
Cedar Shake: The Textured, Hand-Split Roof
Cedar shakes are thick, hand-split or resawn pieces of western red cedar with a rough, textured face. They are the roof on farmhouses along the Potomac, on older homes around Shepherdstown and Boonsboro, and on newer builds that want warmth and shadow lines that no shingle can fake. A cedar shake roof installed and maintained properly lasts 25 to 40 years and ages to a silver-grey that looks better every year.
Cedar needs to breathe. Most shake roofs that fail early were laid flat on solid decking with felt paper and no air underneath, so the wood stayed wet and rotted from the back. We install shakes over a ventilated underlayment mat or skip sheathing so both faces dry, use stainless steel fasteners that will not stain the wood, and interlay felt between courses the way the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau specifies.
Waldun cedar shakes are premium-grade, kiln-dried, and available pressure-treated for fire and rot resistance. DaVinci composite shake gives the same texture in a polymer tile that never needs treating, resists hail, and carries a 50-year warranty. We will walk you through both on your roof, in your light.
Installed So the Wood Can Dry
The difference between a 15-year cedar roof and a 40-year one is airflow and fasteners. We lay shakes over a breathable mat or spaced sheathing, keep the keyways offset by at least an inch and a half between courses, and drive two stainless nails per shake just above the exposure line so they are covered but not buried. Valleys and chimneys get copper or stainless flashing, and we install a proper ridge cap with cedar hip and ridge units, not a bent shake.
We also repair cedar roofs: replacing split or cupped shakes, rebuilding flashing, and cleaning moss off shaded north slopes before it holds water against the wood. Jade Roofing & Construction is based in Martinsburg, GAF Certified Plus, a licensed Maryland Home Improvement contractor (MHIC #167279), BBB Accredited, and rated 5.0 across 37 Google reviews. Inspections and written estimates are free.
Why Jade for Cedar Shake
Cedar is a craft roof. Here is what ours includes.
Ventilated Installation
Breathable underlayment mat or skip sheathing, so shakes dry from both sides. It is the single biggest factor in how long the roof lasts.
Stainless and Copper Only
Stainless fasteners and copper flashing. Galvanized nails and aluminum flashing react with cedar tannins and are the reason so many old cedar roofs streak and leak.
Repair and Maintenance
Individual shake replacement, moss treatment, and flashing rebuilds. A cedar roof cared for every few years is a roof that reaches 40.
Common questions about cedar shake roofing
How long does a cedar shake roof last?
With proper ventilation, stainless fasteners, and basic maintenance, 25 to 40 years is typical for premium-grade cedar in our climate. Roofs laid directly on solid decking without airflow often fail in half that time, which is why we do not install them that way.
What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?
Shakes are thicker and hand-split or resawn, with a rough, textured face and deep shadow lines. Shingles are thinner, sawn smooth on both sides, and lay flatter and more uniform. We install both; see our cedar shingle page for the smoother look.
Does cedar need to be treated?
Not necessarily, but it helps. We can install Waldun shakes that are pressure-treated for fire and rot resistance, and we recommend a cleaning and preservative treatment every few years, especially on shaded north-facing slopes where moss takes hold.
Is cedar a fire risk?
Untreated cedar is combustible, and some insurers and HOAs restrict it. Pressure-treated fire-retardant shakes carry a Class B or, with the right underlayment, Class A rating. DaVinci composite shake is Class A with no treatment. We will tell you what your insurer or HOA requires.
Can you repair my existing cedar roof instead of replacing it?
Usually. If the shakes are sound and the problem is a handful of split pieces, moss, or failed flashing, a repair buys years. If shakes are cupped, soft, or thinning across whole slopes, replacement is the honest recommendation. The free inspection tells us which.
Brands We Work With
Jade Roofing & Construction is a GAF Certified Plus contractor, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, and a James Hardie Alliance Select Contractor. We install manufacturer-approved systems from GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, DaVinci Roofscapes, Brava Tile, James Hardie, LP SmartSide, ProVia, Alside, and VELUX.
