Cedar Shake & Cedar Shingle Roofing: Traditional BC Aesthetics
Cedar is the original BC roof — Western Red Cedar grows on Vancouver Island, on the Sunshine Coast, and across the South Coast watershed, and the regional vernacular of pre-1985 homes is built around its texture and silvering. We still install cedar where the design intent is right: heritage areas (Shaughnessy, Queen's Park, Clayburn Village), West Vancouver mountain modern, Bowen Island and Sunshine Coast cottage rebuilds, and any project where the architectural language calls for it. The cedar conversation in 2026 is less about whether to use it and more about which grade, which preservative, and which detailing. This page covers all three, plus realistic service life and 2026 pricing.
Cedar shingle is sawn on both sides — uniform thickness (typically 0.40"–0.45" butt), tighter exposure (5"–7.5"), tighter visual. Cedar shake is split on at least one side — variable thickness (0.50"–1.25" butt), wider exposure (7.5"–10"), heavier shadow line. Hand-split shake is split on both sides — the most rustic, the deepest texture, the most expensive, and the longest-lived. Heritage districts and architectural design panels often specify a particular product; we confirm with the design panel before quoting in Shaughnessy or Queen's Park.
Grade: #1 Blue Label vs #2 Red Label
Certi-Split and Certi-Sawn (the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau grading marks) are the only marks worth trusting. #1 Blue Label is 100% edge grain, 100% clear, 100% heartwood — what we install on every primary roof. #2 Red Label allows flat grain and limited sapwood — fine for sidewall application, not for roofs in BC's wet climate. There is no acceptable shortcut; sapwood and flat-grain on a roof rot within 12 years where heartwood goes 30+. The premium for #1 Blue Label over #2 Red Label is roughly 20% on material — irrelevant against the 2× service life difference.
Pressure-Treated vs Untreated
Untreated #1 Blue Label cedar in BC's coastal climate: 25–35 year service life, with surface moss and silvering that can be cleaned periodically. Pressure-treated (CCA or ACQ): 35–45 year service life, no moss colonization, slight green tint that weathers to silver in 2–3 years. We recommend pressure-treated on north-facing slopes, in heavy-shade lots, and within 3 km of saltwater. Fire-retardant treatment (Class B or Class C, e.g. NCFR-treated cedar) is required by some districts (West Vancouver above 200m, parts of the Sunshine Coast) and adds about $80 per square.
Skip-Sheathing & Breather Underlayment
Cedar must breathe from underneath — that's why traditional install is over 1x4 or 1x6 skip-sheathing with 1.5"–3" gaps rather than continuous deck. Modern best practice on a re-roof is to install Cedar Breather (a 3D nylon mat) over solid sheathing with synthetic underlayment, which preserves the under-shake airflow without requiring full re-decking. Either approach extends service life by 30–40% over a flat-installed cedar roof. We never install cedar tight to underlayment without a breather layer — it traps moisture against the heartwood and accelerates rot.
Real 2026 Cedar Pricing
Cedar shingle (#1 Blue Label, untreated, breather underlayment): $1,650–$2,200 per square installed turnkey. Cedar shake (#1 Blue Label, hand-split or resawn, untreated): $1,950–$2,650 per square. Pressure-treated adds $180–$300 per square. Fire-retardant adds $80 per square. Real recent jobs: Shaughnessy heritage 36 sq #1 Blue Label shake, untreated, breather $79,200. Queen's Park New Westminster 22 sq shingle, untreated $42,800. West Vancouver mountain modern 28 sq pressure-treated FR shake $76,400. Bowen Island cottage 18 sq shingle PT $39,600.
Maintenance & Cleaning
Cedar wants periodic cleaning, not pressure washing. We recommend a soft chemical wash (oxygen bleach + surfactant, low-pressure rinse) every 7–10 years to remove moss and lichen, followed by reapplication of preservative if the original treatment is wearing thin. Pressure washing strips the soft summer-growth wood and shortens service life by 5–10 years; we will not pressure-wash a cedar roof and we will tell any homeowner who asks about it not to. Replacement of individual broken shakes is straightforward — we keep matching grade material in stock.
Project Gallery
Macro close-up of fresh hand-split Western Red Cedar shakes showing deep ridges and warm reddish-brown wood grain.Aged silver-grey cedar shingle roof with natural moss patches showing weathered patina on a BC coastal home.Roofer wearing gloves installing cedar shake shingles in staggered courses on a residential roof using a hammer.Cedar shake roof dormer with copper flashing and a casement window on a Tudor heritage home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my insurance cover cedar?
Most BC carriers cover untreated cedar with a 5–15% surcharge or require fire-retardant treatment. We confirm requirements with your broker before installing.
Is cedar still allowed in West Vancouver?
Yes, with fire-retardant treatment to Class B or better above the 200m elevation line. Below 200m, untreated is generally accepted.
How often does cedar need maintenance?
Soft chemical wash every 7–10 years; preservative reapplication every 12–15 if pressure-treated, every 8–10 if originally untreated.
Can I shingle over cedar?
No. Cedar removes and the deck must be replaced with continuous plywood. See our cedar-to-asphalt conversion page for the full process.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — licensed and bonded in BC, $5 million liability insurance, and full WorkSafeBC coverage on every crew member. Documentation provided on request before any contract is signed.
Do you subcontract?
No. Every Budget Roofers crew member is a full-time employee. We do not subcontract install work.
What's your warranty?
25-year manufacturer material warranty plus 10-year Budget Roofers workmanship warranty. Premium and designer profiles carry 30-50 year manufacturer terms.
How long does install take?
2-4 days for a typical single-family home; 5-7 for complex layouts; 3-5 working days for cedar conversions.
Do you offer financing?
Yes — 0% for 12-24 months, longer terms up to 120 months through Financeit and SNAP. Soft-pull pre-qualification, decision in minutes.
What if it rains during install?
We monitor Environment Canada hourly and pause for heavy rain. We can tarp and dry-in safely in light rain. Warranty depends on dry installation conditions.
Do you handle permits?
Yes — included in the fixed price. We pull permits in your name and schedule inspections.
What if the decking is rotten?
Standard quote includes 4 sheets of replacement decking. Additional sheets billed at $85-$120 installed; we always show you damaged sheets before replacement.
