Wood Shake - Thick Cedar Roofing Replacement Guide

A wood shake is a split or sawn wood roofing piece installed in overlapping courses to create a thick, textured roof covering.

Wood Shake diagram — labeled parts, dimensions, and installation context

What It Is

Wood shakes are individual roof-covering units, usually made from cedar or other durable species, with a more rugged and irregular appearance than standard wood shingles. Traditional shakes were split from logs, which left a rougher face and a heavier profile.

Because they are thicker and less uniform, shakes create deeper shadow lines and a more rustic look than shingles. They also require careful detailing for spacing, underlayment, and fire rating because performance depends heavily on the product grade and installation method.

Types

Common types include hand-split and resawn shakes, taper-sawn shakes, and pressure-treated products designed for improved fire performance. Material grade, thickness, and exposure all affect how the roof performs and ages.

Where It Is Used

Wood shakes are used as steep-slope roof coverings on houses, cabins, and some historic or high-end homes where a natural textured appearance is desired. Their use is more limited today in wildfire-prone regions and jurisdictions with stricter fire rules.

How to Identify One

Identify a wood shake by its thicker profile, more irregular butt edges, and rougher face compared with a wood shingle. Weathering, cupping, splitting, moss growth, and missing pieces are common signs of an aging shake roof.

Replacement

Replacement can involve swapping isolated damaged shakes or replacing the full roof when widespread splitting, rot, or fire-code issues make spot repair impractical. Any replacement should match the roof system requirements for underlayment, spacing, and local code approval.

Wood Shake — FAQ

What is the difference between a wood shake and a wood shingle?

A shake is generally thicker and more irregular, with a rougher split or resawn face. A wood shingle is usually sawn on both sides and has a more uniform, smoother appearance.

How long does a wood shake roof last?

Service life varies with climate, maintenance, roof pitch, ventilation, and product quality, but a well-installed cedar shake roof can last for decades. In wet, shaded, or poorly ventilated conditions, it can fail much sooner.

How do I know if wood shakes need replacing?

Look for widespread splitting, curling, rot, exposed fasteners, missing shakes, and leaks. If the damage is spread across many roof areas, repair is usually no longer the economical option.

Are wood shakes allowed everywhere?

No. Some jurisdictions restrict or prohibit them because of wildfire risk unless a listed fire-rated product assembly is used.

Can individual wood shakes be repaired?

Yes, isolated damaged pieces can often be replaced by a roofer. The repair has to preserve the overlap pattern and avoid damaging surrounding shakes.