What Is Cedar Shake & Shingle Roofing?
Many of Lake Forest’s homes along Sheridan Road and throughout the historic districts were originally built with natural wood roofs. The material remains a preferred choice here because it meets the area’s strict architectural standards while standing up to Lake County’s freeze-thaw cycles and seasonal storms.
Cedar roofing uses slow-grown wood with tight grain that holds natural oils to resist rot and insects. Shingles are sawn smooth on both faces for crisp, uniform rows. Shakes are hand-split or taper-sawn for deeper texture and a more rustic profile. Both arrive pre-treated with fire retardant or preservative before installation.
What makes cedar roofing in Lake Forest especially practical is the performance behind the appearance. Cedar insulates at nearly double the R-value of asphalt, easing heating and cooling costs year-round. With proper deck spacing, a breather mat, stainless steel nails, and ridge ventilation, shingles deliver 25 to 30 years of service, and heavy hand-split shakes reach 30 to 35 years. Cedar performs best on slopes 6 in 12 or steeper, with simple seasonal upkeep to maintain protection and curb appeal.
Benefits of Cedar Roofing
Reasons Wood Still Tops Premium Design.
Natural Insulation
Every shake holds microscopic air pockets that slow heat flow, giving cedar roughly twice the R-value of asphalt and trimming winter heating costs and summer cooling demand across the roof’s full service life.
Iconic Curb Appeal
Warm honey tones, bold grain patterns, and deep shadow lines create a high-value first impression that boosts resale and helps historic or premium properties meet community design covenants without artificial look-alike products.
Wind & Impact Resilience
Thick hand-split butts and flexible fibers resist splitting, allowing rated assemblies to survive one-hundred-eighty-kilometre-per-hour gust tests and hail up to forty-four millimetres with minimal shingle loss or interior leaks.
Lightweight Structure
At about forty-five kilograms per square metre, cedar weighs far less than tile or slate, letting most existing rafters carry the load without added framing, engineering fees, or costly structural retrofits.
Quiet Storm Performance
Natural wood fibers absorb sound, muting rain and hail noise so interiors stay calm, which is especially valuable in bedrooms, classrooms, and worship spaces where low ambient sound matters most.
Fully Compostable Lifecycle
When the roof finally retires, weathered shakes shred into landscape mulch or bio-fuel chips, sending zero bulk waste to landfills and lowering the project’s overall embodied-carbon footprint compared with synthetic alternatives.
Cedar Profiles & Installation Essentials
Shakes, Shingles, and Premium Grades to Match Any Style.
- Blue-Label Tapersawn Shingles
Fine-sawn faces create uniform rows and crisp shadow lines.
Install notes: Solid plywood deck topped with a ventilating under-shingle mat; stainless ring-shank nails driven flush; copper ridge cap for longest life. - Premium Hand-Split & Resawn Shakes
Rough-split texture on the top, machine-sawn back for even thickness and easy stacking.
Install notes: Open-slat deck or cedar breather battens that let air circulate; stainless nails set 19 mm from each edge; matching cedar ridge keeps a consistent rustic look. - Heavy Hand-Split Shakes
Deep shadows and maximum storm strength for lodges and estate homes.
Install notes: Open-slat deck with 65 mm spacing; two stainless nails per shake for extra grab in high wind; copper ridge cap helps shed heavy snow. - Factory Fire-Treated Cedar
Pressure-impregnated retardant meets Class B or Class A code without losing cedar charm.
Install notes: Solid deck plus vented mat to speed drying; stainless nails prevent galvanic stains; recoat exposed faces with clear oil every five years. - Pre-finished Color-Toned Cedar
Bundles arrive with semi-transparent stain that mimics years of weather or novel earth tones.
Install notes: Either deck style works; edges arrive oil-sealed—touch-up cuts on site; expect simple rinse and re-oil at year seven to keep color true.
Cittrix sets every fastener, gap, and ridge treatment to Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau specs, then documents it in your close-out photo log so future inspections are quick and clear.
Our Cedar Project Roadmap
Measure, Model, Install with Zero Surprises.
Scan and Plan
Drone survey measures slope, tallies penetrations, and checks soffit vent ratio. A 3-D model and moisture scan hit your inbox within 24 hours.
Design and Decide
Within 48 hours you receive species choice, shake or shingle profile, fire-treatment option, color mock-ups, and firm price tiers. One click locks materials and schedule.
Install and Certify
Crews strip old layers, set breather mat, hand-nail cedar to spec, flash valleys, and oil exposed faces. Field supervisor logs nail count and gap spacing.
Close-Out and Warranty
Before-after drone shots, treatment certificates, and lifetime labor pledge upload to your portal. A 260m² roof typically finishes in three working days.
Cedar Roof Fit Check
Is Cedar Roofing Right for You?
Choose Cedar When You Need:
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Historic charm or high-end curb appeal on pitches 6 in 12 or steeper.
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Extra insulation without adding thick foam.
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A fully recyclable roof with low embodied carbon.
Consider Other Systems if:
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Dense tree cover blocks sun and keeps shakes wet for long periods.
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Local fire zone requires Class A but you prefer not to add factory treatment.
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Budget is tight and long-term appearance is less critical; architectural asphalt costs less now.
The Cittrix Difference
- Fast, Convenient Estimates
Call or submit a form and we’ll schedule a free inspection of your roof for the same or next business day. There’s no need for you to disrupt your busy schedule - you don’t even have to be at home.
Instead of sending a confusing estimate or sitting in your living room for hours with a high-pressure sales pitch, we’ll send you a clear video explanation of what’s going on with your roof and our recommendations that you can watch on your own time.
- Quick Turnaround and Guaranteed Timelines
Roof installation is scheduled and completed within ten days of approval—no delays, no surprises, just reliable scheduling you can count on.
- Flexible Financing Options
We offer simple, clear-cut payment options, including 0% financing with zero money down, making it easy to get the high-quality roof your family needs.
- Trusted Team of Professionals
We’re proud to work closely with leading manufacturers, ensuring every roof we install is the highest quality. Our crews are experienced, respectful, and held to the highest standards in the industry—because your home deserves the best.
- Malarkey Emerald Premium Certified Contractor
- Proud Member of the Roofing and Solar Reform Alliance
- A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
- HAAG Certified Roof Inspector
- 5-Star Google Rating
- 5-Star Thumbtack Professional
- Lifetime Roof Warranties
We stand behind our work with robust warranties that cover labor and materials, offering long-term protection and peace of mind.
- Speedy Cleanup and Safety Precautions
Our teams take extra care to minimize disruption and keep your family and pets safe during every step of the process.
- Locally Owned, Family-Run Business
Based in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, and serving neighbors throughout Lake County and the Chicago suburbs, we’re proud to serve our local community with integrity, hustle, transparency, and heart.
We’ll do everything in our power to ensure you’re informed and confident through every step of the process and will always make recommendations based on what’s best for you. We’re humbled by the positive feedback we’ve received from thousands of happy customers and look forward to serving you and your family.
Trusted By Over 10,000+ Satisfied Customers
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