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Here's Some additional roofing tips for you.

Cedar shake roofs are incredibly beautiful. In the right setting cedar shake tiles add an amazing bit of style to a house. A cedar roof gives a home such a natural appearance that they should be a requirement for cabins built in the woods.

While they are beautiful and the wooden tiles are somewhat resistant to various weather elements a cedar roof does need to be properly maintained. All roofs need maintenance but cedar roofs have special needs and need to be monitored more than the standard shingle roofs. Fungus, algae, and moss are far bigger concerned on a cedar shake roof. And clearing debris off the roof is vitally important because built up debris, especially the organic matter, will lay on the roof and begin decomposing. The debris will keep moisture on the roof and water will eventually seep through the under layers of roofing material.

Cedar shakes are vulnerable to being cracked from tree branches falling on the roof so it is a very good idea to keep all trees trimmed back. This will also allow the roof to have more sun exposure. A wooden roof should not be shaded all the time as it will take longer for the roof to dry out between rain storms.

To do a "go over" or not

Many homeowners are tempted to do a “roof over” instead of ripping the old roofing material off and starting from scratch. It may seem like you will save money doing the job this way but it can be much more costly in the end.

There are a few things that should be considered besides the initial cost to have the job done. Most importantly is the added weight that will be on your roof. Roofs do have their limits and several layers of old shingles are very heavy. Add to that a heavy snow storm and the home’s rafters can be snapped. Repairing that will be very expensive. Older homes typically only have 2x6 rafters to begin with. Newly constructed homes use 2x10s or 2x12s, so older homes are especially at risk when doing a “roof over” because the rafters are already under sized.

Another big thing to consider is that roof overs do not last as long as a roof installed from the bare base. On average a freshly installed roof will last 25% longer. That alone may wipe out any savings you thought you were getting.

Roofing Warranties

When having a new roof installed you will want to know about your warranties. Many roofing materials carry warranties for the product but there may be things that void the warranty. The place where the roofing material is purchased should be able to provide you with the warranty details. If they cannot provide a copy then call the product manufacturer and get the details directly from them. Standard manufacturer warranties for roofing materials typically range from between 15 to 30 years (a huge gap so keep that in mind when choosing your materials). The warranties can be full coverage or pro-rated coverage (again, take this into account when choosing which material to purchase).

The roofing contractor should also offer a warranty. This will usually range between 5 to 10 years. Do not use a contractor who does not provide a warranty. This is a standard practice so any contractor not doing it should be a red flag for you. Doing business with them puts your roof at risk because they can cut corners with very little worry of having to come back and correct any issues that pop up.

You'll want to know the warranty periods for both the materials and the labor. Keep copies of both warranties in a fireproof safe or bank deposit box.