All materials
Cedar Shake
Cedar shake is rare in Alabama but we install and repair it — primarily in Mountain Brook, English Village, and other historic neighborhoods where it's spec'd to match the original architecture. It takes specialized install and ongoing maintenance.
Lifespan30-50 yrs
Cost tier$$$$
WeightMedium-heavy
Best forHistoric homes, architectural matching, Mountain Brook / Vestavia historic districts
✓ What's good
The pros.
- Distinctive look — nothing else looks like real wood shake
- Natural insulation and breathability
- Patinas beautifully — silver-gray over time
- 30-50 year lifespan with maintenance
! Honest trade-offs
The cons.
- Highest maintenance of any common material
- Fire risk — Class C unless treated
- Expensive, getting more so as good cedar gets harder to source
- Requires a specialist install crew
Manufacturers for cedar shake.
The names we trust on the trailer. Have a preference? Tell us and we'll spec it.
Western red cedar (premium)
Alaska yellow cedar
Pressure-treated cedar shake
How cedar shake
goes on a Birmingham home.
Step-by-step. Most jobs run 1-3 days on the roof depending on size, pitch, and weather.
01
Detailed deck inspection — old shake homes often need partial deck replacement
02
Skip-sheathing or solid-deck per local building code
03
Underlayment per manufacturer spec (some use felt, others synthetic)
04
Hand-nailed shake, staggered courses
05
Specialist flashing — copper or lead-coated common
06
Fire-retardant treatment if required by code or HOA
07
Maintenance schedule provided