Hand-split cedar shake roofing for the homes that earn it.
Number 1 grade western red cedar shake roofing installed to the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau (CSSB) specification. Cedar Breather underlayment, stainless fasteners, copper or color-matched drip edge, hand-cut keyway gaps. A 30 to 50 year specialty install with curb appeal that asphalt cannot replicate.
Free cedar shake quote
In-home consultation. Grade walkthrough. Written quote with photos. No high-pressure sales.
How much does a cedar shake roof cost in Virginia and Maryland?
Cedar is specialty work. Roughly 3 to 4x the cost of architectural asphalt, with the lifespan and curb appeal to match.
$32,000 to $95,000
Typical hand-split cedar shake install range for Northern Virginia (2026).
- Small roof (1,400-1,800 sq ft)$32,000-$48,000
- Single-family (1,800-2,400 sq ft)$48,000-$72,000
- Larger or steep-pitch home$72,000-$95,000+
- Cedar Breather underlayment (included)no add
- Copper drip edge upgrade+$1,800-$3,200
$34,000 to $105,000
Typical range for Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery, and surrounding counties.
- Small roof (1,400-1,800 sq ft)$34,000-$52,000
- Single-family (1,800-2,400 sq ft)$52,000-$78,000
- Larger or steep-pitch home$78,000-$105,000+
- Cedar Breather underlayment (included)no add
- Copper drip edge upgrade+$1,800-$3,200
The grades and material choices for a 30 to 50 year cedar roof.
Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau (CSSB) Number 1 grade is the only grade we install. Lower grades shorten life materially.
Number 1 Blue Label, 18 inch
Hand-split western red cedar shake, 100% edge-grain, no defects. The CSSB Number 1 grade. The shake most DH cedar installs use.
Number 1 Blue Label, 24 inch heavy
Thicker butt (5/8 inch+), longer 24 inch exposure, more visual depth. Adds a few years of life and substantial visual weight to the roof line.
Tapersawn or Class A fire-treated
Tapersawn shakes have a sawn back with a hand-split face for premium aesthetics. Class A fire treatment available for HOA or wildfire-zone requirements.
Every roof we install includes these 8 components.
Every line item below is required for cedar to reach its 30 to 50 year potential. Cheap quotes skip them, and the roof fails 10 to 15 years early.
Full tear-off to decking
No roof-overs. Old material disposed of properly. Decking inspected from above.
Cedar Breather underlayment
The corrugated mesh that lets cedar back-vent moisture. Skipping this is the #1 reason cedar roofs fail at 12 to 15 years instead of 30+.
30 lb felt over Cedar Breather
Traditional asphalt-saturated felt under the cedar breather. The system the CSSB specifies for natural shake life.
Stainless steel ring-shank fasteners
Galvanized nails react with cedar tannins and stain the shakes black within 5 years. Stainless is non-negotiable on cedar.
Copper or color-matched drip edge
Painted aluminum looks wrong against cedar. Copper develops a patina that complements the cedar weathering. Color-matched aluminum is the budget option.
Step + counter-flashing replacement
All chimney, sidewall, dormer flashing replaced. Counter-flashing tucked into mortar joints, not just caulked over.
Cedar shake ridge cap, hand-cut
Pre-assembled cedar ridge caps with proper alignment. Ridge vent integrated where attic ventilation requires it.
Decking + ventilation upgrade
Cedar requires balanced attic ventilation. We balance intake + exhaust as part of the spec. Decking repair at published per-sheet rate.
Five steps from first call to warranty registration.
Most homes complete in one day. Larger or multi-pitch homes in two.
Inspect
HAAG-Certified inspection at your home. Drone + ground photos. Decking probed from the attic. Written assessment with measurements.
Quote
Walk through cedar grades, fastener choice, drip edge options, and CSSB spec. Fixed-price quote with per-sheet decking rate if rot is found on tear-off.
Schedule
You pick the install date. We pull permits and order materials. Material delivery the day before. 24-hour confirmation call.
Install
Tear-off + Cedar Breather + felt installed day 1. Field shakes course up day 2 with hand-cut keyway gaps. Ridge cap + flashing on the final day. Cedar roofs are 3 to 5 day installs, not one-day.
Warranty
3-year DreamHome workmanship warranty (the install is the warranty on cedar; the material warranty is mostly cosmetic). Transferable to a new owner if you sell.
The texture and craftsmanship of a hand-split cedar roof.
What separates a 30 year cedar install from a 15 year one is visible in the details.
Four reasons homeowners pick us for replacement specifically.
OC Platinum Preferred since 2010
Sixteen consecutive years in OC’s top tier. Continuous install audits. Member of the Platinum Advisory Board. The only tier that earns the 50-year non-prorated warranty.
HAAG-Certified inspector on every replacement
Even if the answer is “you don’t need a new roof yet,” GM Kevin Butler’s HAAG inspection tells you honestly. Roof Maxx restoration may extend life 15 years at 20% the cost.
One day, not three weeks
20-square subdivision roofs install in one day. Larger homes in two. No multi-week jobsites. No weeks of tarped openings. No exposed decking to surprise weather.
Same crews, audited annually
Full-time crews, not day-laborers. Trained on OC’s install spec, audited annually by OC for Platinum certification. The crews that installed 20,000 DH roofs will install yours.
Replacement now, pay monthly.
Cash flow is the real reason many homeowners delay replacement. Financing closes that gap. Soft credit pull, no impact on your score.
- No deposit required when financed
- 0% APR options for qualified buyers
- No prepayment penalty · same-day approval often
$14,500 OC Platinum single-family replacement
60 months · competitive APR
Range typical: $295–$320 / mo
Cedar shake questions.
How long does a cedar shake roof last in Virginia and Maryland?
30 to 50 years with a proper install, Cedar Breather underlayment, and balanced attic ventilation. 15 to 20 years if any of those three are skipped. Cedar is one of the most installer-dependent roofing materials; the spread between a great install and an average one is enormous.
Why is cedar so much more expensive than asphalt?
Three reasons: (1) material cost is roughly 5x asphalt per square. (2) labor is 2 to 3x because cedar is hand-installed with keyway spacing and stainless fasteners. (3) the supporting components (Cedar Breather, copper drip edge, custom flashing) all cost more. Total install runs 3 to 4x architectural asphalt.
Will my HOA approve a cedar shake roof?
Depends on the neighborhood. Cedar IS approved in many high-end Virginia and Maryland communities (Great Falls, McLean, parts of Reston, Severna Park, Ruxton, parts of Howard County). Some HOAs require Class A fire-treated cedar specifically. We help with HOA architectural review submissions.
Does cedar need to be treated for fire?
Only if your HOA, local code, or insurance carrier requires it. Untreated Number 1 grade cedar carries a Class C fire rating naturally. Class A fire-treated cedar adds approximately $5,400 to $9,800 to a typical install but may be required by some HOAs and may reduce insurance premiums in wildfire-zone areas.
What is Cedar Breather and why does it matter?
Cedar Breather is a thin corrugated polypropylene mesh underlayment installed between the felt and the cedar shakes. It creates an airspace that lets cedar back-vent moisture from below. Without Cedar Breather, cedar traps moisture and rots from underneath at 12 to 15 years instead of lasting 30+. It is the single most important install detail on a cedar roof.
Will my cedar shake roof turn gray?
Yes, gradually. Fresh cedar is amber to honey. UV exposure silvers it over 5 to 8 years. South and west exposures silver faster than north. The silver is the natural protective patina, not damage. Some homeowners apply a clear oil-based sealer every few years to slow the silvering and add UV protection; many prefer the natural silver look.
Can cedar shake handle Virginia and Maryland storms?
Yes, when installed to spec. Cedar resists hail damage better than asphalt because the wood absorbs impact rather than fracturing. Wind ratings on cedar shake roofs typically exceed 110 mph with proper stainless fastening. The vulnerable points are at terminations (ridges, eaves, valleys), which is why install detail matters most there.
Do you offer financing on cedar shake roofs?
Yes, through Foundation Finance, Service Finance, Hearth, and Synchrony. A typical 120-month plan on a $58,000 cedar install runs around $725 to $795 per month at competitive APRs. Home equity lines often beat the rate on premium installs of this scale. See financing options for full payment scenarios.
Roof replacement across Northern Virginia and Maryland.
Crews dispatched from our Springfield VA office and Hanover MD office. One-day install on most homes. HAAG-Certified inspection before every quote.
Northern Virginia replacements
- › Alexandria
- › Annandale
- › Burke
- › Centreville
- › Fairfax County
- › Kingstowne
- › Lorton
- › Newington
- › Springfield
- › West Springfield
- › Woodbridge
Maryland replacements
Our Hanover team serves Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George’s, and Baltimore counties. Storm-damage replacements coordinated with insurance adjusters on the I-95, Route 100, and BWI corridor.
Everything you need to make the right call.
Replacement isn’t always the right answer. Pick your path, your material, your decision framework.
Four principles Lenny refuses to compromise.
Founded by Lenny Scarola in 1999. 2,400+ verified reviews across Google, Angi, HomeAdvisor, GuildQuality, BBB, and more. We approach roofing more like a forensic investigation than a sales appointment.
Diagnose before you sell
Inspector on the ladder, not a sales rep. Sometimes the real problem isn’t a roof at all.
Install to manufacturer spec
Less than 1% qualify for OC Platinum. Even the best shingles installed incorrectly can fail.
Honest pricing, no games
No inflate-and-discount. No “today only.” The quote is the price.
Trust compounds over time
Same leadership 25+ years. After the storms pass and the trucks disappear, what matters is who’s still standing.
“I’d rather lose a job because someone needed time to think than pressure someone into making a decision they don’t fully understand. The cheapest roof is almost never the cheapest roof long term. Trust compounds over time.”
Free cedar shake consultation.
HAAG-Certified inspection, written photo report, fixed-price quote with shingle line comparison. No high-pressure sales. Same-week scheduling. Most homes install in one day.