Cedar Shake Roof Broomfield CO

Wood roofs have always been made of one of our most abundant and rugged natural materials-wood. Naturally beautiful, cedar is one of the most durable woods available and makes an excellent choice for wood roofs. Cedar shake roofs have the added benefit of naturally resisting decay as cedar contains natural oils that prevent decay, adding to the long life of the roof itself as well as its beauty.

Other roofing materials, such as metal, fiberglass, and concrete are manufactured from materials taken from the earth, and once these materials are removed they cannot be replaced. When these materials have reached the end of their life cycle, they become part of our world's landfills and junkyards and are not easily disposed of. In addition to using the sun and the earth to naturally grow the trees that become cedar shakes and shingles, when cedar roofing materials come to the end of their service life, they biodegrade and become a renewable building material resource.

While much of the world is just now realizing how important it is to use environmentally friendly materials and 'go green' whenever possible, those who have been involved in manufacturing cedar shakes and shingles and installing cedar shake roofs for many years have always known this fact. Those contractors have had the pleasure of working with one of natures finest roofing materials. Naturally recyclable, no other roofing material blends into the natural surrounding of your home like a cedar shake roof.

A cedar shake roof not only looks better, it lasts longer. The lifespan of a cedar shake roof depends on a variety of elements, including the grade and quality of the wood used as well as the climate of the area and its proximity to salt-water and long periods of exposure to the sun. However, a properly installed and maintained cedar shake roof will typically last 30 to 40 years. Speaking with experienced contractors and others in your area that have cedar shake roofs will also help you determine if a cedar shake roof is right for you.

Although the wood itself is the fundamental building material, many manufacturers now add UV stabilizers to the wood to provide protection from damage that can be caused by the sun and work towards preserving the original color and condition of the cedar shakes. Fire retardation additives are also a very common preventive measure that reduces the wood's natural ability to burn.

Wood roofs were used in pioneering times and placed atop wood homes that were constructed in some of the harshest climates. They withstood earthquakes, hail storms and more because of its naturally durable qualities. Today, with a more integrated installation process and specific preservatives, cedar shake roofs are even tougher for Mother Nature to wreak havoc upon.

Unlike other roofing materials, the energy required to produce cedar shake roofing materials comes directly from the sun. The USDA Forest Service has indicated that the type of roofs and siding with the highest insulation value is real wood-not a wood substitute, asphalt, laminate or fiberglass, but real, natural wood.

According to the USDA, wood has 8 times the thermal resistance of concrete, 413 times the thermal resistance of steel and a whopping 2000 times the thermal resistance of aluminum. As a result of this inherent high thermal resistance quality, wood roofing and siding help to reduce the amount of energy and the amount of money necessary to heat and cool traditional homes and offices.

As the world's energy supply continues to deplete, it is a homeowner's responsibility, and in everyone's best interest, to use products that consume less energy in their manufacturing process as well as help to conserve energy during its use. Upon installation of a cedar shake roof, you are more likely than not to turn up the heat less often and reduce your reliance upon your air conditioner to cool your home.