Replacing Wood Shake Roofing in Newcastle, Oklahoma With a Class 4 Designer Roof
Wood shake roofs have a look that is hard to duplicate.
They were especially popular on larger custom homes because the natural wood texture gave a house an expensive, distinctive appearance.
But as beautiful as a wood shake roof may be, it also comes with disadvantages—particularly in Oklahoma.
Age, wind, hail, moisture and fire exposure can all become concerns as wood shakes deteriorate.
That is why Top View Roofing specializes in helping homeowners remove aging wood shake roofing and replace it with modern Class 4 designer impact-resistant shingles.
The goal is to preserve the upscale appearance of the home while dramatically improving the roofing system underneath it.
For many homeowners, this can truly be the last style of roof they ever want to choose.
Why Wood Shake Roofs Become a Concern
Wood is a natural material.
Over time, wood shakes can dry out, curl, split and crack.
The Oklahoma sun can be brutal.
Years of heat and ultraviolet exposure can remove moisture from the wood and make older shakes increasingly brittle.
Then Oklahoma throws hail, wind and thunderstorms at the roof.
Eventually, the roofing system may reach the point where continued repairs no longer make financial sense.
Fire exposure is another important consideration.
Wood is combustible.
Depending on the age of the roof, the specific product and whether it received any fire-retardant treatment, an older wood shake roof may present greater fire concerns than many modern roofing materials.
For homeowners living around Newcastle and the Oklahoma City metro, where grass fires and wind-driven fires can occasionally occur, that is worth considering.
Fire Is Not the Only Problem
Many homeowners assume fire is the only reason to replace wood shake roofing.
It is not.
Leaks can become increasingly difficult to track on an aging shake roof.
Individual shakes may split.
Fasteners may loosen.
Underlayment may deteriorate.
Flashing may fail.
Because the roofing system has so many individual pieces, water may enter in one location and travel before appearing inside the home somewhere completely different.
Repairs may work temporarily, but once a wood shake roof reaches the end of its useful life, homeowners can find themselves paying repeatedly to repair different sections.
At some point, replacing the roofing system becomes the smarter long-term decision.
You Do Not Have to Give Up the Designer Look
One reason homeowners hesitate to remove wood shakes is appearance.
They do not want their custom home to suddenly look like every other house in the neighborhood.
We understand that completely.
That is why we often recommend a designer Class 4 impact-resistant shingle rather than a basic entry-level asphalt shingle.
Today’s premium designer shingles can create depth, shadow lines and texture that work very well on larger homes and homes that originally had cedar or wood shakes.
The finished roof can provide a substantial, high-end appearance while giving the homeowner the benefits of modern roofing technology.
Why We Recommend Class 4 Impact Resistance
Once a homeowner decides to remove an expensive wood shake roof, it makes very little sense to replace it with the cheapest roofing material available.
Oklahoma is hail country.
A Class 4 impact-resistant shingle gives homeowners additional protection against impact compared with many standard roofing products.
Again, impact-resistant does not mean impact-proof.
Extremely large hail can damage virtually any roofing material.
But when you are investing in a complete roof replacement, upgrading to a Class 4 roofing system can be a logical choice.
Some insurance companies may also offer premium discounts for qualifying impact-resistant roofing products.
Homeowners should check directly with their insurance carrier because discounts vary by company and policy.
Removing Wood Shakes Is Different From a Normal Tear-Off
Removing wood shake roofing requires planning.
Once the old material is removed, the roof deck must be carefully inspected.
Older wood shake roofing systems may have been installed over spaced decking rather than the type of solid roof decking used with modern asphalt shingles.
That means the decking condition and structure need to be evaluated before the new roofing system is installed.
This is not a job where you simply tear off one material and nail another material in its place.
The roof has to be properly prepared for the new system.
Any damaged or unsuitable decking must be addressed.
Only after the roof deck is ready should the new underlayment and shingles be installed.
Synthetic Underlayment Provides an Important Secondary Barrier
Once the deck is properly prepared, Top View Roofing installs a modern synthetic underlayment as part of the roofing system.
The underlayment sits beneath the shingles and provides another layer of protection.
It is one of those roofing materials homeowners rarely see but should absolutely ask about.
A beautiful designer shingle should not be installed over a cheap or poorly installed base.
The roof needs to be built correctly from the bottom up.
Ice and Water Shield in the Valleys
Roof valleys collect large amounts of rainwater.
During a severe Newcastle thunderstorm, thousands of gallons of water can move across a roof in a short period of time.
The valleys are where much of that water concentrates.
That is why we install ice and water shield in the valleys.
This self-adhering membrane provides additional protection underneath the finished roofing material in these critical areas.
It is a small part of the overall roofing cost, but it can make a major difference in long-term performance.
Proper Flashing Is Essential
Replacing a wood shake roof also creates the perfect opportunity to inspect the flashing system.
Chimneys, walls, valleys and roof penetrations all require proper flashing to keep water outside where it belongs.
One of the biggest mistakes any roofing contractor can make is installing a beautiful new roof while leaving behind failing flashing.
That may save money during installation, but it can create expensive problems later.
We believe the roofing system should be looked at as a complete unit.
If something needs to be replaced to make the roof perform properly, it should be addressed while the roof is open.
Ventilation Matters on Large Custom Homes
Many homes with wood shake roofs have large or complicated attic spaces.
Proper ventilation is important.
Hot air and moisture trapped inside an attic can affect the roof deck and roofing system.
The ventilation requirements should be evaluated when converting from wood shake roofing to a modern shingle system.
Where appropriate, ridge ventilation can provide a clean appearance while helping heat escape through the top of the roof.
The Finished Roof Can Transform the Home
Replacing wood shakes is not simply a maintenance project.
It can completely change the appearance of the house.
A worn wood shake roof can make an otherwise beautiful home look older than it really is.
A new designer shingle can restore the home’s appearance while adding a cleaner, more modern roofing system.
Color selection becomes especially important.
The roof needs to work with the brick, stone, siding, trim and architectural style of the house.
We encourage homeowners to take their time selecting a color.
The goal is not simply to install a roof.
The goal is to make the roof look like it belongs on the house.
A Roofing Upgrade That Can Make Sense for the Long Term
Homeowners sometimes continue repairing old wood shake roofing because they are worried about the cost of replacement.
That is understandable.
But there comes a point when repeated repairs stop making sense.
If a roof is continuing to deteriorate, money spent patching one area after another may simply delay the inevitable.
Replacing the roof with a Class 4 designer system can eliminate the constant cycle of repair calls and give the homeowner a modern roofing system designed for the conditions we deal with in Oklahoma.
For many homeowners, that peace of mind is worth as much as the appearance.
Newcastle Roofing From a Local Company
Top View Roofing is based in Newcastle, Oklahoma, and we understand the types of homes and roofing systems found throughout Newcastle and the surrounding Oklahoma City area.
Wood shake removal is not something every roofing company specializes in.
It requires more planning than an ordinary shingle replacement, especially when decking modifications or repairs are involved.
Our goal is to remove the aging roofing system, properly prepare the structure underneath it and install a high-quality designer roof that complements the home.
We also believe homeowners deserve to know what they are paying for.
We will explain the roofing system, the materials and the installation process before the job begins.
Thinking About Replacing Your Wood Shake Roof?
If you own a home in Newcastle, Oklahoma, with an aging cedar shake or wood shake roof, it may be worth having the roof inspected before another Oklahoma storm season arrives.
Look for cracked or missing shakes.
Look for excessive curling.
Look for areas that appear brittle or deteriorated.
Pay attention to recurring leaks.
And if the roof is reaching the end of its useful life, consider whether repeatedly repairing an older combustible roofing material still makes sense.
A Class 4 designer impact-resistant roofing system can provide the upscale appearance homeowners want while giving the home a modern roof built for Oklahoma weather.
At Top View Roofing, we specialize in helping homeowners make that transition.
Your home does not have to lose its character when the wood shakes come off.
With the right designer shingle, the new roof can look even better than the original—and give you a roofing system you can feel confident about for many years to come.
