Jordan, Minnesota
Responsive Cedar Shake Roofing in Jordan, MN
Cedar suits the old houses on the valley floor in Jordan, and it also asks the most of them. The 1800s core downtown was built before anyone framed in soffit venting, so the attic under a cedar roof has no easy way to breathe. Up on the east side near 920 feet the roofs are newer and take wind the old core never sees.
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Venting comes first on the old core
On a house from the 1870s down by Sand Creek, the roof deck is often board sheathing over rafters with no soffit at all and no ridge cut. Lay cedar on that and the attic pushes moisture straight into the underside of the shakes, which rot from below while the top side still looks fine. So the first part of the job is air: adding intake at the eave where the framing allows, opening the ridge, and running the shakes on a breather mat so the deck stays dry. Roofs up on the bluff top plats need the opposite attention, since wind at 920 feet works at butts that never move down at 770. Where an owner wants the look without the upkeep, we walk them through asphalt roofing that still reads well on a historic street.
Cedar Shake Roofing in Jordan
What a cedar roof needs on a Jordan house
Intake venting added at the eave
Houses in the old core were framed without soffit vents. We find a way to bring air in at the eave, working with the framing that is there, so the cedar above is not drying on one side only.
Board sheathing checked before shakes
Old decks are wide boards with gaps that have moved over a century. We walk the deck, replace what has gone soft and set the spacing right so cedar has something solid and flat to sit on.
A roof that fits the historic street
Fourteen buff brick buildings from the 1860s and 1870s set the tone downtown. Cedar coursing and exposure can be chosen to match that era instead of looking like a suburban roof dropped on an old house.
Bluff top roofs fastened for wind
The east side plats stand about 150 feet above downtown and take gusts the valley floor never gets. Those roofs get shorter exposure and more fasteners, hand driven so nothing is overshot.
Porch roofs that cedar cannot take
Old houses here carry shallow porch and addition roofs. Cedar needs pitch to shed, so those low sections get a material that works flat while the main planes above stay in wood.
Rafter tails and fascia repaired first
On a house this old the rafter ends and the fascia behind the gutter have taken years of overflow. We repair that framing before any cedar goes down, because a soft eave will not hold a fastener or carry a straight starter course.
Why this work goes better with us
We plan the venting before the shakes
On a house with no soffit, ventilation is a design question rather than an afterthought. We work it out at the estimate so nothing has to be improvised up on the roof.
Respect for what the house is
A century old house downtown deserves detailing that matches its age. We take the extra time on eaves, rakes and dormers instead of wrapping everything in aluminum trim.
Licensed, insured and on the roof
We carry the license and the insurance, and the people who quote your roof are the people up on it. Nobody hands you to a crew you have never met once the paperwork is signed.
Permits and district review handled
Downtown work can involve review that a subdivision reroof never touches. We sort out what applies to your address before the crew and the dumpster show up.
Straight answers about what stays
Not every old roof needs everything replaced. We tell you which planes can wait a season and which cannot, and we put that in writing with the quote.
What people near Jordan say
Orange Exteriors did an excellent job with my new roofing install. Very professional, on time and hard working crew. Completed the job in one day.
Dick JohnsonRoof installation We live in Eden Prairie. Orange did an excellent job on our siding replacement and provided great customer service all the way through.
Thomas DeSutterSiding replacement, Eden Prairie, MN Fantastic guys to work with, did an excellent job of fixing our siding. You can tell it’s a high integrity company. Definitely recommend.
Carolyn MillerSiding repair
Cedar shake questions in Jordan
What people in Jordan ask us about this work. If yours is not covered, call and ask.
Can an old house in Jordan take cedar without soffit vents?
Not safely, not as it stands. Cedar dries from both faces, and a sealed attic pushes moisture up into the shakes until they rot from below. Before we quote cedar on a house downtown, we look for a way to add intake at the eave and open the ridge. If there is no path for air, we say so.
Is cedar a good match for the Jordan Historic District?
It suits the era well. The district was listed on the National Register in 1980 and covers fourteen buff brick buildings put up mostly between 1865 and 1880, when wood roofs were the norm. On a house nearby, cedar at the right exposure looks right. Check with the city on any review that applies first.
Does the Sand Creek valley floor stay too damp for cedar?
Downtown sits near 770 feet on the valley floor, where the air holds still and roofs dry slowly. Cedar can work there on an open lot with real venting, but a shaded low block with tall trees over the eaves is a poor candidate. We look at your planes before giving you an answer.
Ask us about cedar on your house
Whether your house sits in the old core or up on the bluff, we will look at the deck, the venting and the exposure and quote it plainly. Free estimate, no obligation.
Get Your Free Exterior Estimate
Tell us what is going on with your roof, siding, windows, or gutters. We will take a look and give you a straight answer, including when the answer is that you can wait.
- Phone(612) 600-8529
- Emailadmin@orange-exteriors.com
- Office6600 City West Pkwy Suite 375, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- HoursOpen 24 hours, Sunday to Saturday
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