Becker, Minnesota
Responsive Cedar Shake Roofing in Becker, MN
Which side of Becker you live on decides whether cedar makes sense. Out over the irrigated sand plain the wind hits long plain gable runs with nothing to break it, and the roof dries fast. Down toward the wooded Mississippi floodplain the same roof carries leaf load and stays shaded, and cedar has a much shorter life there.
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Wind exposure and leaf load split by direction
On the older village houses we often find one or two layers of asphalt sitting on the original cedar, and the deck underneath is skip sheathing, which is fine for shakes and wrong for anything else without new sheathing over it. That is usually the first real decision on the job. The newer ramblers and split entries give you long plain gable runs, big open fields with few penetrations, so labor is predictable and the detail work concentrates at the rakes, the ridge and the wall step flashing. On the cropland side we increase fastener count, since wind comes across the sand plain with nothing standing in the way. On the floodplain side we keep the exposure tighter and talk honestly about whether asphalt roofing would serve that house better. Neither answer is a hard rule, and we will show you the north slope before you choose.
Cedar Shake Roofing in Becker
What a cedar roof needs on each side of Becker
Fastening set by wind exposure
Out on the open sand plain side, wind crosses long plain gable runs with nothing to slow it. We increase fastener count and tighten the exposure on those elevations.
Leaf load planned for
Houses toward the wooded Mississippi floodplain carry litter all fall. We finish with the field swept clean and set gutters and valleys so debris keeps moving instead of sitting on the shakes.
Rakes and ridges detailed tight
A long plain gable is mostly field, which means the work that decides how it holds up is concentrated at the rakes, the ridge and the step flashing where the roof meets a wall.
Old layers hauled off completely
Village core houses often carry two layers over the original cedar. Everything comes off down to sound deck, because leaving weight and trapped moisture under new shakes wastes the whole job.
South facing fields kept from cupping
Open exposure means sun as well as wind. On the south and west planes we use a heavier grade and a shorter exposure, since that is where cedar dries out, curls and splits first.
Deck checked before shakes are ordered
Skip sheathing suits shakes and is wrong for most other roofing without new sheathing over it. Knowing which deck you have changes the material list, so we find out first.
How we approach cedar work in Becker
We look under the layers first
Before a quote goes out we find out what is on the deck and what the deck is. An estimate built on guesswork changes later, and nobody enjoys that phone call.
Every elevation walked, not just the front
Wind exposure and leaf load split by direction in Becker, so the north, south and river facing planes get looked at separately rather than priced as one roof.
Run by a family, not a call center
Ask a question about your north slope and the answer comes from someone who has stood on it. Family run and faith based, which mostly shows up in who picks up the phone and how much they already know about your roof.
Written scope, not a verbal number
Material, fastening and exposure go down in writing before anything is ordered. Estimates cost nothing here, and a written one is what makes two bids on the same roof actually comparable.
Shake grades explained plainly
Hand split, tapersawn, thickness and length all change how the roof looks and how it wears. We show you samples and explain which suits your exposure.
What people near Becker say
The crew arrived early and spread tarps all around the house to capture every bit of debris. By 3:00 PM, my entire roof was completely finished.
Hazel JamesRoof replacement, Minneapolis, MN Orange Exteriors fixed a minor leak that involved replacing flashing and a few shingles blown off our roof. Timely, quality work. Great ideas to keep our roof going long term.
Jim ThomasStorm damage repair From sales to construction crew to upper management, they helped make an insurance battle a breeze. This is the best contractor interaction I have ever had.
Jim NormanRoof replacement
Wind, shade and old layers
What people in Becker ask us about this work. If yours is not covered, call and ask.
Is cedar a good idea on the open cropland side of Becker?
Usually better than on the river side. Wind and sun dry those roofs quickly, which is exactly what cedar wants. The tradeoff is uplift on long plain gable runs, so the fastening and the exposure get set for wind rather than left at the default. Done that way, the open side is the easier place to own a shake roof.
There is old cedar under my shingles. Can we just roof over it?
No. New shakes go on a clean deck. The old cedar has to come off so we can see the sheathing, replace what is rotten and set the underlayment and flashing correctly. Roofing over trapped, damp wood is how a new roof fails from underneath while the surface still looks fine from the driveway.
How long does a cedar roof last on the floodplain side of Becker?
Shorter than on the open side, and how much shorter depends on the trees. A shaded roof under river bottom hardwoods that never gets swept can lose a north slope in a decade. The same roof kept clear, treated for moss and vented underneath runs much longer. Maintenance is the variable here, not the material.
See which side of Becker you are on
Give us the address and we will look at the exposure, the trees and the deck, then quote cedar honestly, including telling you when it is the wrong roof for that house.
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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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