Cedar Shake Removal and Conversion to Asphalt Shingles
Old shakes off, sheathing brought back to solid, modern architectural shingles on. We've done it on a steep 12/12 with dormers in one marathon push.
Call to book your free assessment.
From shakes to shingles, properly
We remove old cedar shake roofs and convert them to architectural asphalt shingles across Dawson Creek, Fort St John and the South Peace. The shakes come off, the wood underneath gets inspected and repaired, and a modern shingle system goes on with six nails in every shingle.
Shake tear-offs are the jobs where surprises live. Decades of weather get at the underlay and the wood beneath it, and none of that is visible from the ground. So we plan every conversion for the long day it might become, and we price wood repairs on the estimate before we start.
Tim's cedar shake marathon
Tim's job looked straightforward from the ground. Cedar shake tear-off and re-shingle, 102 bundles on a 12/12 with dormers. As soon as we started tearing off, we knew we were in for a long day. The underlay had completely disintegrated, and about 65 percent of the sheathing was rotten. Then the wind picked up, and the hornets got mad.
We don't leave roofs exposed overnight, so the crew started at 7am and worked until almost dark. Sheeted and waterproofed the same day, shingled the next. Tim came home to a new roof, surprised to learn we'd fixed all his sheathing too. The full story is on our reviews page.
"That job reminded me why I'm proud of this crew. When things get tough, everyone just puts their head down and gets it done right."
Chris Perez, on Tim's roof
How a conversion goes
We plan for the long day
Every shake roof hides its condition until tear-off. So we quote it with wood repairs priced up front, and we show up staffed for whatever's under there.
Shakes off, down to the wood
The old cedar comes off completely. Nothing gets shingled over.
The deck gets rebuilt where it needs it
Rotten boards and sheathing get cut out and replaced at the price already on your estimate. On Tim's roof that was 65 percent of it.
Weatherproofed the same day
We never leave a roof exposed overnight. Sheeted and waterproofed before we go home, even when that means working until dark.
Shingled, cleaned up, warrantied
Architectural shingles with six nails each, a full cleanup, and a 10-year workmanship warranty behind it all.
What a conversion includes
- Complete shake tear-off and disposal. Down to bare wood, nothing buried.
- Sheathing inspection and repair. Rot fixed and priced up front, never papered over.
- New underlayment and waterproofing. Triple protection at valleys, penetrations and eaves.
- Architectural shingles, six nails each. With manufacturer warranties we're certified to register.
- Same-day weatherproofing. Your house is never left open to the sky.
Conversions follow the same three-package estimate as any roof replacement, and most of them happen right here in Dawson Creek.
What your estimate looks like
Before any work starts you'll have a written estimate you can actually read. Chris builds it the same way for every replacement:
- Three packages: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Every material listed and priced, so you compare like for like instead of guessing at line items.
- Only four possible extras, priced up front. Shiplap, a second layer of shingles, tarred-down shingles and wood repairs. Each is on the estimate disclaimer with its cost. That's the whole list.
- Measured right. By hand or by satellite, the numbers behind your price are accurate.
- A personal cover letter. It explains the estimate, links to our reviews and mentions financing options if you need them.
Cedar shake conversion questions
Can you put new shingles over my old cedar shakes?
No. We tear the shakes off and start from the wood. Tim's roof showed why: the underlay had completely disintegrated and 65 percent of the sheathing was rotten. You only find that with a tear-off.
How long does a conversion take?
We never leave a roof exposed overnight. On Tim's steep 12/12 with dormers, the crew started at 7am, worked until almost dark, and had it sheeted and waterproofed the same day. Shingles went on the next.
What will it cost?
Cost depends on size, pitch and what we find under the shakes. Your estimate shows three packages with every material priced, and wood repairs are named up front with their cost. No surprise invoices.
Will you find rotten wood under the shakes?
Often, yes. Old shake roofs hide it well. That's why wood repair pricing is stated on the estimate before we start, and why we bring the sheathing back to solid before any shingle goes on.
Do you take on unusual roofs?
Yes. Steep pitches, dormers, even a full barn arch have all been through this crew. If it takes shingles, we'll give you a straight answer on it. See our steep and complex page.
Ready to retire the shakes?
A free assessment tells you what's under them and what a conversion costs, with every possible extra named up front.
Call to book your free assessment, or use the form and we'll call you.
Book Your Free Assessment
No cost. No obligation. An honest answer about what your roof actually needs.
Thanks, we got it!
Chris or the Raptor crew will reach out shortly to book your free assessment. Need it sooner? Call 250-219-4333.