Materials & Systems
Cedar Shake Conversion Options: Asphalt, Metal & Synthetic Shake
The short answer
Converting off cedar usually means one of three paths: architectural asphalt (cheapest, easy), standing-seam metal (longest life, best for snow/fire country), or synthetic shake (keeps the cedar look with near-zero maintenance). All three end the moss-treatment, zinc-strip, and early-failure cycle that makes cedar a maintenance relationship in our wet climate.
Part of our guide to The Best Roofing Materials for the Pacific Northwest (Ranked by Situation).
Cedar looks like nothing else — and in the Pacific Northwest, it farms moss like nothing else, too. If you’re tired of the treatment cycles and the early failure under your firs, the good news is you have three solid ways off cedar, each with an honest trade-off. Here’s the real comparison.
Why cedar converts are so common here
In our damp, shaded climate, cedar is a maintenance relationship: treatment every 3–5 years, zinc strips, airflow care, and the reality that north-facing planes fail before sunny ones — sometimes in 12 years under heavy canopy. Plenty of homeowners love the look and accept the upkeep. Plenty more decide, at replacement time, to end the cycle. If that’s you, start by understanding what moss does — it’s the thing you’re really converting away from.
Your three conversion paths
| Convert to | Look | Maintenance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt | Dimensional, not cedar-like | Low (moss treatment) | Budget, easy, most homes |
| Standing-seam metal | Modern / clean lines | Very low | Snow & fire country, long-term owners |
| Synthetic (composite) shake | Convincingly cedar | Near-zero | Keeping the cedar aesthetic |
Architectural asphalt is the economical default — the lowest cost per year on the materials list. You lose the cedar look but gain simplicity and a much easier maintenance life.
Standing-seam metal is the long bet — 50+ years, and often the rational choice east of the Cascades where snow, fire, and UV all favor it. A very different look, but the never-reroof-again payoff is real.
Synthetic shake is the answer for homeowners who love cedar’s dimensional look but not its upkeep. Modern composite shakes mimic cedar convincingly, carry strong fire ratings, and shed the maintenance — usually at 20–30% less than real cedar over the roof’s life.
The one cost detail to know
Cedar is installed over spaced skip-sheathing, not solid decking. So a conversion isn’t just swapping the covering — the cedar comes off and solid sheathing goes on before the new roof. That added decking is part of the conversion cost, and it’s why a cedar conversion runs a bit more than a straight asphalt-to-asphalt replacement. A good bid states it clearly, the same as any decking work.
Making the call
If budget leads, asphalt. If longevity, snow, or fire lead, metal. If the cedar look is non-negotiable, synthetic. There’s no wrong answer — just the one that fits your home, your climate zone, and how long you’re staying.
Ready to end the cedar maintenance cycle? Book a free inspection — we’ll assess the conversion, price the decking honestly, and show you all three options on your home. See cedar & shake roofing.