Cedar to Metal Roof Conversion in BC

Because metal solves the exact problems that end cedar roofs in our climate, and does it for the longest time. Cedar holds moisture, grows moss, and needs regular cleaning and treatment to reach its lifespan here, while metal's slick surface sheds our rain and debris and gives moss almost nothing to grip, ending that cycle. Metal is also the longest lasting roof available, a standing seam system in 26 gauge with concealed fasteners can be close to a forever roof, and it needs virtually no maintenance. On top of that, as a Class A fire rated roof it can ease the insurance pressure that wood roofs increasingly face. It costs the most up front of the conversion options, but on a home you plan to keep, the cost per year over its long life often makes the strongest case. For homeowners who want to install a roof once and stop thinking about it, metal is the premium answer.

It can, and it is a factor more cedar owners are running into at renewal time. Some insurers surcharge, restrict, or decline wood roofs because of fire risk, and that pressure has been growing across BC. Converting to a Class A fire rated metal roof removes the wood, which can help your insurability or your premium with some providers. We are roofers, not insurance advisors, so you should confirm the specifics with your own insurer, since policies and treatment of roof types vary. But it is a real and increasingly common reason homeowners convert off cedar, and it is worth raising with your provider before you decide, because the insurance savings or restored insurability can factor into the overall value of the conversion alongside the roofing benefits.

It is a full conversion, not an overlay, so the process starts by removing the old cedar completely down to the structure. During that tear off we inspect the sheathing, and this matters more than people expect: many older cedar roofs sit on spaced shiplap or skip sheathing rather than solid plywood, because cedar was installed to breathe, whereas a metal roof needs a proper, continuous deck beneath it. So where the substrate needs a solid plywood deck or the sheathing needs repair, that gets addressed as part of the job. Once the deck is sound, we install the underlayment and the metal system, detailing every flashing and penetration carefully, since metal roofing is detail intensive at the transitions. The result is a properly built metal roof on a sound deck, rather than metal laid over a compromised or unsuitable substrate, which is why the deck inspection is a real and necessary step in a cedar conversion.

It depends on your budget and how long you are staying. Metal is the premium conversion: it lasts the longest, needs the least maintenance, sheds rain and debris best, and offers the strongest insurance and fire profile, but it costs the most up front. Asphalt is the value conversion: it costs less, ends the cedar maintenance cycle, and is a genuinely good roof, though it does not match metal's lifespan. There is also synthetic cedar, which keeps the cedar look while ending the upkeep, at a premium price. From what we see on local conversions, homeowners staying long term who want to be done with their roof lean metal, those focused on value convert to asphalt, and those who love the cedar look choose synthetic. We lay out all three honestly with real costs so you can weigh cost per year against up front price for your situation.

Metal is the most expensive of the cedar conversion options up front, so it costs more than converting to asphalt, though the exact figure depends on your roof size, complexity, the metal system chosen, and what the deck needs. A key cost variable specific to cedar conversions is the sheathing: because many cedar roofs sit on spaced rather than solid decking, some conversions need a solid plywood substrate added for the metal, which affects the price. The honest way to judge the cost is per year of service rather than the install total, because metal's very long lifespan and near zero maintenance spread that up front cost across decades, often making it very reasonable annually on a home you keep. We assess your specific roof and deck during the estimate and give you a clear, itemised quote so you can compare it fairly against asphalt or synthetic conversion options.