Cedar to Asphalt Roof Conversion in BC

Because it is the most affordable way to end cedar's maintenance cycle while getting a fresh, good looking, durable roof. Cedar in our climate holds moisture, grows moss, and needs regular cleaning and treatment just to reach its lifespan, and re shaking in cedar is expensive. A quality architectural asphalt shingle costs far less, lasts predictably, needs little maintenance, and resists moss with basic prevention like ridge strips. As a Class A fire rated roof, it can also ease the insurance pressure that wood roofs increasingly attract. For the many homeowners who, when their cedar ages out, simply want to be done with the upkeep at a sensible price rather than buy another premium roof, asphalt is the practical landing spot. It is the most common cedar conversion we do, precisely because it solves the maintenance and cost problems that lead people to leave cedar in the first place.

It can, and it is the same wood roof issue that affects all cedar owners. Some insurers surcharge, restrict, or decline wood roofs because of fire risk, and that pressure has grown across BC. Converting to a Class A fire rated asphalt shingle removes the wood, which can help your insurability or premium with some providers, at the lowest cost of the conversion options. We are roofers rather than insurance advisors, so you should confirm the specifics with your own insurer, since how policies treat roof types varies. But many homeowners find that leaving a wood roof behind eases their insurance situation, and because asphalt is the most affordable conversion, it delivers that benefit without the premium of metal or synthetic. It is worth raising with your provider as part of weighing the conversion.

It is a full tear off, not an overlay, so the cedar is removed completely down to the structure first. During that process we inspect the sheathing carefully, because this is where cedar conversions differ from a standard re roof: many older cedar roofs sit on spaced shiplap or skip sheathing rather than solid plywood, since cedar was installed to breathe, whereas asphalt needs a solid, continuous deck beneath it. So where a plywood substrate needs to be added or the decking repaired, that becomes part of the job. Once the deck is sound, we install the underlayment, ice and water protection where it is needed, the flashings, and the shingles, detailing everything properly. The deck step is the part homeowners do not anticipate, which is why we inspect the sheathing during the estimate where possible and flag it, so the quote reflects the real scope rather than surprising you mid job.

It comes down to budget and how long you are staying. Asphalt is the value conversion: most affordable, ends the maintenance, and a genuinely good roof, though it does not match metal's lifespan. Metal is the premium conversion: longest lasting, lowest maintenance, best at shedding rain and debris, and strongest on the insurance and fire side, but it costs the most up front. 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, value focused homeowners and those with a shorter hold convert to asphalt, homeowners staying long term who want a forever roof choose metal, and those attached to the cedar look go synthetic. We lay out all three with honest costs so you can weigh up front price against cost per year for your specific home and plans.

It is the most affordable of the cedar conversion options, costing significantly less than re shaking in cedar or converting to metal or synthetic, though the exact figure depends on your roof size, complexity, and what the deck needs. The cost variable specific to cedar conversions is the sheathing: because many cedar roofs sit on spaced rather than solid decking, some conversions require a solid plywood substrate to be added for the asphalt, which affects the price. Beyond that, it prices like a quality asphalt re roof. The value case is strong, because you get a fresh, durable, low maintenance Class A roof and an end to the cedar upkeep at the lowest conversion cost. We assess your specific roof and deck during the estimate and provide a clear, itemised quote, so you can see exactly what the conversion involves and compare it against the metal or synthetic options if you are weighing them.