There was a time when a cedar roof was one of the few types of roofing you could actually get. That has changed, however, in the past few decades, as low cost and poor quality have trumped reliability and appearance in many people's homes; today, a cedar roof is considered a premium product that may cost more than traditional asphalt shingles, or even rolled roofing papers and products, but it's absolutely worth the extra money.

More often than not, cedar roofs are put on homes because the contractors and builders understand that beauty adds to the value of a home in ways tar-paper and terra cotta simply cannot.

In addition to the benefits in the look, cedar shingles (or shakes) can actually give you far better performance as well. They are, for one, much better in high winds than other roofing products, and far better in terms of avoiding things like hail damage, water damage, and toxic run-off. Though there are drawbacks with a cedar roof, such as cost, it is overall a far better product that is desirable for much more than just appearances sake.

Cedar shakes and shingles do require a certain amount of maintenance, if you want to get the most out of your roof. Without this maintenance, even in a location like Vancouver, which gets some snow and plenty of sun, your cedar roof will last significantly longer than the other types of roof. If you maintain it well, it will stretch that lifespan even further, to the point where, with treated shakes, you may never need to by a roof again in your lifetime. Though you may pay more up front for the roof, these life-extending products can help you keep your roof for as many as 40 years, you may end up even making money on the whole thing if you should sell your home during that time.

Western red cedar roofing products, which are often produced in British Columbia, is usually used to when installing cedar roofs. This wood is perfect for such building inprovements because of the beautiful grain, amazing stability, and low density. This makes your red cedar roof all the better looking to go along with the improved functionality. That is why you got it in the first place, right?

Long gone are the days where a wooden roof was the norm. Today, you see asphalt, metal, terra cotta, aluminum, laminate, and even paper covering our roof tops. However, there is a renewed movement toward high end roofs right now, and though the price increase for cedar is marginal over the aforementioned lesser forms of roofing, a cedar roof simply looks fantastic sitting on the top of your home, while saving you money through heating and cooling efficiencies and increasing the value of your home by thousands.

Isn't it time you thought about putting cedar on your home?