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Cedar Shake vs Composite Shake Roofing

Otsego MN Roofing Services

Cedar Shake or Composite Shake, Which Is Right for Your Home

Cedar shake offers a natural, authentic wood look but requires ongoing maintenance and is more susceptible to moisture and pest issues over time. Composite shake replicates the same architectural appearance using engineered material designed to resist rot, insects, and fire with significantly less long term upkeep.

  • Composite Shingle & Cedar Shake: For that classic, timeless feel, we offer both synthetic and natural shake shingles.

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What Your Neighbors Are Noticing

The Appeal of True Cedar Shake

Cedar shake has a distinct textured, natural look that ages into an attractive silver gray patina over time, and remains popular for homes with a rustic or historic architectural style where authenticity matters to the owner.

The Maintenance Reality of Real Wood

Cedar shake requires periodic treatment to resist moisture, moss growth, and insect activity, and individual shakes can split or curl over time, particularly in a climate with Minnesota's freeze and thaw cycles. Left unmaintained, cedar's lifespan can shorten considerably compared to its potential.

How Composite Shake Replicates the Look

Composite shake products are engineered to mimic the texture, shadow lines, and dimensional look of real cedar shake, while being manufactured from materials designed specifically to resist rot, insects, and fire, without the same maintenance schedule as real wood.

What This Means for You

If the goal is the specific look of true cedar and you're prepared for the maintenance that comes with it, real cedar shake is worth the commitment. If you want the same architectural character with meaningfully less upkeep, composite shake is generally the more practical choice for this climate.

Performance Differences That Matter in This Climate

Composite shake generally holds up more consistently through repeated freeze and thaw cycles than real cedar, since the engineered material isn't subject to the same natural splitting and moisture absorption that wood experiences over decades of Minnesota winters.

How KraftMasters Approaches This

KraftMasters Restoration installs both cedar and composite shake systems and will give you an honest read on which one fits your home's style and your appetite for long term maintenance.

Masters Of Our Kraft

Restoration Done Right, Every Time

1. 18-Point Inspection & Documentation

We start with a thorough roof inspection that goes beyond the shingles. Hail damage shows up in the granule loss pattern, at the flashing points, along the soft metals like gutters and downspouts, and sometimes in the decking underneath. We photograph every area of damage and produce documentation specific enough to support a full insurance claim.

2. Insurance Claims Support

Once damage is confirmed, we help you file the claim and coordinate directly with your adjuster. Insurance adjusters frequently underestimate granule loss, overlook collateral damage, or write a scope that does not include everything covered by your policy. We review the initial scope of loss and submit supplemental documentation when items have been missed. We do not consider this done until the approved scope reflects the actual damage.

3. Material Selection

Kraft Masters is a certified installer for the top-of-the-line materials to put on your home. From GAF Timberline HDz shingles to secure your roof to LP SmartSide siding to enhance your curb appeal. We will walk you through the best options that fit your home, and your scope of damage.

4. Same-Day Installation

Once materials are approved and scheduled, our crew arrives with everything needed to complete the job in a single day. We inspect the decking before new material goes down, photograph each stage, and handle magnetic nail collection across the full property. No overnight weather exposure. No half-finished work waiting on a callback.

5. Final Walk-Through and Full Claim Close-Out

We walk the completed job with you before we leave. If depreciation has been withheld pending completion, we provide the documentation needed to release it. The job is finished when you have your roof and your full claim settlement, not just one of the two.

FAQs

Common Questions Your Neighbors Are Asking

Q: Does composite shake look obviously different from real cedar up close?

A: Higher quality composite shake products are designed to replicate texture and shadow lines closely enough that the difference is not obvious from normal viewing distance.

Q: Which option lasts longer in Minnesota's climate?

A: Composite shake generally holds up more consistently over decades of freeze and thaw cycles than real cedar left without regular maintenance.

Q: Can I inspect my own roof from the ground?

A: You can spot obvious issues like missing shingles, but hail bruising and granule loss are difficult to assess accurately without getting on the roof.

Going The Extra Mile Since 1999

Impacted By Storm Damage?

You deserve a contractor who's willing to go the distance. The insurance claims process is a marathon, not a sprint. Call KraftMasters today to schedule your free inspection, or click below to get get started instantly!

Service Areas

Proudly Serving Our Otsego Community Since 1999

  • Otsego MN

  • Rogers MN

  • St. Michael MN

  • Elk River MN

  • Maple Grove MN

  • Monticello MN

  • Albertville MN

  • Plymouth MN

  • Hanover MN

  • + More

10603 95th St NE, Otsego, MN 55362, USA

MN License #BC646808

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