For decades, cedar shake defined the classic mountain home. Its natural texture and warmth helped cabins and alpine neighborhoods blend into the landscape. But in today’s wildfire prone environment, cedar shake roofing is replicating tinder for fire rather than a durable roof material.
Across Colorado’s high elevation communities, aging cedar shake roofs are being flagged by insurance carriers and fire mitigation guidelines. Wood roofing carries inherent fuel load. As cedar dries over time, especially at elevation where UV exposure is intense and humidity fluctuates dramatically, it becomes more vulnerable to ember ignition. In a wind driven wildfire event, embers can travel long distances and settle between shakes, creating direct ignition points on the roof. In fact, embers are the most common cause of home ignition during a wildfire event.
Beyond fire risk, cedar shake presents long term maintenance challenges. Without consistent upkeep, shakes can curl, split, absorb moisture, and deteriorate unevenly. Snow accumulation and freeze thaw cycles accelerate that wear. Valleys and shaded sections of the roof often experience trapped moisture, leading to rot beneath the surface. What begins as cosmetic aging can evolve into structural deck damage and hidden leaks.
