Is the shake worth saving?

Cedar shake weathers. That is not a defect — it is how the material behaves. Silver-grey colour, surface checking, and minor curl are normal signs of age in a wood roof. They are not, by themselves, evidence of failure. The question is whether the wood is still structurally sound and whether the system is still shedding water.

The places that usually fail first are the edges, the valleys, and the courses that stay wet. A north-facing slope that does not dry between rain events will degrade faster than a south-facing slope in the same climate. Moss and lichen are moisture indicators — they grow where the wood stays damp. Their presence is worth noting, but moss alone is not a countdown to replacement.

Splits and cracks in cedar shakes are common and not always a problem. A split that runs with the grain and does not allow water to pond is different from a shake that has fractured across the grain, cupped, or separated from its course. The distinction matters for repair decisions.

Sealing cedar shake is a topic with genuine disagreement in the industry. The Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau (CSSB) has historically cautioned against film-forming sealers that trap moisture inside the wood, which can accelerate decay rather than prevent it. Penetrating preservatives that allow the wood to breathe are a different category. The right product — if any — depends on the wood's current condition, the climate, and the specific product's formulation. Crown Eagle does not apply sealers as routine maintenance.

A shake roof can look fine from the street and still be holding water where you cannot see it from the sidewalk. Valleys, the courses at the eave, and the area around penetrations are the places worth examining closely. Preservation, repair, or replacement follows the wood — not a sales script.