Is the roof inspection free?

Yes. We inspect, photograph every slope and give you a written report at no cost and no obligation, whether or not there is a sale in it.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes, and you should ask every contractor who knocks on your door the same question — then ask to see it in writing.

How long does a roof replacement take?

Most residential roofs are a one-day tear-off and installation. Larger or more complex rooflines run two to three days, and weather moves schedules more than anything else.

Do you offer financing?

We work with many different financing vendors, so there is usually more than one option. We review what fits after inspecting the roof and giving you a written price.

Can a cedar shake roof be repaired?

Yes, when the damage is limited. Split, loose or missing shakes can be replaced one at a time, and leaks at chimneys, valleys, walls and vents are usually flashing problems that can be fixed without replacing the roof. If the wood is soft or moss-damaged across several slopes, we will tell you honestly that a replacement is the better spend.

Is moss on a cedar shake roof a problem?

Yes. Moss grows between the shakes, holds moisture against the wood and keeps it from drying, which leads to rot and splitting. It also makes the roof slick and dangerous to walk, which is why we inspect heavily mossed roofs by drone.

Should I pressure-wash moss off my cedar roof?

No. Pressure washing strips the wood fibers, opens up the grain and can drive water under the shakes. Have the roof looked at first so you know whether you are dealing with surface moss or wood that is already damaged.

Why is my cedar shake roof leaking?

The most common causes are split or missing shakes, failed flashing at chimneys, walls and skylights, worn ridge caps, and moss or debris damming water in the valleys. Our inspection photographs the roof so you can see exactly where the water is getting in.

Can you match my existing cedar shakes?

We replace damaged shakes with new cedar. New wood is lighter in color at first and weathers toward the rest of the roof over time.

How much does cedar shake roof repair cost?

It depends on how many shakes need replacing, the flashing involved and how steep and accessible the roof is. We inspect for free and give you a written price before any work starts.

Cedar Shake Roof Repair | Moss, Leaks & Split Shakes

Cedar Shake Roof Repair

Split or missing shakes, flashing leaks, worn ridge caps and moss damage can often be repaired without replacing a cedar shake roof. John Beal Roofing inspects for free, by drone when moss makes the roof too slick to walk, and gives you a written price first. Call 1-800-564-6232, answered 24/7.

John Beal Roofing repairs cedar shake roofs across Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky: split and missing shakes, leaks at chimneys, valleys and vents, worn ridge caps and moss damage. Every repair starts with a free inspection, by drone when the roof is too slick to walk, and a written price. Call 1-800-564-6232, answered 24/7.

Moss growing across a weathered cedar shake roof, seen from the ladder during a John Beal Roofing inspection — Moss between the shakes on a cedar roof we inspected. Moss holds water against the wood and makes the roof too slick to walk.

Not every tired cedar roof needs to come off. A lot of cedar shake problems are local: a handful of split shakes after a storm, a leak where the chimney flashing has let go, a ridge cap that has worn through, or a shaded valley where moss and leaves are holding water. Catch those early and a repair buys the roof real time.

The video at the top of this page is real footage from one of our cedar shake inspections. The moss had made the shakes so slick that our inspector wouldn't walk the roof, so we checked it by drone. That keeps you from paying for a repair that does more damage than it fixes.

Cedar shake roof repairs we handle

Split, cracked, loose or missing shakes replaced with new cedar
Leaks at chimneys, walls, skylights and vents, usually a flashing repair
Valley leaks where moss, needles and leaves dam the water
Worn or blown-off ridge and hip caps
Storm damage from wind and hail, documented with photos for your insurance claim
Emergency tarping when water is coming in now, 24/7

Repair or replace? The honest answer

A repair makes sense when the damage is limited to one area and the rest of the wood is still solid. When moss, cupping, splitting and soft wood show up across several slopes, patching one spot just moves the leak to the next one. In that case we will show you the photos and tell you straight. See our cedar shake roof replacement page for what that looks like, including shake-look shingle options with far less upkeep.

What to do if you see moss on your cedar roof

Don't walk the roof. Wet moss on wood is slicker than ice.
Don't pressure-wash it. It tears up the wood and can push water under the shakes.
Check from the ground and the attic: look for missing shakes, dark soft edges and water stains on the roof deck.
Keep gutters and valleys clear so water can drain off the roof.
Get it inspected so you know if it's surface moss or wood that is already damaged.

Why homeowners call John Beal Roofing

Free inspection, by drone when a cedar roof isn't safe to walk
Written price before any work starts
Family-owned since 1947, three generations of the Beal family
BBB Torch Award Winner for Ethics and 50,000+ satisfied customers
24/7 real person on the phone at 1-800-JOHN-BEAL

Video transcript

Is moss on your cedar shake roof a problem? Here's what it looks like up close. Moss grows right between the shakes, holds moisture against the wood, and makes the whole roof slick. Our inspector wouldn't even walk this one, so we checked it by drone instead. Seeing moss on your roof? Get a free estimate. Call John Beal Roofing.

Where we repair cedar shake roofs

St. Louis314-429-6000 Kansas City, MO816-572-9500 Kansas City, KS913-281-6000 Indianapolis317-726-6000 Springfield, MO417-429-1927 Columbia573-343-8993 Jefferson City573-343-8993 Lake of the Ozarks573-343-8993 Farmington573-343-8993 Cape Girardeau573-343-8993 Southern Illinois618-549-0800 Paducah, KY270-727-5868

Cedar shake roof repair FAQ

Can a cedar shake roof be repaired?: Yes, when the damage is limited. Split, loose or missing shakes can be replaced one at a time, and leaks at chimneys, valleys, walls and vents are usually flashing problems that can be fixed without replacing the roof. If the wood is soft or moss-damaged across several slopes, we will tell you honestly that a replacement is the better spend.
Is moss on a cedar shake roof a problem?: Yes. Moss grows between the shakes, holds moisture against the wood and keeps it from drying, which leads to rot and splitting. It also makes the roof slick and dangerous to walk, which is why we inspect heavily mossed roofs by drone.
Should I pressure-wash moss off my cedar roof?: No. Pressure washing strips the wood fibers, opens up the grain and can drive water under the shakes. Have the roof looked at first so you know whether you are dealing with surface moss or wood that is already damaged.
Why is my cedar shake roof leaking?: The most common causes are split or missing shakes, failed flashing at chimneys, walls and skylights, worn ridge caps, and moss or debris damming water in the valleys. Our inspection photographs the roof so you can see exactly where the water is getting in.
Can you match my existing cedar shakes?: We replace damaged shakes with new cedar. New wood is lighter in color at first and weathers toward the rest of the roof over time.
How much does cedar shake roof repair cost?: It depends on how many shakes need replacing, the flashing involved and how steep and accessible the roof is. We inspect for free and give you a written price before any work starts.