For decades, natural cedar shake roofs were the standard choice for homes across Riverhead, the North Fork, and the Hamptons. But as time goes on, aging cedar shakes require frequent maintenance, risk water leaks during severe coastal storms, and become increasingly costly to repair.
If your wood roof is reaching the end of its natural lifespan, converting to architectural asphalt shingles offers a durable, low-maintenance, and cost-effective upgrade that protects your home for decades.
At MJB Roofing & Siding, we specialize in seamless wood-to-asphalt roof conversions, transforming tired cedar shakes into pristine, high-wind-resistant asphalt roofing systems.
Why Convert Your Wood Roof to Architectural Asphalt?
While cedar shakes have a distinct traditional look, modern architectural asphalt shingles (also known as dimensional shingles) replicate the heavy depth and shadow lines of wood shakes while eliminating the hassle of ongoing wood upkeep.
Long Island homeowners who convert to architectural asphalt enjoy four major advantages:
- Superior Coastal Storm & Wind Defense: Premium architectural asphalt shingles feature heavy-duty fiberglass matting and specialized adhesive sealing strips rated to withstand coastal winds up to 130 mph.
- Zero Ongoing Wood Maintenance: Say goodbye to treating moss, power washing algae, and replacing split shakes every spring. Modern asphalt shingles include copper-infused granules that prevent unsightly black streak algae.
- Enhanced Fire Resistance: While untreated cedar shakes carry a high flammability risk, architectural asphalt shingles carry a Class A Fire Rating—the highest safety rating available in residential roofing.
- Significant Cost Savings: Architectural asphalt delivers a top-tier aesthetic at a fraction of the cost of new cedar, freeing up your home improvement budget while increasing property resale value.
What to Expect During a Wood-to-Asphalt Roof Conversion
Converting a roof from wood shakes to asphalt shingles is not a simple "overlay" job—it requires complete structural preparation by experienced local roofers:
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Complete Tear-Off & Inspection: Our crew completely strips the old cedar shakes and lath boards down to the roof rafters, inspecting the underlying wood framework for water damage or rot.
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Solid Plywood Re-Sheathing: Because asphalt shingles require a continuous, flat surface, we install fresh, high-grade CDX plywood decking across your entire roof.
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Heavy-Duty Ice & Water Barrier: We apply self-adhering ice-and-water protection along critical leak zones—eaves, valleys, chimneys, and roof penetrations—to guard against wind-driven coastal rain and ice dams.
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Synthetic Underlayment & Shingle Laying: We lay down heavy-duty synthetic underlayment followed by precision-installed architectural asphalt shingles, finished with custom ridge caps for optimal ventilation.
Local Expertise & Our 100% Clean Yard Guarantee
Based right in Riverhead, NY, MJB Roofing & Siding brings hands-on craftsmanship and honest communication to every long-term roofing project across Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
We respect your property throughout the entire project. Our 100% Clean Yard Guarantee ensures that every discarded wood shake, stray nail, and piece of debris is swept up daily, leaving your driveway and lawn spotless.
Ready to Upgrade Your Long Island Roof?
If you're tired of paying for constant repairs on an aging cedar roof, discover how a wood-to-asphalt shingle conversion can protect your home and elevate its curb appeal.