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Do I Need My Skylights Replaced When Getting a New Roof?
Skylights can be found on just about every other home in the median price range on up. They’re obviously a functional way to save money, and they nourish the brain by ushering in real sun rays. Like all parts of a home, skylights have lifespans, but there is one instance that may disrupt the tenure of a skylight: roof replacement.…
Fun Facts About Cedar
Fun Facts About Cedar
Here are a few fun facts about cedar that owners of cedar shake roofs might like to know and impress guests with. The word "cedar" actually refers to the wood from at least a dozen or more different trees from around the world. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) is the most popular choice for roofing but white cedar and yellow…
DIY Cedar Shake Roof Leak Repair
DIY Cedar Shake Roof Leak Repair
Before getting into our tips, as a professional cedar shake expert installer we discourage making any repairs to your roofing for both your own safety and that of your roof. Please call on a local roofing pro, like Shake Guys, before doing your own cedar shake roof leak repair. A deeper look at the reason leaks typically occur over time…
Cedar Shake Roof Ventilation
Cedar Shake Roof Ventilation is All Important
Cedar shake roofing systems are one of the most temperamental roof coverings. Why? Wood needs to breathe. This means that the roof needs to be built with very specific ventilation. If the moisture in the face of a shake dries out ahead of the back side, you get cupping. Cupping weakens the shake and allows moisture a way to get…
Spring Checklist for Cedar Roofing Homeowners
Spring Checklist for Cedar Roofing Homeowners
Spring is most certainly the best time of the year to take stock of your property and give it some TLC. Home exteriors may get hit hardest by storms in the spring and summer but the cold season puts plenty of stress on outside surfaces. For those living in homes adorned with cedar roofing in the greater Chicago suburbs, the…
The Best Shake Roof Installations of 2016
Favorite Shake Roof Installations of 2016
As the leading shake roof specialist serving the northern Chicago communities, Shake Guys gets to repair the roofs on some of the most beautiful cedar roofs in Illinois. 2016 once again saw a high volume or full replacements due to storm damage. Hence, we wanted to share our favorite shake roof installations with our fans and the curious alike.  So,…
Top 10 Cedar Shake Roofer Hiring Musts
Top 10 Cedar Shake Roofer Hiring Musts
If you live in Barrington, Inverness, Kildeer, or many of the other northern Chicago suburbs you have a good deal of roofing contractors to choose from. As a well-respected cedar shake restoration company, we know this product, how to install it properly, and what homeowners need out of their roofer to get the job done right every step of the…
Polymer Roof Problems and Benefits
Polymer Roof Problems and Benefits
Shake Guys recently began offering faux slate and shake roofing options (Learn more!) to Chicago’s residents and businesses in 2015. With these new products, come new concerns and questions. The following article will shed light on polymer roof problems and benefits by giving a straight account from former skeptics. Polymer Roof Problems Synthetic roofing shingles, also known as composite shingles,…
Reuse and Repurpose Old Cedar Shake Roofs!
Many people hate to see organic compounds that appear to have uses go to landfills. In all actuality, organic compounds are great for them and that includes old wood. Those who have their old cedar roofs replaced often make a fuss about finding a proper home for the old shakes. After all, you can’t recycle old shakes into new ones.…
Cedar Roofing Questions and Answers
Cedar Roofing Questions and Answers
Shake Guys is the premiere cedar roofing contractor of Illinois due to our proven customer satisfaction, guaranteed results, top tier products, and our ability to keep our clients informed. Hence, we have prepared the following FAQ list. We’ve broken the cedar roofing questions into categories to help you quickly find your answer(s): Answers on Sizing Answers on the Longevity of…
Choosing the right cedar roofing contractor
Choosing the Right Cedar Shake Roofing Contractor
The recent hail & wind storms have forced many homeowners in the North Counties to address the issue of replacing their roofing systems. Shake Guys has provided quality roofing renovations to your neighborhood over the last decade and gained the admiration of all its clients. Ensuring the beauty, quality and top performance of your cedar shake or shingle roof requires…
Manufacturing Cedar Shakes
The time honored practice of making cedar shakes has changed little in the last 100 years. While machinery is used, human hands and precision are still essential throughout the process. There are multiple spots on the globe that produce shakes but none compare to Vancouver, Canada where the finest mills make the majority of this gorgeous roofing product. There are…
Dealing with Insurance after a Storm
This article is geared for cedar roofing but is applicable for other roofing types as well. Cedar shake roofing systems have a few factors that make them especially fickle when it comes to getting an insurance claim approved. When dealing with insurance after a storm it’s best to follow a few guidelines to safeguard your home and your wallet. Cedar…
Installing the Perfect Cedar Shake Roof
Installing the Perfect Cedar Shake Roof
  Transcription: On this project, we are installing a premium grade, 100% edge grain, cedar shake with Cedar Breather underlayment. Cedar Breather is a product that allows the shakes to breathe better. In return, the Cedar Breather extends the life of the shakes. What separates Shake Guys from the competition is the fact that we use 100% edge grain material.…
5 Steps to Prepare Your Cedar Roof for Winter
5 Steps to Prepare Your Cedar Roof for Winter
The Chicago suburbs are accustomed to nasty winter seasons that roofs must endure as the first line of defense for their home. Making sure your cedar shake roof stays in prime shape to combat low temperatures, ice dams, and storms is as easy you know what to look for. Here are the 5 steps to prepare your cedar roof for…
hail storm affects illinois cedar roofing august 2nd 2015
Hail Storm Affects Illinois Cedar Roofing August 2nd 2015
Calls continue to pour in at Shake Guys after a hail storm affected northern Illinois's cedar roofs on August 2nd, 2015. Wind driven 1.5” to 2.5” wide hail was recorded in Arlington Heights, Inverness, Lake Forest, Libertyville, St. Charles and other communities. This article is here to serve as an answers page to the three biggest questions on the minds…
cedar roofs in illinois
Not All Cedar Roofs are Created Equally!
The 3 biggest factors that set cedar roofs up for success or failure! This article will explore why you don’t want to be stingy with the roofing contractor you hire. Cedar shakes and shingles have the potential to make your home look more beautiful or more butchered than any other component. Homeowners and property managers of cedar roofs in the…
Cedar Shingles are a Green Product
Are Cedar Shingles and Shakes Really “Green”?
Are you skeptical about cedar shingles and shakes being a “green” roofing product? Let’s clear the air here and shed some light on the environmental impact of cedar vs. other roofing materials. Since wood is one of our most valuable renewable resources on the planet and is degradable in landfills it stands to reason that it is the most “green”…
Cedar Roof Accessories
Which Cedar Roof Accessories Look Best?
We talked to several designers to come up with some clever ways to work with your cedar roof. Whether you already own a cedar roof, just upgraded to cedar roofing, or just purchased a new home with cedar on it, this article will provide great insights. You can apply these ideas to your home whether you live in northern Illinois…
facts about cedar roofing
Know the Facts about Cedar Roofing, It Is the Best Choice
Cedar is the best choice for design Northern Illinois has a reputation of stunning landscapes and exquisite homes. The regal beauty of each home stands apart from the rest, with the rooftop being its crowning glory. These are homes that deserve the best, and adorning the home with cedar roofing is the right choice for unmatched appearance and quality. Cedar…