Case Study · Greenwich, CT
Roof Replacement Greenwich CT, Cedar Shake Estate with Custom Copper Flashing
This Greenwich estate had a 28-year-old cedar shake roof reaching the end of its life, heavy moss on the north slope, several cracked shakes around the cupola, and copper flashing that had patinated beautifully but was no longer watertight at the seams. The owners wanted to keep the original aesthetic: hand-split western red cedar, custom-fabricated copper flashing, and a ridge detail that matched the house's character.
Project Summary
- Roof Size
- ~42 squares (approx. 4,200 sq ft) across the main house and detached carriage house
- Materials
- Western red cedar shake (hand-split, #1 grade) · Cedar Breather underlayment · stainless ring-shank fasteners · custom-fabricated copper step + chimney pan flashing
- Timeline
- 3 days on-site (tear-off + deck repair, copper fabrication on-site day 2, install + ridge detail day 3)
- Challenges Solved
- Original cedar was over Cedar Breather but with un-galvanized nails, extensive nail-pop staining and several decking soft spots required replacement. Copper chimney pan and step flashing were fabricated on-site to match the original detail.
Project Photos
Materials Breakdown
- Shakes: #1 grade hand-split western red cedar shake (24″ medium), 18-year manufacturer rating, expected service life 30–35 years with proper maintenance
- Underlayment: Cedar Breather mesh over synthetic underlayment, keeps the shakes ventilated so they dry between rains
- Fasteners: Stainless steel ring-shank nails (cedar tannins corrode standard galvanized fasteners over time)
- Flashing: Custom 16 oz copper step flashing, chimney pan, and apron, fabricated on-site to match original profiles
- Ridge: Cedar ridge cap, double-coursed, hand-cut
- Treatment: Optional cedar preservative scheduled for year 3 (we coordinate with the homeowner)
- Warranty: Apex written workmanship warranty on the installation
“Apex replaced a cedar shake roof for us, beautiful workmanship. The detail around the chimney and the cupola is exactly what we hoped for. Will absolutely use them again.”
Robert H., Greenwich, CT (project completed in Darien, original review)
Related
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