Wood (cedar) shake roofs last 20-40 years and cost about $800-$1,600 per square (100 sq ft) installed in 2026. Dry climates with regular maintenance push life toward 40+ years, while wet climates and neglect can end service life near 20. Shake grade and thickness, roof complexity, and fire-treatment requirements drive the cost spread.
Last verified 2026-07-06
Typical useful life
20–40 years
2026 replacement cost
$800–$1,600
per square (100 sq ft), national range
Typical HOA quantity
30 squares (clubhouse + common buildings)
Carry cleaning and preservative-treatment cycles as separate reserve or operating lines — roof cleaning runs around $0.40 per square foot and is needed every few years to hit the upper life range. Many associations replace shakes with composite shake or architectural shingles at end of life due to fire codes and insurance pressure, so price the successor material, not like-for-like. Labor is 50-60% of the total, so multi-building phasing meaningfully smooths cash flow.
Clean off moss, leaves, and debris once or twice a year so shakes can dry out between rains. Apply a preservative or water-repellent treatment roughly every five years and replace split or cupped shakes promptly. Trim back overhanging trees — shade and constant leaf litter are the fastest way to rot a shake roof.
Persistently wet climates (Pacific Northwest, Southeast) cut shake life to 20-30 years, while wildfire-zone codes in California and Colorado restrict or prohibit untreated shakes and push costs up with required fire-retardant treatment.
National 2026 ranges · verify with local bids.
Typical small HOA: 30 squares (clubhouse + common buildings)
Set-aside = replacement cost ÷ useful life (20–40 years). A new installation funds toward the long end; an aging one needs catch-up funding — run the full calculator for that.
Opens the free calculator with this component pre-filled.
Retrieved and verified 2026-07-06. National planning ranges — local bids govern. Informational only; not engineering, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for a professional reserve study. Report a data issue.
Add it to the free calculator with typical life and cost pre-filled, then see what your community should contribute each year.
Add to Your Reserve Plan