Roof Truth # 2 — What a Proper Evaluation Really Is

Q2. What happens during a cedar roof evaluation?

Different areas age at different speeds depending on sunlight, shade, moisture, and nearby trees, so each section is reviewed on its own merits.

Most evaluations can be completed fully from the ground. If a section is out of view or heavily mossed — especially on low-slope areas — we may request permission to get on the roof for a closer look. When representing buyers, we only step on a seller’s roof with explicit approval.

From there, we outline what the roof genuinely needs — not what might appease an inspector or simply look cosmetically “better.” Repairs are recommended only when they are practical, proactive, and appropriate for the roof’s life stage.

Depending on what we find, we also let you know whether the roof is a good candidate for cleaning and preservation, targeted repairs, or simply maximizing the remaining functional life until future replacement. The goal isn’t to influence a deal — it’s to give you honest, informed guidance so you can move forward with confidence, whether you’re buying, selling, or simply trying to understand your roof.

A cedar roof evaluation is a careful, ground-based inspection designed to give you a clear, accurate picture of the roof’s true condition — its wood, its layers, its exposure, and its remaining life

We walk the property with binoculars, studying each section from multiple angles. This lets us closely examine the exposure — the outer layer of shakes or shingles that takes the weather and protects the layers beneath. When we understand how that exposure is holding up, we understand how the rest of the roof is doing.

Roof Truth # 3 — Certification vs. Inspection

Q3. Q3. What’s the difference between a Cedar Roof Certification and a regular cedar roof inspection?

The Certification gives buyers, sellers, and home inspectors a clear, professional statement about the roof’s condition — backed by a company that specializes in cedar.

A regular cedar roof inspection is simply an assessment. We walk the property, evaluate the roof from the ground, outline what we see, and provide recommendations. No repairs are performed during a basic inspection, and no written Certification is issued. It’s informational, not a documented guarantee.

A Cedar Roof Certification is what you choose when the roof needs to stand up to a real estate transaction.

A regular inspection is what you choose when you just want to understand the roof.

A Cedar Roof Certification is a formal, written document that verifies the condition of the roof after the necessary repair work has been completed. We evaluate the roof, make any practical repairs, confirm that no leaks are present, and document the current condition, type of wood, remaining life, and overall performance.

Roof Truth # 4 — Helping Through Inspection

Q4. How does a cedar roof specialist help during a home inspection?

We separate cosmetic aging from true functional issues — something general inspections often struggle with.

During the inspection period, we can document the roof’s condition in clear, practical terms:

• what’s working

• what’s normal for cedar

and what, if anything, should be repaired If the roof qualifies, we can also prepare a Roof Certification — a written assessment backed by our responsibility going forward. For many inspectors and buyers, this removes uncertainty and gives them the confidence they need to move ahead.

Cedar roofs don’t need to be perfect to pass an inspection. They just need to be evaluated by someone who understands how cedar is built, how it ages, and what truly matters. That’s exactly what we provide.

A cedar roof specialist brings clarity and calm to a part of the inspection process that often creates confusion. Cedar weathers differently than other materials, and many inspectors simply don’t see enough of these roofs to understand what’s normal aging versus what actually needs attention.

Before the inspection, we evaluate the roof from the ground with binoculars, section by section. We identify the type of wood, the exposure, the thickness of the material, and how each area has reacted to sunlight, moisture, and nearby trees.

Roof Truth # 5 — What Actually Helps Before Listing

Q5. Can repairs, cleaning, or preservation help before listing a home with a cedar roof?

In some situations, a thorough cleaning alone is the right move. If the wood is still in good shape but the roof looks dirty or uneven, cleaning can dramatically improve outcomes without committing the seller to a color choice. Buyers can then decide how they want to proceed after closing.

When the roof is young or mid-life and still strong, cleaning and preservation together may also make sense. It allows the roof to show well for listing while adding protection that carries forward to the next owner.

If the roof qualifies, we can also prepare a Roof Certification — a clear written assessment that documents the roof’s condition and the work completed — and, when appropriate, issue a Transferable Leak & Repair Warranty. Together, these give buyers confidence and give inspectors clarity, without over-promising or forcing the roof to be something it isn’t.

This process isn’t about making a cedar roof perfect. It’s about doing the right work, at the right time, for the right reasons, and removing the uncertainty that most often complicates cedar roofs during a sale.

A roof that’s been evaluated, repaired where it matters, and documented by a specialist is far more likely to move through inspection with fewer surprises, fewer negotiations, and more confidence on both sides of the transaction

Yes. In many cases, taking the right steps before the home inspection — including completing necessary repairs — can make selling a home with a cedar roof noticeably smoother.

When we evaluate a roof for a seller, the goal is simple: address what truly matters, avoid cosmetic or reactionary risks that don’t serve the roof, and prepare it so it presents accurately and confidently. The focus is always on functional work that protects performance and reduces uncertainty.

Depending on the roof’s age and condition, that may include practical, targeted repairs — securing loose components, replacing missing shingles, refastening vulnerable areas, or correcting issues that affect how the roof performs as a system. These are functional repairs. They protect performance and reduce uncertainty.

Roof Truth # 6 — Certification Without Preservation

Q6. Can an older cedar roof qualify for a Roof Certification or transferable warranty even if it’s not being cleaned or preserved?

If the roof is structurally sound, shedding water properly, and has a reasonable amount of remaining life, we can:

Make any necessary repairs (missing shingles, ridge work, refastening, small problem areas)

Document the roof clearly through a written Roof Certification

Issue a Transferable Leak & Repair Warranty — typically for one or three years — so the buyer has protection moving forward

This gives buyers confidence, gives inspectors clarity, and gives sellers a smoother transaction without needing to invest in full cleaning and preservation.

A Roof Certification with a Transferable Warranty is simply your way of saying:

“Here is the truth about the roof, here is the work that was done, and here is the coverage that goes with it.”

For many older roofs, it’s the perfect solution

Yes — many older cedar roofs can still qualify for a Roof Certification and a Transferable Leak & Repair Warranty, even when cleaning and preservation aren’t being done.

Sometimes a seller simply doesn’t want to invest in preservation before listing. Other times, the roof has aged past the point where cleaning and preservation are recommended — but still has solid functional life remaining. In both cases, an evaluation tells us exactly what’s possible.

Ready to keep your cedar roof strong and protected?

Schedule your evaluation and we’ll assess the roof, explain what it needs, and guide you toward the right next step. text and email, or use our quick form if you prefer to schedule after hours.