New England Cedar Shake Homes

The New England architectural style dates back to the American colonies. The style began with religious dissenters who came to the New World for freedom from prosecution; in these early days, their homes were nothing more than wooden shacks, but as time went on, they began adding English architectural elements, combining them with the materials they had available and eventually creating a style all their own.

Over time, the style evolved from the Post-Medieval English homes of the 1600s to the Early Classical Revival style of the mid-1800s. The style took advantage of the abundance of wood available in the forests of New England to create study timber frames and the signature cedar shake shingles.

These shingles were made by hand, split directly from large, rough chunks of cedar with an ax. Builders didn't clean up the chunks; it led to each shingle they cut to have a distinctive appearance.

New England Colonial Resurgence

With the resurgence of the colonial aesthetic, particularly Cape Cod-style homes in New England and elsewhere, there has been renewed interest in natural materials like cedar shakes. However, not everyone considers the maintenance requirements that come with them. Cedar shakes must be cleaned every two to four years to remove moss and fungi. This is just one form of necessary maintenance that adds to the overall cost of an already expensive product. Cedar shingles are more expensive than other materials because they are considered specialized materials, but also because they are susceptible to fire without the proper treatment.

The cost, maintenance needs, and susceptibility to fire have led today's builders and manufacturers to see alternatives that give the aesthetic of cedar shakes without the negatives. Colonial Revival homes built between the late 1880s and 1950s exemplify this. These homes used more modern materials and styles, which allowed architects and designers to modernize and reinvent the style.

Although New England style homes have been lost over time, the many original buildings that remain have benefited from active campaigns to preserve and restore them. As such, the style has experienced a resurgence, and new homes continue to be built with a strong New England colonial influence.

A Brief History of Cedar Shakes

Cedar has a long history and has long been prized for its beauty, hardness, and resilience. Its use dates back to Ancient times, including Ancient Middle Eastern cultures, which used the wood for shipbuilding, temples, homes, and more.

In North America, Western Red Cedar was pivotal in the development of Native cultures, which used the wood for canoes, homes, and religious ceremonies.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, cedar shingles became a staple in homes in Colonial America due to the vast abundance of wood. Their use continued with the Industrial Revolution, where machinery like steam-powered sawmills made cutting shingles much more efficient, and into the 19th and 20th centuries.

They are still popular today throughout the world for their beauty and resilience.

Climate Considerations for New England Cedar Shake Homes

The New England area encompasses six states, and the climate varies greatly along the 500-mile stretch.

Generally, New England is best known for their brutal, cold winters with high winds and heavy snowfall, which often exceed 100 inches. The rest of the seasons range in temperatures and can be relatively mild, with many rainy days bringing around 60 inches of precipitation annually.

While cedar is a material that can withstand most elements reasonably well, its ability to survive New England weather depends on the type of cedar you use, the roof's age, and how well it is maintained. The heavy weight of accumulated snow can be especially damaging, breaking shingles and underlayment and leading to leaks as the snow melts. Untreated shakes are also susceptible to algae and fungi growth, as well as mold, mildew, and rotting from snow and rain.

Characteristics to Look for in Cedar Shake Homes in New England

While New England cedar shake homes vary, there are some defining characteristics you can look for:

• The Type of Roof: Gable roofs are very popular throughout New England. These roofs typically have a steep pitch to ensure snow and rain roll right off. These roofs also often have dormer windows, which allow light into the attic. Gambrel roofs are also popular.

• Symmetrical Design: Many architectural styles in New England, like the Cape Cod style, emphasize symmetry on the exterior.

• Simple, Clean Lines: The style of these homes reflects their modest colonial roots, focusing on simple, clean lines with no special details.

• Wood Siding: Aside from cedar shake roofing, many New England homes also feature wooden clapboard, which pays homage to the traditional colonial siding.

• Brick or Stone Accents: Another common feature you'll find is brick and stone accents. These can be foundations or chimneys, adding a rustic touch and enhancing the colonial feel.

Types of Cedar Shakes to Use in New England

There are three types of cedar shakes: common, selects, and 100% grain. Of the three, you, ideally, want 100% straight grain shakes as these are the highest quality, and the straight grain ensures they lay flat and are less likely to curl as they age. These shakes are of higher quality and will last longer, making them perfect for New England homes.

Another factor to consider is choosing between red, yellow, and white cedar. While all three options offer durability, and any can work well for roofing, yellow cedar offers incredible strength and resistance, which is perfect for New England cedar shake homes.

Best Color to Use for Cedar Shakes in New England

To maintain a classic colonial New England look, consider sticking with the natural color of the shakes, which come in various hues. As these shakes age, they will weather, taking on a silvery gray appearance that will make for a traditional, rustic exterior.

You can also opt for shakes painted with that weathered color to get the beautiful appearance without the wait. Or, if you don't want the weathered look, you can go with soft grays or warm browns that maintain a natural element without a weathered appearance.

The Resurgence of the New England Colonial

While many older New England homes have been lost over time, others are benefiting from campaigns promoting their preservation and restoration. It has led to a resurgence of the style, and now even new homes that are being built have a clear New England colonial influence while using modern, sustainable materials.

A Natural Look…With A Guarantee

Brava's synthetic cedar shake roofing tiles are one such modern material. These synthetic roofing tiles mimic the beauty of traditional hand-split cedar shakes while eliminating the need for maintenance.

They are the perfect roofing option for New England homes as they perfectly capture the natural beauty and variation in natural cedar shakes.

Our shakes come in various colors, with custom combinations also available. Our shakes are also backed by a 50-year limited transferable warranty.

New England Cedar Shake Homes

1. Cedar Shake Roof On A Stunning Cape Cod

Cape Cod-style homes are well known for their symmetry: a centralized door with an even number of windows on either side emphasizes this symmetry. Dormers are also common in Cape Cod homes, particularly those built in the 1950s. These dormers add more space to the upper level and allow more light. The cedar shake roof helps to tie together the entire look, staying true to its New England roots.

2. Stately 17th Century Saltbox Style

Saltbox homes are thought to have come about due to Queen Anne's tax on homes, which were two more stories. To avoid this tax, homeowners built homes with an asymmetrical sloping roof, reaching further to the ground on the rear side of the home. Homeowners would then add a lean-to at the rear, extending the available space while maintaining the "single story" appearance.

Brava's synthetic cedar tiles work beautifully with this reproduction century chimney saltbox home. The realistic appearance of the shakes allows them to pass for real hand-split cedar easily. The variegated coloring adds to the realism, creating a more authentic, dimensional appearance. This means you can maintain that traditional appearance without having to deal with maintenance.

3. Dutch Colonial Gambrel Roof

Dutch Colonials have a reduced roof pitch and favor a gambrel-style roof resembling a barn roof. Dutch Colonials use a variety of roofing materials, including wood, which are often expanded versions of older homes. As a result, walls wouldn't extend beyond the roofline. Instead, that portion of the house that reached the roof would be constructed using wood or brick.

This Dutch Colonial features beautiful gray Brava cedar roof tiles that provide a beautiful, worry-free appearance that preserves that historic appearance.

4. A Subtle Nod To The Federal Style

The Federal style is a blend of styles, with the dormers representing the Cape Cod style and the simple lines common in all New England homes. The beautiful Brava cedar shake tiles tie it together.

5. A Grand Gabled Colonial

This grand colonial home has a gabled roof with dormers and stone accents, all classic aspects of New England style homes. The roof’s simple Brava cedar roofing tiles enhance the appearance and add a more traditional look that helps to tone down the vinyl siding.

6. Clipped Gable Colonial

Clipped gable roofs aren’t a roof you see often, but the dark cedar shakes help highlight the unique cuts that contrast against the brick and stucco facade, creating a somewhat modernized colonial style, with a touch of the traditional appearance.

7. Gable with Hexagonal Accent

You don’t often see hexagonal roofs in relation to colonial homes, but this home combines one with the traditional New England gable roof, covered in multicolored Brava shakes that create a stunning appearance.

8. Mansard Roof with Intersecting Gable

This mansard roof and with an intersecting gable offer a modern New England style home. The dark cedar roofing tiles from Brava make for an impressive presence and adds a rustic, traditional touch to an otherwise modern home.

9. A Colonial Addition

This home seems to be two sections, both featuring roofs covered in beautiful dark cedar shakes. The left side is shorter and features a symmetrical design with two windows on the dark red brick facade, and two dormers on the roof. The bigger right portion of them home is also symmetrical, if you cut it directly down the middle of the center dormer and door. Both sides showcase aspects of the colonial style, tied together by the beautiful roof.

10. Gambrel Meets Gable Roof

Like the last home, this home seems to have two parts; the main house is a gambrel roof with dormers, complemented with beautiful light blue siding. The other half of the house is smaller and has a gable roof with a single former. Instead of siding, it is covered in stone and has a small porch. Despite their different appearances, they tie together by the roof, which is covered in Brava cedar shakes in a beautiful medium brown.

11. A Cross Gabled Brick Home

This massive waterfront colonial property is entirely brick, with dormers only on the right hand angled portion. Everything about the design of this home is relatively simple, clean-lined, and traditional. The cedar shake roof is a multi-toned gray color, which adds to that traditional appearance.

Keeping Things Historical With Brava

Building materials continue to improve and innovate, but it is still important to maintain historical accuracy in many home and architectural styles. Brava Cedar Shake shingles allow you to do this without compromising the integrity of the building, all while staying true to Mother Nature and preserving a portion of history.