Wood Shingle to Asphalt Conversions on Long Island
Upgrade your high-maintenance cedar roof — convert from traditional wood shakes to durable, cost-effective architectural asphalt shingles engineered for coastal New York weather.
Why Convert from Cedar Shakes to Architectural Asphalt?
While natural wood shake roofs offer a classic look, they present serious long-term challenges for Long Island homeowners. Over time, cedar requires intense maintenance to fight off moss, rot, insect damage, and curling. Between high material costs and shrinking lifespans due to humid coastal air and severe winter storms, keeping a wood roof can become an expensive headache for properties from Manorville out to the East End.
A wood-to-asphalt shingle conversion provides the ideal upgrade. Modern heavy-duty architectural shingles mimic the natural shadow lines, depth, and texture of premium wood shakes, but add superior fire resistance, wind ratings up to 130 mph, and up to a 30-year lifetime warranty. Choosing to convert reduces your ongoing maintenance costs to virtually zero and can even lower your annual homeowners insurance premiums.
What’s Included in Our Conversion Process
- Complete tear-off and removal of all existing wood shingles, shakes, and old underlayment layers
- Detailed structural inspection of the underlying roof deck and framing rafters
- Installation of a solid, code-compliant plywood deck layer (essential since cedar roofs are typically installed over open wood slats/skip sheathing)
- Premium ice and water shield installation in all critical valleys, eaves, and chimney intersections
- Heavy-duty synthetic underlayment applied across the entire newly sheeted roof deck
- Installation of premium architectural asphalt shingles featuring high shadow lines for a shake-like look
- Full replacement of aluminum drip edges, starter strips, and high-performance ridge ventilation systems
- Meticulous site cleaning, including multiple rolling magnetic nail sweeps across your property and total debris haul-away
Why Choose MJB for Shingle Conversions
Converting a roof from wood to asphalt isn't a standard, everyday roofing job. It requires modifications to your roof's ventilation and structural deck configuration. Our team brings years of specialized carpentry and structural experience to handle the transition safely and correctly. We use premium products from GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning, and our fully licensed, insured, in-house crews manage your conversion project meticulously from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to install new plywood over an old wood shake roof?
Yes. Cedar shakes are traditionally nailed to spaced wood boards (skip sheathing) to allow the wood to breathe. Asphalt shingles require a completely solid, smooth surface. We install clean, durable CDX plywood or OSB sheathing over your structure to create a code-compliant deck for the new shingles.
Will converting to asphalt ruin the historic look of my home?
Not at all. Today's premium architectural and designer shingles are engineered with rich color blends and varied dimensional thicknesses. They beautifully replicate the traditional aesthetic, heavy shadow lines, and depth of wood shakes without the high-maintenance upkeep.
Does attic ventilation need to change during a conversion?
Yes, proper airflow adjustments are critical. Because a solid asphalt roof seals tighter than breathable wood shakes, we always calculate and install upgraded intake and ridge ventilation systems. This prevents heat buildup and protects your new roof warranty.
Proudly Serving All Long Island Communities
Operating out of Manorville, our team provides seamless wood-to-asphalt roof conversions for residential and commercial customers throughout Suffolk County, Nassau County, the North Fork, and the South Fork.
Ready to Transition Your Roof?
Call our team directly or request a structural inspection online. We provide clear, itemized estimates within one business day.