BREAKING NEWS: Cedar Shake Roofs May Not Be Covered by Insurance.

Why Insurance Companies Are Dropping Cedar Shake Roofs — And What You Can Do About It

If you own a home in McHenry County with a cedar shake roof, you already know the look is hard to beat. Drive through Bull Valley, the older neighborhoods in Crystal Lake, parts of Coventry, or out toward Barrington Hills — cedar shake is everywhere on homes built in the ‘80s and ‘90s. That warm, natural texture turns heads.

But here’s what’s changed: your insurance company doesn’t care how good your roof looks. Over the past five years, we’ve watched carrier after carrier pull back from covering cedar shake roofs in northern Illinois. Higher premiums. Coverage downgrades. Flat-out non-renewals. I’ve had homeowners call us in a panic because they got a letter giving them 60 days to replace their roof or lose their policy.

As the founder of Innovative Home Concepts — 21 years in business right here in McHenry — I’ve handled hundreds of cedar shake situations. This post breaks down why it’s happening, what your two options actually are, and how to come out ahead whether your roof was just hit by hail or your insurer is threatening to drop you.

Why Insurers Are Dropping Cedar Shake Roofs

Insurance companies aren’t doing this to be difficult. They’re doing the math, and cedar shake keeps losing. Here’s what’s driving the pullback across McHenry, Lake, and Kane counties:

Fire risk. Cedar is wood. Wood burns. Homes with cedar shake roofs are 2-3 times more likely to suffer fire damage than those with Class A-rated materials. We don’t get California-style wildfires here, but ember spread from a neighbor’s fire, fireworks, or chimney sparks? It happens. Insurers see that liability and want no part of it.

Hail and storm damage. McHenry County gets hit by significant hailstorms almost every year. Cedar shake absorbs hail impact differently than asphalt or synthetic — it splits, cracks, and deteriorates faster. Industry data shows cedar roofs have a 40% higher damage rate from hail compared to modern alternatives. Every spring, we’re on roofs in Crystal Lake, Woodstock, and Huntley documenting exactly this kind of damage.

Maintenance demands. A cedar roof that isn’t regularly treated and maintained will develop moss, rot, warping, and insect damage. Most homeowners don’t keep up with cedar maintenance (and honestly, finding someone qualified to do it properly isn’t easy). Insurers look at a 20-year-old cedar roof and see a claim waiting to happen.

Claim costs keep climbing. Cedar shake is expensive to repair and even more expensive to replace. When claims come in, the payouts are big. Multiply that across a carrier’s book of business and you see why they’d rather just stop writing those policies.

The RCV vs. ACV Problem

Here’s something a lot of homeowners don’t realize until it’s too late: even if your insurer still covers your cedar roof, they may have quietly switched you from a Replacement Cost Value (RCV) policy to an Actual Cash Value (ACV) policy.

RCV pays what it costs to replace your damaged roof today. ACV pays the depreciated value — what your old roof is “worth” after years of wear. If your cedar shake roof is 18 years old and a hailstorm destroys it, an ACV policy might pay you $8,000 on a roof that costs $30,000+ to replace. That’s not a typo. I’ve seen it happen right here in McHenry County, and it’s devastating for homeowners who thought they were covered.

Check your policy. If you’re on ACV for your roof, you need to know that before the next storm hits.

Two Paths Forward for Cedar Shake Homeowners

Every cedar shake homeowner we talk to falls into one of two situations. The approach is completely different depending on which one you’re in.

Path 1: Your Cedar Shake Roof Was Damaged by Hail or Storms

If a recent storm damaged your cedar shake roof, you have the right to file a claim and get it repaired or replaced at your insurer’s expense — but you need to do it right.

Here’s how we handle it. First, our team does a thorough storm damage inspection to document every point of impact. We photograph everything. We measure everything.

Then — and this is where it gets important — Tobias Wilborn, an independent licensed public adjuster with our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters, a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm (financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575), steps in to advocate for your full insurance payout. Tobias uses Xactimate pricing — the industry-standard software that insurance companies themselves use — so the documentation he submits matches their format exactly. No back-and-forth. No lowball first offers that leave you short.

This matters because insurance companies know most homeowners don’t understand how claims work. They’ll send their own adjuster, who works for them, and that adjuster’s job is to minimize the payout. Tobias works for you.

We’ve helped homeowners across McHenry County — from Bull Valley estates to Woodstock ranches — get the full payout they were owed on hail-damaged cedar shake roofs. The difference between having a licensed public adjuster and going it alone can be tens of thousands of dollars.

Learn more about our cedar shake insurance claim process →

Path 2: Your Insurance Company Is Dropping You

If you got that letter — the one that says “replace your cedar shake roof or we’re non-renewing your policy” — don’t panic, but don’t wait either. Most carriers give you 60-90 days.

The fix is straightforward: replace the cedar shake with an insurable material. The question is which one. We’ll get into the specifics below, but the short version is you have three strong options at different price points:

• F-Wave synthetic shake: $18,000–$32,000 for an average home
• Brava composite shake: $20,000–$38,000 for an average home
• CertainTeed Landmark architectural shingles: $12,000–$22,000 for an average home

All three are fully insurable materials that carriers in Illinois accept without surcharges or restrictions. Once the new roof is on, you send your insurer a copy of the contract and the material specs, and your policy gets renewed. Problem solved.

We also offer GreenSky financing for homeowners who weren’t planning on a roof replacement this year. Monthly payments, reasonable rates, and you keep your insurance.

See all your cedar shake replacement options →

What to Replace Cedar Shake With

I get this question every week. Here are the three materials we install as cedar shake replacements, and why we recommend each one.

F-Wave Synthetic Shake

F-Wave is the material I recommend most often for homeowners who want to keep the shake look. It’s a single-piece synthetic shingle — no granules to lose, Class 4 impact-rated (the highest), and it looks like real shake from the street. Insurance companies love it because that Class 4 rating means dramatically fewer hail claims. Many carriers actually give you a premium discount for installing Class 4-rated roofing.

Best for: Homeowners in Bull Valley, Coventry, and other neighborhoods where the HOA or aesthetic standards call for a shake look. $18,000–$32,000 installed.

Brava Composite Shake

Brava makes a composite tile that’s the closest thing to real cedar shake you’ll find in a synthetic product. It’s heavier, more textured, and has that dimensional look that cedar shake lovers appreciate. Fully impact-resistant, Class A fire-rated, and backed by a 50-year warranty.

Best for: Higher-end homes where the look is the top priority and budget isn’t the main constraint. $20,000–$38,000 installed.

CertainTeed Landmark Architectural Shingles

Here’s the honest truth: most homeowners replacing cedar shake end up going with CertainTeed Landmark. It’s the most popular residential shingle in America for a reason — it’s proven, it’s affordable, and it holds up in McHenry County weather year after year. As a CertainTeed ShingleMaster, IHC offers the manufacturer’s top warranty tier on every Landmark install.

Best for: Homeowners who want the best value and don’t need the shake aesthetic. $12,000–$22,000 installed.

Not sure which one is right for your home? We’ll walk you through the options during a free inspection. No pressure, no gimmicks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cedar Shake Roofs and Insurance

Can insurance deny my cedar shake hail damage claim?

They can try, but a legitimate hail damage claim on a covered roof should be paid. The problem is that insurers often undervalue cedar shake claims or dispute the extent of the damage. That’s exactly why having a licensed public adjuster like Tobias Wilborn involved matters — he documents the damage using Xactimate pricing (the same software insurers use) and pushes back when the initial offer is too low. If your roof was damaged by hail and you have an active policy, you have the right to a fair payout. Get help with your insurance claim →

What’s the cheapest way to replace a cedar shake roof?

CertainTeed Landmark architectural shingles are the most affordable option at $12,000–$22,000 for an average McHenry County home. You lose the shake aesthetic, but you gain a fully insurable roof with a strong warranty from a certified installer. If keeping the shake look matters, F-Wave synthetic starts around $18,000. And if the upfront cost is a stretch, we offer GreenSky financing with monthly payments.

Will my insurance premiums go down after replacing cedar shake?

Almost always, yes. Switching from cedar shake to any of the three materials above removes the surcharge most carriers apply to wood roofs. Homeowners who install Class 4 impact-rated roofing (like F-Wave) often see an additional discount — sometimes 10-28% off the roof portion of their premium. Your agent can give you the exact numbers once you have a signed contract with the new material specified.

Does IHC have a public adjuster who handles cedar shake claims?

Yes. Tobias Wilborn is an independent licensed public adjuster with our sister company, IHC Public Adjusters, a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm (financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575). Tobias works exclusively for the homeowner — not the insurance company — and uses Xactimate pricing to document claims in the exact format insurers use. He handles cedar shake hail claims, storm damage claims, and situations where an insurer’s initial offer doesn’t cover the actual cost of repairs.

How long does a cedar shake roof replacement take?

Most cedar shake tear-off and replacement projects take 2-5 days depending on the size of the roof, the replacement material, and weather. Cedar shake removal adds about a day compared to a standard re-roof because the old shakes and any deteriorated decking underneath need to come off before the new material goes on. We typically schedule these projects within 2-3 weeks of signing the contract, weather permitting.

Don’t Wait Until the Letter Arrives

Whether your cedar shake roof just got pounded by hail or you’re staring at a non-renewal letter from your carrier, the worst thing you can do is nothing. Every week you wait is a week closer to your policy lapsing, your damage getting worse, or your claim window closing.

Here’s what I tell every homeowner who calls: let us come out and look at your roof. It costs nothing. We’ll tell you exactly what we see, whether you have a viable insurance claim, and what your replacement options and costs look like. No surprises, no runaround.

Rhett Wilborn founded IHC in 2005. 21 years, 7,000+ projects, 5 manufacturer certifications, 380+ Google reviews at 4.6 stars. We’re a women-led, family-owned company that’s been on Route 176 in McHenry since day one.

Call or Text (815) 356-9020 for a Free Inspection
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