What is the average cost of cedar shake roof in New Brunswick in 2026?

Cedar shake roofing in New Brunswick typically runs $8 to $16 per square foot installed, or $800 to $1,600 per square (100 sq ft), depending on shake grade, roof complexity, and your location in the province.

For a typical 1,500 sq ft bungalow — very common in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John — expect a total installed cost somewhere in the range of:

• Budget end: $12,000–$15,000 (standard-grade hand-split shakes, simple gable roof, straightforward access)
• Mid-range: $16,000–$22,000 (premium-grade western red cedar, moderate pitch, some valleys or dormers)
• High end: $24,000–$35,000+ (select-grade shakes, steep or complex roof, heritage property requiring careful detailing)

These ranges reflect the New Brunswick market, which runs roughly 20–25% below major urban centres like Toronto or Vancouver — but don't be surprised if quotes come in higher in northern NB (Bathurst, Campbellton, Edmundston), where the skilled trades labour pool is smaller and material freight adds cost.

What drives the price up or down more than anything else is the shake grade. There are three common grades: #1 Blue Label (premium, all heartwood, longest life), #2 Red Label (mixed grain, more affordable), and #3 Black Label (utility grade — not recommended for NB's climate). For a province that sees 250–350 cm of annual snowfall, hard freeze-thaw cycles, and in coastal areas like Saint John and Shediac, persistent moisture and salt air — #1 Blue Label is worth the premium. Expect a 30–40 year lifespan with proper maintenance versus 15–20 years for lower grades.

A critical NB consideration: cedar shakes require a breathable installation — spaced sheathing (also called skip sheathing or lath) rather than solid plywood decking allows the shakes to dry from below, which dramatically extends their life in our humid climate. Some roofers will install over solid decking with a breathable underlayment, but traditional spaced sheathing is the gold standard. If a quote doesn't mention this detail, ask about it directly.

You'll need a building permit for a full re-roof in most NB municipalities — contact your local authority (City of Moncton Planning at 506-856-4375, City of Fredericton Development Services at 506-460-2020, City of Saint John Growth & Community Services at 506-658-2835, or your Regional Service Commission if you're in a rural area). A simple shingle-for-shingle replacement sometimes falls under maintenance exemptions, but a full tear-off and structural deck replacement typically triggers permit requirements.

One thing worth knowing: NB Power does not offer rebates for cedar shake roofing — it's not an energy efficiency upgrade. However, if you're replacing the roof anyway, it's an ideal time to upgrade attic insulation to meet or exceed the NBC 2020 Tier 2 energy standards (now mandatory for new construction as of May 1, 2025), and NB Power's Total Home Energy Savings Program may offer rebates on that insulation work.

Get at least three quotes from licensed roofing contractors, and ask each one specifically about their experience with cedar — it's a specialty product that not every roofer installs regularly. You can find roofing contractors serving your area through the New Brunswick Construction Network directory.