Installing Solar Panels on a Wood Shake Roof in Illinois: What You Need to Know

Wood shake shingles are highly uneven, brittle, and prone to rotting over time—especially in a humid Midwestern climate that gets heavy snow. Driving a lag bolt and flashing through a cedar shake roof makes it incredibly difficult to guarantee a watertight seal against melting ice. Furthermore, adding electrical equipment on top of aging wood can violate municipal fire codes in certain Illinois jurisdictions.

If an Illinois homeowner with a wood shake roof is determined to go solar, SunBeam Innovations utilizes a "comp-out" method. This involves removing the wood shake shingles entirely in the exact square footage where the solar array will sit. We then lay down fire-rated underlayment and standard asphalt shingles in that specific area to create a safe, waterproof mounting surface for the solar panels. The rest of the roof retains its wood shake aesthetic.

Before installing solar on a wood shake roof, our engineering team conducts a rigorous structural assessment. If the cedar is showing signs of moisture rot or heavy weathering, the absolute best financial move is often to replace the roof entirely with fire-rated asphalt or metal prior to the solar installation. This ensures a safe, 25-year foundation for your new energy system.