Guide
Cedar, slate, and architectural shingles on Demarest homes
Written by Ultra Power Construction. The credentials page states that this contractor is licensed and insured in New Jersey and lists GAF and Owens Corning programs. Updated 2026-09-27.
Demarest is not one roof type. Older houses still have cedar or slate, and later colonials wear architectural asphalt. The price and the repair method follow the system you actually have.
- Identify the system from the attic and the eave
- Each system fails differently
- Do not cover one system with another
Identify the system from the attic and the eave
Slate is thin stone and heavy. Cedar is wood and often mossy on the shaded side. Architectural asphalt is a thicker fiberglass shingle with a random tab line. Do not guess from the curb. A lifted shingle edge or an attic look settles it.
Each system fails differently
Slate cracks and slips. Cedar cups and rots at the butt. Asphalt loses granules and curls. A contractor who quotes “a new roof” without naming the tear-off material is guessing at weight, dumpster loads, and deck repairs.
Do not cover one system with another
Cedar and slate come off. Asphalt over asphalt is only reasonable when the layer count and the deck allow it, and many of these roofs are already at that limit. The scope should state the layer count you saw, not a hope.