Do cedar roofs raise home insurance in Alberta?

Cedar shake roofs typically cost more to insure in Alberta, and some insurers will not cover them at all. The premium increase varies by insurer and policy, but a cedar shake roof is widely treated as a higher-risk material because it is combustible, it ages faster in Calgary's dry, high-altitude air, and it is more vulnerable to hail damage than modern asphalt or metal alternatives.

Why insurers treat cedar differently

Untreated wood shakes are more combustible than asphalt shingles or metal, which matters to underwriters in Alberta. Beyond fire, cedar shakes split and curl as they dry out, which creates gaps that let water in during freeze-thaw cycles. An aging shake roof is more likely to produce a leak claim, and Calgary's roughly 128 freeze-thaw cycles a year accelerate that deterioration faster than in milder climates.

Hail is the bigger issue for most Calgary homeowners. Cedar shakes crack and split under hail impact, and Calgary sits in what the City of Calgary calls hail alley, the part of Canada that sees the most hail. The August 2024 storm alone generated about $2.8 to $3 billion in insured losses across the city. Insurers pricing that risk into premiums for a material that performs poorly under hail is not surprising.

The practical consequence: some insurers charge more for older wood roofs or limit the coverage they offer, and the terms vary from one insurer to the next. If you are buying a home with an older cedar shake roof, call your insurer before closing, not after.

What changes the picture: replacing cedar with a Class 4 impact-resistant asphalt shingle system can work in the other direction. The Insurance Bureau of Canada notes that a majority of insurers offer premium savings of up to 50% for hail-resistant materials. The City of Calgary has noted that Class 4 shingles reduce the chance of hail damage significantly and that the added cost tends to pay for itself over time. Ask your insurer specifically what discount applies to your policy, because the number varies.

For cost context, replacing a cedar shake roof in Calgary typically runs about $10 to $18 per square foot, putting a typical house in the $20,000 to $36,000 range. Switching to architectural asphalt shingles is cheaper, roughly $5 to $8.50 per square foot, and switching to Class 4 shingles adds about 10 to 20% to that. Either way, the insurance savings over several years can offset a meaningful portion of the replacement cost, so it is worth getting a number from your insurer before you choose a product.

One permit note: like-for-like re-roofing (cedar to cedar) does not require a building permit under Alberta's Permit Regulation, provided there is no structural change and no health or safety issue. Whether cedar to asphalt counts as a similar type of material is not spelled out, so confirm with your municipality before signing. If you are switching to a heavier material such as slate or clay tile, contact the City of Calgary or your municipality before signing anything, as a permit and possibly a structural review would be needed.

Get your insurer's number first, then quotes for cedar and for its replacements, and the right choice usually becomes clear.