Lake Simcoe, Barrie – Cedar Roof Revival on a Lakefront Estate

Lake Simcoe, Barrie – Cedar Roof Revival on a Lakefront Estate

A weathered cedar roof doesn’t always need to be replaced. On this French-château-style stone estate on the shore of Lake Simcoe near Barrie, JD Wood Revival restored the existing cedar across the main house, boathouse, and garage – extending the roof’s lifespan without the cost or waste of a full tear-off. The project took roughly three and a half weeks.

The Challenge

This was one of the more architecturally demanding roofs we’ve worked on. The estate’s roofline is a complex mix of steep hip and gable sections, multiple dormers – including curved eyebrow dormers capped in domed cedar – two cupolas, large stone chimneys, and copper sections throughout. Every curve and transition had to be worked by hand. With a mature, tree-lined lakefront setting, this roof needed careful, methodical work across a large and varied surface.

The Solution

We applied the JD Wood Revival Process: cleaning decades of buildup from the shingles, clearing the keyways so the roof can breathe and shed water properly, and bringing the cedar’s natural tone back to life. The revival restored the roof’s appearance and function while preserving the original cedar. (The photos here were taken after a light rain, so the shingles look darker than they do when dry.)

After completion, the roof will receive an application of Revival Oil. The oil penetrates the cedar shingles, protecting the wood and further increasing the lifespan of the roof – the final step in the process that keeps a cedar roof performing for decades rather than being replaced.

Check out these before and after shots: