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A cedar wood shake roof is a roofing option that works for any home.  It can transform the look of a home and really make a statement.  But, there is a lot of cedar shake roof maintenance required to keep this roofing material looking good and functional.  Before you jump into installing a natural cedar shake roof on your home, take some time to learn about cedar shake roof treatment and shake roof maintenance so you know what you can expect with a cedar shake roof and so that you can make an educated decision prior to purchase.

Benefits of Regular Cedar Roofing Maintenance

Cedar shakes and shingles are more expensive than the average asphalt shingle, but as cedar can outlive an asphalt roof by decades – it’s for a good reason!  Cedar, unlike asphalt shingles, is a roofing material that is organic and therefore requires a special kind of cedar roofing maintenance to ensure a long life span and continued durability.

Improve your roof’s lifespan

Cedar shakes usually remain functional for 7 to 15 years if there is no maintenance or intervention.  Because they are thinner, cedar shingles can have an average lifespan that is even shorter than that!  Surprisingly, preservation practices and proper care can extend the a cedar shingles lifespan for up to 20 to 30 years while the shakes can last for 30 or even 40 years.  This level of durability ensure that you will not need to worry about premature or even frequent roof replacements.  You may have to pay for roofing maintenance and hiring professionals for cleanup and repairs, but your total expenses for cedar roofing maintenance are still less than that of early roof replacement.  Aside from cutting down potential expenses, you are also well-protected for a longer time.

Increase resale value of your home

Wooden roofs come with a rustic aesthetic which appeals to many homebuyers.  The bright and warm colors, along with the reputation for longevity that cedar has can increase the value of your home and curb appeal. Moss growth on your cedar roofing can add to your home’s countryside appearance, but not in a good way.  Moss and mold growth gives the impression of a lack of care and poor maintenance. Prospective homebuyers may also assume that due to moss growth on your roof that other areas of your home have suffered neglect as well.  In addition to moss growth, missing shingles, and other visible defects in your roof will surely reduce your home’s curb appeal, and consequently its resale value.  Well-maintained roofs are easily noticed and appreciated by prospective buyers, and the better the condition of the roof, it is more likely you will get a fair price for it.  If you are considering selling your home within the next few years, save the receipts as additional proof of works being completed.  Once you decide to resell your home, you can use the records and receipts to help validate the high resale value of your property. This also makes prospective buyers more receptive as you have hard evidence of when maintenance and repairs were done.

Help prevent pest problems

Your roof is also there to help prevent pests such as squirrels, rats and birds from invading your home. But if there are missing or broken shingles, the inner structure of your roof may become flimsy. Consequently, the said pests may enter through the defects in your roofing structure and wreak havoc in other area of your home interior. Through cedar roofing maintenance, the lost and broken shakes or shingles will be replaced, limiting the possible entrances of pests, and keeping their damage to a minimum.

Limit damage done to your roof

If there are issues with your cedar roof it is inadvisable for you to leave it in a state of disrepair. If you do, the damage will affect other parts of your roofing structure which will require costlier repairs and replacements.  Furthermore, the leaks from your faulty roof can damage your floors, carpet, furniture and other possessions. Worst of all, you and your family will not be fully protected from extreme temperatures, harmful UV rays, strong winds, and heavy rain and snow.  Your general roofing maintenance should be done around fall as a way to prepare for the onslaught of snow, sleet and cold air which can worsen problems that you won’t be able to treat until spring.  Maintenance may not make your cedar roof completely invincible, but it will limit the possible damage from the elements during winter.

Cedar Shake Roof Maintenance

A shake roof can last about 30 years, with the right wood shake roof maintenance.  Maintaining this kind of roof takes a lot of work, and proper maintenance and cedar shake roof treatment needs to be done regularly to avoid faster deterioration.  Ideally, complete cedar shingle roof maintenance should be performed every 2 to 4 years.  But, some of these steps should be completed more often. Below are a few of the frequent maintenance requirements of cedar shake roofs.

Removing Debris

One of the first steps in cedar roof maintenance is to clean it of any debris. This includes things like fallen leaves, conifer needles, mosses, and lichens.  This kind of debris can make it harder for any water runoff of the roof. In addition, they have the potential to retain moisture, which will allow wood-destroying fungus to begin growing. These fungi are notorious for retaining moisture, which can weaken shake shingles and cause them to become brittle and break more quickly.

Vegetation Removal

Beyond removing the debris as part of your cedar shingles maintenance, you should also perform vegetation removal.  Something as simple as removing tree branches that hang over your home can help to expand the life of your shake roofing.  By removing those branches, the roof will be able to dry much faster, so that there is less water retention and therefore less chance for harmful fungi to grow.   Removing these branches for cedar care roof maintenance will also significantly decrease the likelihood of a tree on fire setting your roof ablaze.

Cleaning the Gutters

Another essential step in cedar shake shingles maintenance is to clean your home’s gutters.  While this may sound like a strange step for wood shake roof maintenance, it is actually imperative.  The purpose of your home’s gutters is to take rainwater runoff and redirect it away from our home so that it cannot harm the roof or foundation.  When the gutters get clogged, they have a harder time handling water runoff. This can lead to serious backups that will leave rainwater soaking into your shake shingles, which can lead to rotting or deterioration of the roof. So, for the best cedar shake maintenance, you should be cleaning your gutters out on a very regular basis, especially during the fall, when the leaves are falling off of trees and into the gutter system.

Surface Roof Cleaning

A good surface cleaning is another step in proper cedar shake shingles maintenance. While it is seen as a more cosmetic part of cedar shake maintenance, it can be beneficial in maintaining the strength and integrity of your roof. By power washing the roof, you can remove weaker pieces of weathered wood. It can also help to remove any remaining mosses or fungi that can end up damaging the roof over time.

Cedar shake roof treatments

One of the benefits of routine maintenance is that red cedar shingles are naturally more resistant to moisture uptake. This can help to slightly lessen the amount of shingle maintenance required.  Various treatments can be performed as part of the cedar shake roof maintenance every couple of years. This includes water repellents, fungicides, algaecides, and fire repellents. These cedar shake roof treatments may claim a long life, but it is best to apply them every 1 to 3 years as part of the regular cedar shake roof maintenance.