Keeping Your Cedar Shake Roofs Looking Beautiful

Protecting your cedar shake roofs from the damaging effects of wind, rain, and ultra-violet rays

Cedar shake roofs are attractive. There's no getting around it. Their texture and color are undeniably appealing and they have some excellent benefits. For instance, they're extremely wind resistant when properly installed and have twice the insulation value of asphalt. They're not easily damaged by hail, can be made fire resistant and can last up to 50 years if not longer.

So why do cedar shake roofs account for only 3% of applications? One reason is cost; cedar shake roofs are expensive. The second is maintenance and a matter of protecting that large investment.

Although this article is about cedar shake roofs, keep in mind that all roofs should be maintained, no matter what the material. Moisture in high rain areas can cause buckling and fungus growth, high sun areas can cause fading and almost any roofing material is susceptible to squirrel, raccoon and rat damage. No matter what your roof is made of, take care of it!

The Enemies of Cedar Shake Roofs

Besides gnawing animals, cedar shake roofs have three big enemies: water, sunlight and trees. Sun and moisture changes the surface and look of the wood. Although cedar contains natural preservatives, rain can cause this natural protection to leach away. The sun and its ultraviolet light also break down the cedar shakes in microscopic particles, which are then washed away by rain.

Gradually, your roof will become weathered, turning silver gray. Fungus may grow underneath the shakes, turning the roof dark gray or black. Tree debris may fall on the roof and build up between the shakes, which hold in moisture after rains. The moisture gives room for lichen and moss to grow, as well as the possibility of wood rot. All in all, it's a nasty process that, if not taken care of on a regular basis, will quickly deteriorate your cedar shake roof.

Caring for Cedar Shake Roofs

Many roofing contractors won't provide - or even give an opinion on - cedar shake roof care. They don't deal with cedar shake roofing and, furthermore, don't wish to. If you want a professional to take care of your roof maintenance, spend time looking for roofing maintenance companies that specifically deals with cedar shake roofs. If you choose to do most of it on your own, here are a few tips to get you started:

- Keep it free of debris - As mentioned earlier, moss, fungus and tree debris can trap moisture and cause wood rot/deterioration. By keeping cedar shake roofs clean of debris, you allow the roof to dry faster after a rain.

- Cut back overhanging branches - Not all branches need to be cut back, but they need to be up high enough that air has room to circulate. Five feet above the roof is a good height.

- Do not use a pressure wash to clean - Pressure washing cedar shake roofs has been a common method until recently. This may not be as big a deal with older, heavier shakes, but new cedar shakes are thinner. Pressure washing actually washes away the outer layer of wood. Although this makes the shakes look "new", that's because the pressure wash has exposed raw wood. In turn, the raw wood is then exposed to even more deterioration.