How do you care for a cedar shake roof

Cedar shingle maintenance must include protective treatments every one to three years. Without treatments, cedar shakes can degrade, buckle, rot, and even burn. To protect and preserve your roof, every few years, professionally apply water and fire repellents, fungicides, and algaecides to the shingles.

Do you need to treat a cedar shake roof?

Without treatments, cedar shakes can degrade over time, with constant exposure to the sun’s UV rays, the elements, and water, of course. It also means that the cedar shakes can suffer from fungus and algae growth without proper treatment. Most importantly, without treatment, cedar shake shingles can catch on fire.

How do you keep cedar shakes looking new?

If you have weathered and discolored wood siding, you can regain the new look of cedar by cleaning off the dirt and mildew with a solution of one third cup liquid household detergent (be sure it is ammonia-free), one quart liquid household bleach (containing 5% sodium hypochlorite), and three quarts warm water.

How long do cedar shakes last on a roof?

Cedar roofs are always working hard to fight off the elements. The minimum cedar shingle roof life expectancy is 30 years — however, when you regularly maintain it, it can last an astounding 50 years or more. We’ve even seen some Cedar roofs last over 90 years! Taking care of a cedar roof will ensure it lasts longer.

How do you treat a wood shake roof?

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.

Can I walk on cedar shake roof?

So can you walk on a cedar shake roof? The short answer: yes. … Still, even if they do support your weight, cedar shakes are also notoriously slippery and difficult to navigate, especially after a recent storm or if they are covered in moss or other growths.

Do cedar shingles need to be sealed?

No. Never seal your cedar roof. Sealing the roof will lock in moisture that would otherwise naturally evaporate during normal weather conditions. Cedar needs to breathe and thus a water repellant type product, rather than a water proofer is the best route to follow.

How much does a cedar shake roof cost?

Cedar Shake Roof Cost The average price range to install a 3,000-square foot shake roof is between $18,000 and $20,000, or about $600 to $670 per square. Low cost for installation is around $16,000 and high cost is about $27,000. A shake is a wooden shingle that is split on one side and sawn on the other.

Can cedar shake damage a hail roof?

Hail impacting a cedar roof can cause damage if the hailstones are large enough and have sufficient densities, hardness’s, and impact velocities to split the wood they strike. If a shingle (or shake) does not split when it is impacted, it is not hail-damaged.

Are cedar shakes hard to maintain?

The biggest issue with cedar shake siding is the amount of maintenance that it requires. Cedar shakes require regular cleaning to keep them free from things like moss, algae, and mold. … Without regular maintenance, shakes will become worn and suffer rot and decay.

Article first time published on

Should you stain cedar shakes?

Staining cedar shingles not only enhances their beauty but also fortifies them against threats posed by the elements. … To protect new shingles, apply a penetrating stain. Stain soaks in and protects the wood from the weather, and it won’t crack, peel, or chip.

How do you keep cedar looking natural?

Stain Soon After Installation. Staining your cedar siding will considerably slow down the siding’s change in appearance. …
Maintain Your Cedar Siding Every 3 to 5 Years. …
Embrace the Natural Weathering of Cedar Siding.

What do you treat cedar shingles with?

Some cedar siding shingles are treated with bleaching oil, which is a treatment made with linseed oil and bleach crystals. Along with protecting your cedar shingles against decay and other coastal contamination, this treatment will also give them the weathered silvery gray look that many homeowners prefer.

How often do cedar shingles need to be replaced?

White cedar shingles should be replaced roughly every 20 years. There are natural and dipped shingles.

Can you oil cedar shingles?

Many people with cedar roofs wonder if an oil treatment for cedar shingles is appropriate, and the answer is an absolute yes!

Can you leave cedar shingles untreated?

Cedar has natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping, rotting and cracking. … This is something to consider when choosing cedar shingles or siding.

How waterproof are cedar shingles?

Are cedar shingles waterproof? Cedar wood shingles are prone to mold, mildew, and insects. It is important to note that the wood on a cedar roof is not intended to be waterproof, and is therefore quite susceptible to wind-driven rain. Any natural product exposed to water is vulnerable to mold, mildew and erosion.

How do you fix warped cedar shingles?

If you have a warped shingle, there are a couple ways to fix this problem. First, you can put in some long screws, reinforcing the shingle to the roof and minimize the damage caused by warping. Another, and more complicated, option is to remove the shingle and shorten it.

How do you repair a shake shingle roof?

Step 1: Use hammer and sharp chisel to split damaged shake. Slant chisel up into shake at same angle as pitch of roof. …
Step 2: Measure gap left by old shake, and cut new one. …
Step 3: Install new shake. …
Step 4: Set heads of nails with nail set, and seal them with caulking compound.

Can you walk on a shingle roof?

Walking on your roof (unless absolutely necessary) Walking on your asphalt shingles can leave the shingles bare, dislodge them or create gaps that can increase the potential for leaks. While it’s recommended that you stay off of your roof as much as possible, unavoidable incidents may make that difficult.

Is a cedar roof worth it?

Despite being worth more, cedar shingles are a great investment in your home. With a high quality and great looking material, on your roof, your curb appeal with increase. Cedar is highly valued by home value appraisers and future buyers as it is durable, looks great, and lasts longer normal shingles.

What is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles?

Appearance – Cedar shingles have a smooth and uniform look that spans the entire roof surface while cedar shakes have a more rugged appearance because each piece looks a little different than the rest. … Cedar shakes are split off while shingles are sawn smooth on both sides and cut tapered.

Are cedar shake roofs a fire hazard?

One of the most prominent reasons that cedar shake roofs are a thing of the past is that cedar shingles present a fire hazard. … While cedar is highly resistant to threats such as insects and strong winds, it simply doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to lightning strikes.

How do I know if my cedar shake roof is bad?

Serious shake damage. Severe splitting, curling, and buckling are all signs of a roof in need of serious help—and maybe a complete replacement. These signs typically crop up after serious weather problems, or on roofs that are getting on in years.

Is it better to stain or paint cedar?

The best answer is based on your home’s current cedar condition. Stain lasts longer and often looks more natural, but can only be applied if cedar is paint-free. Paint offers more protection and can be a good choice for badly worn homes with previous peeling issues from past painting applications.

How often should you paint cedar shakes?

Cedar siding needs to be repainted every 5-7 years, but if you take some special precautions, you can get up to 10 years from one paint application. In order to do this though, you will need to ensure that you are properly preparing the surface and considering all the environmental factors.

Why do cedar shakes turn black?

There are two main causes of the darkening of cedar siding: tannin stains, and mildew stains. If the darkening is caused by mildew, the bleach will immediately clear it up. If the stain is caused by tannin, the bleach will have no effect.

Is Thompson's Water Seal good for cedar?

A new Waterproofing Stain from industry leader Thompson’s WaterSeal can not only protect your deck from further damage, but also add rich, beautiful color. … Choose from five popular colors: Acorn Brown, Harvest Gold, Maple Brown, Sequoia Red or Woodland Cedar.

What is the best oil to use on cedar?

The best clear Cedar finish stain for outdoors is Linseed oil, hands down. Linseed oil is the primary ingredient in any oil finishes, which dries clear. You can find other clear water-based stains, but will not last nearly as long as a Linseed oil based stain will.

How do you keep cedar from turning GREY?

To prevent cedar from fading to gray, you need to seal cedar fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide, according to Family Handyman.

How long will cedar shingles last?

As long as it’s properly installed and with proper maintenance, you can expect to get 30 years of life out of your cedar shake roof. If you invest in quality materials and live in an area with the right conditions, you could possibly get up to 50 years out of it.