How To Keep Your Cedar Roof For Life With Regular Maintenance

Cedar roofs have been around for centuries and have been a very popular roofing choice for a long time now. They look great and can add a rustic yet elegant vibe to your property. They’re also surprisingly resilient when they are installed correctly and maintained well and can easily last you a lifetime. At Emerald Cedar Contracting, we recommend you take the steps mentioned below to keep your roof in good shape.

Make Sure The Roof is Installed Correctly

Yes, this doesn’t count as regular maintenance, but if your roof isn’t installed well, no amount of maintenance will keep it healthy and clean. Cedar shakes need room to breathe and dry and many installers forget to take this into account. Until 30 years ago, roofing contractors used lath installation to place the shakes. Now they use decking with felt and it is a great moisture wicking material.

But if the shakes aren’t spaced properly from the felt, they will retain moisture and can develop problems like mold, algae, fungus, and lichen. Cedar shakes won’t decay on their own, but moisture and infestations will compromise the material and reduce its lifespan. That’s why good installation is the key to a long life for your cedar roofs.

Cleaning Debris

Debris like dirt, dust, fallen leaves, etc., can trap moisture underneath them. This won’t allow the cedar shakes to dry completely, which would lead to problems like algae and mold. One of the best ways to keep your roof in good condition is to regularly clean the debris from the roof and ensure the shakes are exposed to the sun and air. In the right conditions, the natural resilience of cedar would shine through, and your roof will remain healthy.

Keep an Eye on Infestations

Cedar roofs are vulnerable to infestations from mold, fungus, algae, and lichen. The longer these infestations linger, the more damage they can cause. That’s why it’s absolutely essential to address the infestation as soon as you can. You can keep infestations at bay by ensuring the shakes are regularly exposed to sunlight but if the shakes are already infected, you can take several steps like:

• Install zinc or copper stripes on the roof to discourage mold. The runoff water that passes over the strips will turn into a mild solution against mold, mildew, and moss.
• Gently scrape away any mold and mildew and apply a solution that will discourage regrowth.
• Add wood preservatives that would allow the material to breath and not trap moisture.

Pressure Washing

This is one of the best ways to clean the roof and remove stains, mold, and any other such problems. The pressure will wash away the layer of dirt and expose the wood underneath, allowing it to breathe and the water in it to evaporate.

These steps will ensure your roof lasts for a long time. If you want to know more about cedar roofs, don’t hesitate to contact us at Emerald Cedar Contracting. You can fill in this contact us form and request a call back from us.

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