what kind of treatment for cedar shake roof

by Chandler Fahey II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

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.

How do you clean a cedar shake roof?

Nov 15, 2017 · Oil Treatments. Oil treatments replace the natural oils in cedar roofs as they get older, preventing cracking, cupping, or warping. They also contain chemicals to keep them from becoming an extra food source for mold, fungi, and mildew. These treatments can also make your roof more flammable.

How to clean a cedar shake roof?

The type of roof treatment you use could mean the difference between life and death of your roofing material. We treat it right, using a 100% oil-based cedar shake preservative, which contains a moss, algae, and fungus retardant, as well as a water repellent and insecticide.

How to maintain your cedar shake roof?

Oct 09, 2020 · A cedar shake roof is a premium roof system made of natural wood (cedar) materials. While it serves the same functions as an asphalt or metal roof, it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing roof’s you’ll see. That’s what sets a cedar shake roof apart from the more common roof types . The shingles are made out of cedar trees that come ...

How to repair cedar shake roofing?

Jun 26, 2020 · The professionals at Cedar Roof Coatings exclusively use TWP® 200 Series to treat and preserve cedar roofs because of its protective qualities that help lock in the moisture and prevent your cedar shakes from decay. Unlike some other cedar roof treatment products, TWP® 200 Series both protects and preserves your cedar shingles for several years.

Should you treat a cedar shake roof?

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.

Do cedar roof shingles need to be treated?

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 do you preserve cedar shake shingles?

Treat cedar shingles with a water-repellent preservative.

Water-repellent preservative (WRP) is a generic term for a clear finish that penetrates the wood to create a protective layer that helps prevent water damage. Applying a layer of WRP can help keep your cedar shingles protected from the elements.

What do you treat cedar shingles with?

The Cedar Bureau recommends using a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Apply it with a pump sprayer let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with with a garden hose. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles.Nov 6, 2017

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!Aug 18, 2021

How do you treat 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.Apr 21, 2018

How long does cedar shake roof last?

30 years

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.Oct 13, 2020

Can you use varnish on cedar?

Caution. Transparent, non-flexible, film-forming finishes such as lacquer, shellac, urethane, and varnish are not recommended for exterior use on cedar. Ultraviolet radiation can penetrate the transparent film and degrade the wood.

Should you power wash cedar shingles?

Power washing can be used to clean cedar as long as the sprayer is set at a low pressure to prevent damaging the wood's soft surface. Once cleaned and allowed to dry, the wood can then be painted using a urethane-acrylic house paint.Aug 10, 2012

What to do with cedar shake roof?

You must remove all the leaves, pine needles, and sticks from your cedar wood roof as part of your regular shake roof maintenance. Debris retains moisture that breeds wood-destroying fungus that weakens the shingles, leading to expensive repairs and a shorter lifespan for your roof. 4. Power Washing.

How long does a cedar shake roof last?

Routine and timely cedar shake roof maintenance, including inspection, cleaning, treatments, and repair, will protect your investment for 30 years or more. Neglecting the roof will significantly decrease its longevity and aesthetic value. Due to the dangers of working on a roof and the complexity of cedar roof maintenance, you should hire a professional roof contractor.

Why does cedar shingle have cracks?

Cracks can occur in a cedar roof because wood naturally expands and contracts from moisture exposure and temperature fluctuations which can lead to small cracks on the surface.

How much does it cost to repair a shake roof?

Typically a contractor will charge $750 to repair a wood shake roof, and between $0.21 and $0.34 per square foot to clean a cedar shake roof.

How long do brava shakes last?

Brava’s beautiful and natural-looking cedar shakes last decades with little need for repairs and maintenance.

Why do you remove the hanging branches on a shingle roof?

Removing the hanging branches allows the roof to dry faster, reducing the chance of harmful mold. Removing branches also significantly decreases the likelihood of a tree falling on the roof and either damaging it or setting it on fire.

Do brava cedar roofs absorb water?

Brava cedar roof tiles also resist damage from mold because they do not absorb water. Brava roofing tiles maintain their integrity during extreme heat and freeze/thaw cycles.

Cleaning

When you remove debris like leaves from your roof and your gutters in fall, you may see stains or discolorations from mold or mildew. You can remove most of these with a mixture of bleach and laundry detergent. To prevent them, clean your cedar roof at least once per month.

Chemical Treatments

You should treat your roof every one to three years to prevent the sun from fading it or causing cracks and keep unwanted organisms away. Pigments and ultraviolet absorbers can help you repair existing damage and prevent future problems.

Oil Treatments

Oil treatments replace the natural oils in cedar roofs as they get older, preventing cracking, cupping, or warping. They also contain chemicals to keep them from becoming an extra food source for mold, fungi, and mildew. These treatments can also make your roof more flammable.

What is cedar shake preservative?

We treat it right, using a 100% oil-based cedar shake preservative , which contains a moss, algae, and fungus retardant, as well as a water repellent and insecticide. We’re so sure of our treatments that we offer a written, four-year guarantee against moss, algae, and fungus.

Why do you need a roof treatment?

You may wonder why you should use a roof treatment. It naturally blocks moss and algae, and restores the wood’s color.

Why is cedar wood swollen?

Left unprotected, cedar suffers from many ailments: photo degradation caused by sunlight; shrinking and swelling caused by the absorption and evaporation of water within the wood; and discoloration caused by the presence of decay-promoting micro-organisms.

Why do you need to treat cedar roofs?

Preserving and treating your cedar roof is essential for you to get the most out of this naturally beautiful material. If you live in a wet climate that experiences rain or snow, you should remove the excess water from your roof to prevent mold and mildew growth. You should also remove the debris around your roof so that mold doesn't grow .

What oil is used on cedar shingles?

Paraffin oil provides your cedar roof shingles with enough moisture to restore the natural oils within the shingles to keep them looking their best. Instead of deteriorating from UV and moisture damage over the years, the wooden roof can maintain its natural beauty, thanks to the oils within TWP® 200 Series.

What happens if you don't treat your roof?

If you don't treat your roof, the shingles could suffer from discoloration or cracks, which could give visitors a negative first impression. Take the proper steps to keep your roof looking fresh before you need to replace it.

Does cedar shingle have oil?

Your cedar roof has natural oils that allow the color of the shingles to deteriorate naturally to an aesthetically pleasing patina. Over time, UV rays cause the moisture to evaporate, and your shingles will start to lose their brilliancy. You'll need to have an oil treatment applied, such as TWP® 200 Series, to properly restore the natural beauty of your roofing material.

Can a roof be stained?

Here is a simple guideline we give our customers: Roofs are not decks – they are not meant to be stained. Roof treatment, however, is a critical component to maximizing the most out of your expensive investment. If you are a Portland area homeowner who would like to learn more about proper roof maintenance, whether cedar, composition or tile, please feel welcome to contact us.

Is it good to stain a cedar roof?

Staining is just one method of treatment and not a very good one. The objectives of maintaining a cedar roof are threefold: Clean the roof, Preserve the wood, and Prevent moss. No where can it found found that changing the color is a necessary goal. One of the main reasons roofs started getting stained was simply to hide another, ...

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