Timely and regular cedar shake roof maintenance remains the best way to protect your roofing investment and ensure it lasts as long as you need it to. Regular maintenance also helps you preserve your roof’s aesthetic value. Call Elite Remodeling Services at (904) 657-8383 for information on keeping your cedar shake roof in top condition.

This post will offer a few tips for the maintenance of your cedar shake roof.

Tips for Maintaining Your Cedar Shake Roof

Remove Overhanging Branches

Removing any branches hanging over your roof significantly decreases the chances of one of the branches falling and damaging it. Removing overhanging branches also allows your roof to dry faster, reducing the chances of developing harmful mold.

Remove Debris

Debris retains moisture and creates the perfect breeding ground for wood-destroying fungus. This fungus can weaken your cedar shakes, causing expensive repairs and shortening your roof’s lifespan. Ensure that you remove all sticks, leaves, and pine needles from your cedar roof during your maintenance.

Maintain Your Gutters

The gutters you have on your roof allow moving water to flow away from your roof and house so that the moisture will not harm your home’s roof or foundation. If you fail to clean and maintain your gutters, water will build up.

This build-up could ultimately degrade your cedar roof and affect its integrity. To avoid this, ensure that you include cleaning your gutters in your cedar shake roof maintenance routine.

Protective Treatments

Include protective treatments in your cedar shake roof maintenance every one to three years. Without these treatments, your cedar shakes can buckle, rot, degrade, and even burn. To prevent this, professionally apply fire and water repellents, algaecides, and fungicides to the shakes.

Repair or Replace Rotting, Cracked, or Missing Shakes

While cedar shakes have water-resistant qualities, they can still develop rot if the moisture rises above 20 percent. Though specific treatments can prevent rotting, you should inspect your roof and promptly hire a professional roofer to replace the affected cedar shakes.

You should also inspect your roof for any cracks. These cracks can occur as your cedar roof naturally expands and contracts due to temperature fluctuations and moisture exposure. Ensure that you reach out to a professional should you notice the presence of cracked cedar shakes.

Pest Control

Repairing and replacing cracked and missing cedar shakes will help prevent pests like rats and squirrels from invading your home. Such vermin and insects can enter your home through broken shakes and cause extensive damage to your roof and home’s interior.

They can chew on wood, troughs, and even electric wires. Also, some of them can carry diseases that might pose significant health risks to you and your family.

Power Washing

To make your maintenance even more effective, professionally power wash your roof every few years. Power washing helps you remove:

• Debris
• Lichens
• Moss growth
• Weaker wood

This maintains the integrity and strength of your cedar roof. On top of that, power washing aids in improving your roof’s appearance.

Regular Inspection

While you should take certain measures like protective treatments and power washing every few years, you need to complete an inspection of your roof more regularly. Ensure that you inspect your roof for mold, debris, and any other damage twice each year—in spring and fall. You should also check your roof after a snowstorm, hailstorm, severe wind, or other weather events.

Professional Cleaning

You may find that you can easily do some of these steps yourself. However, to restore your cedar roof’s warm color and ensure its long life span, you should have a professional clean your roof every five to seven years.

Synthetic Cedar Shake

If you’ve had enough with all the cedar shake roof maintenance requirements, consider replacing your roof with a synthetic cedar shake roofing material. There are several options available, simply contact us for more information.

Turn to Us for All Your Shake Roofing Needs

We understand you value your home as one of your most vital investments. With professional maintenance, you can ensure that your roof provides your home with the level of protection it needs and deserves.

When looking for a professional and reliable roofing company to provide you with the repair or replacement services in St. Augustine, FL, turn to Elite Remodeling Services. Call us today at (904) 657-8383 to learn more about our services and schedule your appointment.