Thursday, August 15, 2013

Maintaining A Cedar Shake Roofing

By Cara Torres


A cedar shake roofing often comes with a unique and a definitely striking appearance that cannot be matched by other materials. These are friendly to the environment, renewable, versatile and can easily improve the look of any home. These may seem beautiful, but homeowners should be wary that it would also need several maintenance to keep its look.

Every roof tile will start to expand or contract as the weather and temperature begin to change. This is definitely normal for all situations, but it will always have an effect such as cracking. If these cracks are left ignored and untreated, it can be a potential and serious problem that may lead to expensive repairs. Hence, it is vital to have regular maintenance.

You must always check for damage regularly. An inspection every twice a year would definitely do the trick. During the evaluation, some cracks, rusted or loosened flashing and areas between the chimneys and joints will be checked properly.

Be sure that there are no lichens, mosses and molds that would grow in it. It is important that you must prevent some mosses from forming because it could somehow cause trapped moisture in some parts of your cedar roof panels. In due time, the excessive moisture will damage it and might even cause leaks to form inside the house. You must clean the gutters properly so that you could prevent further blockage that will let the growth of molds and fungi.

You might want to invest in power washing to further beautify and enhance the appearance of your house. This would often incorporate the use of preservatives, chemical cleaning solutions and other pigmented finishes. This is readily available in various stores throughout the world. You can also choose to have an oil based pigment or those that can be water based.

If you have multiple level of such where it could split and form multiple peaks, there would be a valley where everything will meet. These are often covered with metal and may be treated with paint. You must inspect these parts for rust formation. It can only eat the metal parts and cause the formation of holes. Remove it with a wire brush and treat it again with paint.

Weathering and discoloration further adds to the beauty of the roof. You can invest on any pigmented finish that can withstand different elements to preserve its color for many years. Choose a finish that is also resistant to fire and some extreme weather conditions. You must check the requirements as well since it can erode the shakes and may harm the surrounding surfaces.

Proper ventilation and insulation must also be installed in the attic. This is definitely one of the key factors that may further extend its span. By having the inadequate ventilation, many parts of your attic may become rotten and insulation may deteriorate because of the moisture and heat that are accumulated in such areas. You can maximize efficiency by installing a proper insulation.

Without proper maintenance, your cedar shake roofing would only last for only ten years. If you only do the basic annual necessities that are required for it and perform some repairs, it would definitely last for a lifetime. A good rule of thumb often requires you to look after it especially after it rains. Take time to look at it once in a while since microorganisms can easily spread through it quickly.




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