Cedar Shake Siding Care And Maintenance

These natural elements slowly erode the finishes and as a result all finishes applied to cedar require regular cleaning and maintenance to perform.

Cedar shake siding care and maintenance.

Step 1 clean. Cedar maintenance you don t have to do much to cedar shingle siding if you prefer its weathered gray look other than clean and coat it with a clear water resistant preservative and inspect it for rot and damage periodically. Cedar shake roof maintenance. Coating the cedar shingles with a water resistant product helps to preserve the wood against moisture damage.

It does weather though changing color throughout time offering a much more rugged look than stained cedar siding offers. Learning how to care for cedar shingles whether they are installed as siding or roofing is not particularly difficult. Power wash every two to four years. General technical report fpl gtr 202.

But a little maintenance can keep them looking great and extend their life even further. Your climate and landscape will determine how often these processes are required. Cedar is an excellent choice for appearance ease of maintenance and longevity. Dusty climates will require more frequent washing.

A shake roof can last about 30 years with the right wood shake roof maintenance. A mild non phosphate detergent is recommended. Department of agriculture forest service forest products labora tory. Ideally complete cedar shingle roof maintenance should be performed every 2 to 4 years.

The cedar shake shingle bureau a nonprofit trade organization warns that an experienced washer should assess a cedar siding job individually since high pressure water jets can damage wood. The surfaces of finished western red cedar decks siding and trim boards exposed outdoors inevitably become dirty and can also be discolored by mildew algae and moss. Cedar siding maintenance must be a regular task so that you can avoid permanent damage to your home s exterior. While this material is beautiful long lasting and tough like all other types of wood you must be up to date with the care and cleaning of cedar siding.

Cedar contains natural oils and acids to protect the wood from insects and the weather so although there are. Cedar has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping rotting and cracking. Before you give in and paint your shingles realize that cedar shingles can last decades with virtually no maintenance. Maintaining this kind of roof takes a lot of work and needs to be done regularly to avoid faster deterioration.

A limited number of free copies of this publication are available to the. Installation care and maintenance of wood shake and shingle siding. Many siding pros recommend power washing.