Shake Roof Maintenance Tips

Shake roofs are usually made from the split logs of the western red cedar while other wood species like redwood and cypress are used occasionally. Western red cedar is the wood of choice because of its outstanding properties like decay resistance, impenetrability to fluids, and dimensional stability, to name a few.

But like all wood products, shake roofs are also subject to wear and tear brought by exposure to the natural elements. Good housekeeping is then necessary to prolong the life of the roof as well as to maintain its beauty.

Remove all debris including leaf litter, pine needles, and bird droppings on a regular basis especially before the wet or rainy season begins. Said debris is usually located between the shingles and the shakes so special attention must be given on these areas.

The importance of doing so cannot be overemphasized because accumulated debris can delay shedding of water while also retaining high levels of moisture on which wood-destroying fungi thrive on. These hasten the wear and tear of the shake roof by a factor of 2, in a manner of speaking.

Drying the shake roof is also important. In this regard, any and all overhanging branches that shade the shake rook should be removed as soon as possible for two reasons.

• The shade delays the drying of the surface of the roof, which means the moisture accumulates on the lower layers. Insufficient air flow also slows down the drying process.

• The branches touching the roof's surface exert a rubbing action that will eventually loosen the shakes' fasteners or make sweeping grooves on their surfaces.

Both hasten the shakes' deterioration. Look for excessive growth of mosses and lichens on the shake roof as these are indications that it is not drying as well as it should be. These organisms are proof that wood-rotting organisms like fungi are making their homes in your roof.

Clean the shake roof using chemical treatments and cleaning solutions including bleach. These can be used to remove dirt including stains, debris and growths of mildew, mold and fungi, among other wood-rotting organisms. Additives (i.e., ultraviolet absorbers and pigments) may also be added to these solutions to delay the wear and tear caused by sunlight.

Homeowners can perform all of these maintenance procedures for shake roofs. But experts suggest hiring professionals for the job mainly because of safety reasons although the high efficacy rate that can be achieved by professionals is also a significant factor in the recommendation.