Cedar Shake Siding Care And Maintenance

It does weather though changing color throughout time offering a much more rugged look than stained cedar siding offers.

Cedar shake siding care and maintenance.

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. Cedar siding maintenance must be a regular task so that you can avoid permanent damage to your home s exterior. A mild non phosphate detergent is recommended. Cedar shake roof maintenance.

Cedar contains natural oils and acids to protect the wood from insects and the weather so although there are. This will avoid problems such as mold mildew rot and water damage. Your climate and landscape will determine how often these processes are required. Department of agriculture forest service forest products labora tory.

A limited number of free copies of this publication are available to the. 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.

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. Installation care and maintenance of wood shake and shingle siding. Many siding pros recommend power washing. 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 is an excellent choice for appearance ease of maintenance and longevity. Maintaining this kind of roof takes a lot of work and needs to be done regularly to avoid faster deterioration. Before you give in and paint your shingles realize that cedar shingles can last decades with virtually no maintenance. 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 has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping rotting and cracking. Learning how to care for cedar shingles whether they are installed as siding or roofing is not particularly difficult. Step 1 clean. Older siding should be cleaned and allowed to dry thoroughly enough that it can absorb sprinkled water.

Coating the cedar shingles with a water resistant product helps to preserve the wood against moisture damage. Ideally complete cedar shingle roof maintenance should be performed every 2 to 4 years. A shake roof can last about 30 years with the right wood shake roof maintenance.