Cedar Shake Siding Care And Maintenance

Cedar has natural antibacterial and anti fungal properties allowing you to leave the wood untreated without worry of excess warping rotting and cracking.

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. Learning how to care for cedar shingles whether they are installed as siding or roofing is not particularly difficult. A limited number of free copies of this publication are available to the. Older siding should be cleaned and allowed to dry thoroughly enough that it can absorb sprinkled water.

Installation care and maintenance of wood shake and shingle siding. 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. 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.

A mild non phosphate detergent is recommended. Dusty climates will require more frequent washing. Cedar contains natural oils and acids to protect the wood from insects and the weather so although there are. Department of agriculture forest service forest products labora tory.

A shake roof can last about 30 years with the right wood shake roof maintenance. But a little maintenance can keep them looking great and extend their life even further. It does weather though changing color throughout time offering a much more rugged look than stained cedar siding offers. Maintaining this kind of roof takes a lot of work and needs to be done regularly to avoid faster deterioration.

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. Ideally complete cedar shingle roof maintenance should be performed every 2 to 4 years. Your climate and landscape will determine how often these processes are required. Power wash every two to four years.

Cedar shake roof maintenance. Before you give in and paint your shingles realize that cedar shingles can last decades with virtually no maintenance. This will avoid problems such as mold mildew rot and water damage. 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.

General technical report fpl gtr 202. Cedar siding maintenance must be a regular task so that you can avoid permanent damage to your home s exterior. Cedar is an excellent choice for appearance ease of maintenance and longevity.