Problems Common in Cedar Roofs and How to Fix Them

Cedar roofs, a popular choice among homeowners because of their natural beauty and durability, consists of shingles and shakes. Cedar shakes are made of precut roofing patch that resemble tiles; these are arranged sideways along the roof surface. We are going to tell you how to handle cedar roof repair in this brief.

The main problems on cedar roofs are moss on the shingles and some damage to shakes. In order to start working on cedar roof repairs, some equipment is needed; a good long, ladder, metal brush, nails, hammer, metal stripping and a pry bar. Moss on shingles causes drastic damage to the roof as a whole, rapidly diminishing the roof lifespan. The first step is to remove the offending moss; this is done by scrubbing the moss off using a metal brush or scraper.

Once the moss is scrubbed off, a strip of zinc or copper should be nailed to the affected area. A chemical reaction between the strips of metal and the surface of the roof prevent any further moss growth. Treated cedar shingles do not have a moss problem because they are pretreated to prevent moss growth once installed.

Minor cedar roof repairs may need to be done on cedar shakes. Cedar shakes tend to bend at the borders over time. Curled shakes are a minor problem and do not require replacement. Using a pry-bar, exert some pressure to help loosen the damaged shake; remove the nails holding the damaged shake down, and extract it from the roof surface.

Hammer down on the borders to reshape the shake to its previous form and return it. In cases where the shake is too badly curved, replacement may be the only option. It is a little more difficult to replace a severely damaged shake. New cedar shakes will need to be purchased from the nearest hardware store. Removal of the damaged shake should be done in the same way as previously described; caution is advised in order not to disturb surrounding shakes.

The new shake then needs to be nailed to the underlying shingles. The first nail should be driven in at the top of the shake with the help of a wooden block; then fix another nail at the bottom of the shake. This process should be undertaken with lots of care so as not to pound any of the surrounding shakes. Light force should be used; cedar roof repairs should never be done with a hammer because the wood would split, permanently damaging the roof. Generously spray fungicide and roofing preservative over the entire roof to prolong roof life and reduce maintenance needs.