Protecting Your Investment: Cedar Shake Roof Maintenance in Snohomish County’s Lush Forest Environment
Snohomish County is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including lush forests and serene lakes, with sixty-eight percent of the county land area being forest land. This beautiful forest environment creates a unique setting for homes with natural cedar shake roofing, but it also presents specific maintenance challenges that homeowners must address to preserve their investment.
Understanding Cedar Shake Roofing in Forest Environments
Cedar shakes, made from natural wood, provide a distinct look that blends seamlessly with nature and are eco-friendly, highly insulating, and resistant to harsh weather when maintained properly. They are commonly crafted from Western Red Cedar, which is prized for its natural resistance to decay, insects, and harsh weather conditions. However, cedar is also vulnerable to moisture, UV rays, and pests, which can compromise its durability if not properly maintained.
Snohomish County enjoys a moderate year-round climate, with average temperatures ranging from about 75°F in July to about 33°F in January. While this climate is generally favorable, the county’s forest environment creates specific challenges including increased moisture retention, debris accumulation, and limited sunlight exposure that can affect cedar shake roofs.
Essential Maintenance Practices for Forest Environments
Regular Debris Removal
Wood shingle roof maintenance requires you to remove all overhanging branches and all the leaves, pine needles, and sticks from your cedar wood roof as part of your regular shake roof maintenance, as debris retains moisture that breeds wood-destroying fungus that weakens the shingles. Removing debris like leaves and branches prevents moisture from accumulating, which can lead to rot.
Professional Cleaning
Proper wood shake roof maintenance must include a professional power wash cleaning every few years, as power washing will remove moss, debris, lichens, and weaker wood, improving your roof’s appearance and helping to maintain the strength and integrity of the roof. However, avoid power washing, as it can damage the wood fibers, and instead use a garden hose with mild water pressure and a mix of water and mild bleach solution.
Protective Treatments
Cedar shingle maintenance must include protective treatments every one to three years, and to protect and preserve your roof, professionally apply water and fire repellents, fungicides, and algaecides to the shingles. For shakes and shingles, a rate of 1 gallon per 100 square feet has been reported to provide up to five years of protection in the Pacific Northwest.
Addressing Forest-Specific Challenges
Managing Overhanging Vegetation
Overhanging branches contribute to shade, trapping moisture, which leads to mold growth and increases the risk of damage from falling limbs. Tree branches can block the sun and provide areas in your roof that promote moss, fungal, and mould growth, and can also accidentally break out during a storm and damage the cedar shakes.
Moisture Control
Moisture retention in cedar shakes can create an ideal environment for mold and mildew to thrive, and without proper maintenance, these organisms can cause wood rot and compromise the integrity of the roof. Gutters on a roof move water away from your house so that the moisture won’t harm the roof or foundation, and your roof’s integrity depends on cleaning your gutters as part of your regular cedar roof maintenance.
Professional Maintenance and Inspection
Schedule periodic inspections of your cedar shake roof, ideally twice a year. It is vital to carefully inspect for cracks as part of cedar shingle roof maintenance, as cracks can occur because wood naturally expands and contracts from moisture exposure and temperature fluctuations, and if you begin to notice the cracks or splits growing, you need to call a professional.
When seeking professional roofing services in the region, working with an experienced Roofer Snohomish County, WA ensures that your cedar shake roof receives proper care tailored to the local forest environment. Sea Renovation, located in Seattle and serving the broader Snohomish County area, brings over a decade of expertise in construction and remodeling, including roofing services that understand the unique challenges of maintaining natural wood roofing in forest environments.
Long-term Benefits of Proper Maintenance
Cedar shake roofs can last 30-40 years with proper care, and a well-maintained cedar shake roof can save homeowners thousands in replacement costs. Without any intervention or maintenance, the cedar shakes can stay functional for an average of 7 to 15 years, but proper care and maintenance can extend the lifespan of the wood roofs for 30 years or more.
The cost of cedar shake roof maintenance varies depending on the location, roof style, extent of damage, and the shake’s quality, with contractors typically charging $750 to repair a wood shake roof and between $0.21 and $0.34 per square foot to clean a cedar shake roof, but replacing a cedar shake roof can cost $600 to $670 per square or between $18,000 and $20,000 for a 3,000-square foot shake roof.
Conclusion
Maintaining a cedar shake roof in Snohomish County’s forest environment requires a proactive approach that addresses the unique challenges posed by the natural surroundings. Complete cedar shake roof maintenance needs to be performed at least every 2-4 years. By implementing regular debris removal, professional cleaning, protective treatments, and working with experienced local contractors who understand the specific needs of natural wood roofing in forested areas, homeowners can preserve the beauty and functionality of their cedar shake roofs for decades to come.
The investment in proper maintenance not only protects your home but also maintains the aesthetic harmony between your residence and Snohomish County’s magnificent forest landscape, ensuring that your cedar shake roof continues to complement the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest for years to come.