Wood roofs are not as popular as asphalt roofs, but they undoubtedly add immense curb appeal to any home. One of the most visually appealing roof products on the market is wood shakes. These hand-split wood roofs give your home a rustic simplicity that is sure to impress your friends and neighbors. This article examines some important aspects concerning the care of these beautiful roofs.
Zinc
A key issue regarding the care of wood shake roofs is preventing moss from infesting the shakes. These organisms are harmful to wood and cause the shakes to deteriorate over time, which will create leaks. To prevent this from happening, it's a good idea to place strips made of zinc at strategic points on the roof; zinc will kill moss, as well as other organisms such as algae and lichens.
Install the strips at the roof ridge and along any hips. When it rains, the rainwater will wash over the strips and carry a small amount of zinc with it as it runs down the roof. This will kill any moss growing on the shakes.
Preservative
To help protect your wood shake roof from damaging organisms and the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun, consider coating it with a chemical preservative. Experts say that this treatment can extend the lifespan of your wood shakes. The preservative needs to be reapplied every three to five years.
Washing
If moss and other organisms manage to gain a foothold on the roof despite your preventative efforts, then it's time to wash them off with a cleaning agent. Although it's possible to make your own cleaning solution, it's usually best to purchase a cleaner made especially for this purpose at a local home improvement store. You can wash the roof yourself if you feel comfortable getting on the roof in these circumstances. If you decide to go this route, use a safety harness and make sure that you wear appropriate shoes that grip the wood shakes firmly. Apply the cleaner to the shakes and then wash the roof with a garden hose.
Another option is to use a power washer to clean the roof, but this is not really a job for the average homeowner. If not done properly, power washing can actually harm your wood shakes and decrease their lifespan. For this reason, it's best to leave power washing to the professionals.
For more information about the care of wood shake roofs, contact a roofing contractor like Art Construction OF NW FL LLC.
One day when we were all sitting in our living room, I thought I felt a drop of water fall onto my arm. At first, I figured it was my imagination, but when the second one fell, I knew we had an issue. Although it wasn't raining that day, it had rained the day before, so I started looking for the source of the problem. After looking in my attic, I could tell what the problem was, and I knew I had to fix it. I started looking for ways to stop the water immediately, but it just wasn't working for me. Fortunately, roofers came out, fixed the problem, and showed me what I needed to do to clean up the mess. Read more on this blog.