What is the longest lasting type of cedar roofing, cedar shake or shingle? What are the secrets for making a cedar roof last longer?
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Cedar shakes last longer than shingles because they are split, not cut. Apart from the quality of the wood used, the thing that most affects the life span of cedar roofs is their ability to dry out. Modern codes (at least here in Canada) now specify using underlayment between each course to prevent the infiltration of blowing snow. This traps moisture and leads to premature failure. Around here people used to count on a well built shake roof lasting 40 years. Now some give up at 12. Considering that Vancouver Island probably has more cedar than just about anywhere, its telling that cedar roofs have just about disappeared in new construction.
I would imagine that they would work better in a dryer climate, but then you have to consider they are inflammable.
Is it better to install without the underlayment? I am here in Vancouver and my cedar shingle roof is about 17 years old...I can probably get another 3 years out of it. The ends are rotting. I had a restoration done about 5 years ago where they pressure wash and apply a preservative to it and also replace the caps. I wouldn't do that again...I think it took a few years off the life.
Maybe it's a personal bias, but I don't think cedar roofs are a good idea any more no matter how they are installed. Except for looks, I can't think of any advantage they might have over composites or metal. Given that in our climate the large majority of problems facing houses are rain related, and that the first line of defense is the roof, it doesn't seem prudent to use a material with an uncertain lifespan.
During this current oil fueled building boom in Alberta, some spark plug thought it would be a good idea to use treated pine instead of cedar shingles. Most new Calgary subdivisions called for them in their building schemes. Turned out they had a 2% failure rate. I never heard if it was two roofs in a hundred that leaked, or two out of every hundred shingles.
Well, you already know now that pressure washing will notmake it last longer!
A humid climate like yours is not an ideal place for cedar roofs since they do need to dry. They were avoided like the plaque when I was living in Florida for that reason, but did well in Texas and Colorado. one I did here in Maine in '91 is starting to showits age already.
The more important factor isthe reputation, experience and quality of work that the installer does rather than whether you use shakes or shingles. He needs an instinct for culling the poor grain out and using it for kindling.
One problem is that there is a lot more poor grain lately. I have replace cedarroofs that were 40-50 years old. I doubt any roof I install today will last that long though. The grain is just not that tight.
If I were you, and wanted cedar instead of archy grade composition shingles, I would go with red cedaar perfections or yellow cedar. I would fing the best roofer there with experience in cedar, and I would spec cedar breather under the cedars.
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The last time I was in Florida was after the hurricane. From what I saw, the wood roofs survived a lot better than tile or asphalt. But they had at least an 8" pitch. Maybe that had something to do with it. Very surprised to see wood used at all there.Best to you and yours, Chris.
Some say I know too much? Can you ever?
Certainly wood will handle the wind.steep pitch lets water run off faster so that helps
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
What is cedar breather?
http://www.benjaminobdyke.com/html/products/cedar.html
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Personally i love cedar shake/shingle roofs. Especially on older homes, ie 1700 - 1800 era. did a roof in NY about 15 yrs ago, west. red cedar #1 perfections on skip sheating, top coated with a Sikkens product (dont remember which protectant it was) and it still looks and works as good as new. Important details, esp. nailing pattern then you wont get any cupping/splitting, etc. Definately do not power wash one of these roofs, dramatically reduce the life expectancy. Nowadays i dont ship sheath, I/W membrane the deck, cedar breather and the shingles. Very happy customers.