Wood shakes for roofs are often treated with a fire retardant chemical. I’ve heard it wears away over time. Are there any products that a homeowner or roofing contractor can use on an exisiting roof to maintain its fire resistance?
Thanks
James Kidd
Replies
Some remote locations in heavily wooded areas are adding sprinkler systems on the roof to keep the roof wet in the event of a fire. Metal and cementous roofing materials are the best alternatives for wood replacement in my mind but I don't know of anything that significantly improves the fire resistance of wood shakes themselves over the long haul.
They do look real nice... for kindling that is. :-)> Hope somebody else can point us both to something that actually works over the long haul.
Kevin Halliburton
"I believe that architecture is a pragmatic art. To become art it must be built on a foundation of necessity." - I.M. Pei -
Thanks for all of your thoughtful responses.
Jim"I want a good clean fight. No head butts, no rabbit punches, and no hitting below the belt. Break when I say break, and protect yourself at all times."
Did a yahoo search and came up with this site. Probably are others.
http://www.natfire.com/products.htm
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Marv
You might check with a big insurance comapny.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Don't know about shakes for sure but the FR-S fire coatings** on plywood do a good job of preservation also. Have a stack of FR-S plywood in the back since 1987 that gets wet every year , does not look like any rot or fire retardant dispersion yet. Have no idea of the chemicals used for shingles, too scared to use them under the fir trees.
**most are "Proprietary Dispersion of Blended Flame-Retardants is based on Inorganic ammonium phosphates" per MSDS sheets.
There are a couple of products that are listed for coating shingles:
http://www.flameseal.com/shngdesc.htm
"WT is an exterior clear fire retardant specially designed for wood and cedar shingles. Product may be sprayed, brushed or rolled. However, spraying is recommended because of better penetration and coverage."
http://www.asi-stop.com/mnfirechem/fireprod.htm#14
I assume there are more if you do a search on "fire retardant shingle" or "fire retardant paint shingle" or something similar
There are several fire retardant paints, but I doubt that those would give the kind of "nautral shingle" appearance that most homeowners would want.
I know its no answer but the house I live in has had this wood shingle roof on it for a good fifty years or longer with two fireplace chims and never a roof fire so.....
I also don't believe there is any product that's last more than a few years exposed to harsh weather......and who's gonna go paint a roof with fire resistant chemical every few years?
Ya can't even find a HO to wash the exterior of windows more than once a year if that..and thats right in your face.
Sorry for a bad answer
BE an Aries into fire I spose
andy
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