When you look at your home, the roof is one of the first aspects you notice, and the cedar shake roof is among the most popular roofing materials because of its overall attractiveness and durability. But in order to preserve your cedar shingle roof’s beauty, it’s important to make sure your roof and shingles are properly maintained. However, many homeowners and even professionals make repair mistakes that can easily be avoided. These common cedar roof repair mistakes can even cause larger and costlier problems later.
Common Shingle Roofing Repair Mistakes
While climbing on your roof may seem like a quick and cost-effective solution to fixing your cedar shingles, this material is difficult to work with, and making these common roofing mistakes will inevitably shorten the lifespan of your roof and lead to costly fixes.
Repairing damaged shingles: Storms and other inclement weather can be hard on your roof, causing shingles to become damaged or displaced. While it may seem simple to just nail these shingles back down if they still look whole, damaged shingles won’t properly protect your home from moisture intrusion or the elements.
Nailing cupped or curled shingles: Wood, naturally, will expand and contract over its lifespan, and many homeowners will try to correct this warping by nailing the shingles down. By adding extra nails to the cedar shingles, you may cause extra splitting or cracking, which will allow moisture to enter your home. If the curling is causing damage, it’s better to just replace the shingle rather than try fixing it.
Number of nails: The number of nails needed per shingle largely depends on your home’s geographic location and the wind force of that area. By using the correct number, you can prevent leaks and shingles from being blown off the roof.
Improper underlay: Underlay is the layer underneath your shingles that protects against weather buildup. While cedar shingles are great at protecting your home against the elements, they can’t block out water or snow buildup. Experienced roofers will install the proper underlay based on your roof’s condition and slope as well as install a waterproof membrane along the eaves and shields to protect chimneys and pipe flanges.
Patching with inappropriate materials: Many try fixing a leaking roof with roofing caulk or tar, which shouldn’t be used on a cedar roof because these materials won’t stick. These materials also have a much shorter lifespan than a properly fixed roof. Asphalt cement is ideal to create seals.
Coating cedar shingles: Applying a roof sealant seems like a simple way to extend the lifespan of a cedar roof, but it actually will cause more damage. Some cedar roof treatments can bring out the wood’s natural coloring or improve moisture resistance. However, wood shingles need to breathe, and inappropriate sealers will prevent this, shortening the shingle’s lifespan.
Why to Hire a Professional Roofer
Even if you’re a competent fixer at home, roofing is an expertise that is best left to professionals. Professional roofers have the knowledge and experience to fix and maintain your roof properly — if you repair your cedar shingles incorrectly, you may have a more expensive repair project later. Professionals are also trained and practiced with safety measures while working on roofs. Lastly, you may inadvertently void any warranty your roof has if you damage it while working.
Call Cedar Roof Coatings Today
If you’re in Fairfield County, CT or Westchester County, NY, then trust Cedar Roof Coatings to help you fix and maintain your beautiful cedar roof. We’re a family-owned company specializing in the preservation, restoration and maintenance of cedar roofs, and you can guarantee you’ll receive the best and most trustworthy service and advice when working with us. Get started today by calling us today at 203.847.5740 or completing our online contact form.