subject: How To Maintain And Diagnose The Wood Shake Roof [print this page] Wood shake and wooden shingles are a popular type of roofing, and they have many benefits associated with them. However, wood shake and shingle roofs are also fairly easily damaged, and will require care and occasional maintenance in order to keep them in optimal working condition.
Here, we will detail some of the steps that go into maintaining a wood shake or shingle roof, although many of them will have to be handled by professionals. You can, however, do a few things to make the upkeep of your wood roof a little easier.
The most common source of damage to roofing is water, and having debris collect on your roof will in many cases allow it to retain water. This is especially true of organic debris like branches and leaves, and in areas of the world where rainfall is at least occasional, having debris on your roof can create problems.
Cleaning your roof of debris and clearing out the gutters once in a while is a good way to reduce the chances of your roof being damaged by water, although having a professional team do the cleaning occasionally will help you take care of tricky areas.
Wood shake and shingle roofing tends to accumulate mold and algae more easily than other types of roofing. Keeping your wooden roofing clear of mold and algae can be difficult, although a professional roof maintenance team can install zinc control strips to keep the problem at bay.
Flashings, which are the thin strips of metal that protect roofing from water damage around edges and seams, should be checked regularly for damage. If any flashings are damaged or missing, then they should be replaced to avoid future water damage. Caulking and sealant should also be checked to ensure that no water is able to seep into the roof.
If you have a chimney, checking the mortar for wear and having it tuck painted if it is damaged or worn down can help. You can also check open metal valleys for rust, and have them repaired. While most of the maintenance you yourself can do on your wooden shake roof consists of checking for and diagnosing problems, treatment will often have to come from professionals.
Attempting to repair a wood shingle roof can actually cause further damage, as they are broken relatively easy if stepped on the wrong way, so having a pro team can certainly help.
