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A house wouldn’t be complete if there’s no roof. In fact, the roof of a house is the first thing that most visitors and passers-by look at since it takes up a good amount of space. Roofs aren’t just aesthetic in nature, but they also have some very important functions, especially in keeping rainwater, snow, and strong winds away from your house’s interiors.
For centuries, most houses have been using the same material for different parts of the world, but as technology evolved, so did the roofing industry. As of this moment, there are several different roofing materials that you can choose in the market. But for now, we’ll be looking at one of the more classical and widely used roofing material that was available for centuries and has stood the test of time; cedar shakes and shingles.
In most cases, the first thing that homeowners look for when choosing roofing materials is the lifespan and the durability of the roofing material, especially when it’s exposed to rainwater, snow, and strong winds.
We’ll be discussing how long will a cedar shake roof last when exposed to certain factors. But before we do that, we’ll first discuss what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a cedar shake roof.
Cedar roofing has been around for centuries and is one of the most highly sought-after wooden roofing materials in the market. Obviously, cedar roofing is made out of cedarwood, especially from the California Redwood tree in the United States and the North American region.
If you’re looking for roofing that has a rustic and classical feel, then cedar shingles are a good choice since it can easily blend in with any architectural style.
When a cedar roof is installed properly and is also maintained well through the years, it is likely to reach a lifespan of up to 30 years if the conditions are just right. To prevent deterioration, then it’s best to perform maintenance every 2 to 4 years if you want to maximize the life expectancy of your roof.
Compared to other wooden shingles in the market and other building materials, cedar doesn’t just deteriorate because of age and there are several external factors that can cause its deterioration. Cedar is known for being weather-resistant, but at some point, it will deteriorate. One of the most common reasons why cedar roofing will deteriorate is in the form of moisture which can greatly affect the life expectancy and state of cedar shakes. If you’re leaving your cedar shakes unchecked and dirty, then this can easily be a breeding ground for molds, mildews, lichen, algae, and mosses. These organic growths can accelerate rotting by absorbing more moisture in the process. In most cases, cedar shakes and shingles that are exposed to these organic growths can easily warm, break, shrink, and get weaker over time. It’s best to keep an eye out for any type of organic growth on your roof and to contact roofing contractors if ever that’s the case.
Compared to other wooden shakes, metal roofing, and asphalt shingles, cedar shakes have a hefty price with the highest quality costing you $14 for every square foot and the standard quality costing you $7.50. You also have to take into account the cost of labor and installation for this type of roofing.
Moreover, you will also have to weigh-in on the cost of maintenance from professional roofing specialists, especially when keeping mosses, algae, and mold off the main structure of your roof.
Cedar shingles are the perfect alternative to other wooden shingles since it has the best life expectancy out of any wood roofing. Sure, it might take a lot of time and effort to regularly maintain this roof, but it will pay off in the long-run when you can save money that would have gone to roof replacement and repair.
Ultimately, there are several factors that you have to take into account and the location, climate, and levels of precipitation on your area will play a major role in the life expectancy of cedar shake roofs. But on average, it will take around 30 years. If you are looking to extend the life on your cedar shake roofing, getting the help of a skilled roofing contractor will be sure to optimize your roofing Alexandria VA.
