Did you know you can always find someone who will wash your cedar roof no matter what? That's good news right?! Wrong. This article is going to cover the do's and don'ts when it comes to cleaning your cedar roof. This information alone could save you thousands of dollars and/or potentially your entire roof.

Where to start.

First of all if anyone is going to be handling your magnificent cedar roof it better be a professional. A professional is one who can properly assess its condition and do the job right. Remember how we said you can always find someone to do the job? We have been working on cedar roofs for over 30 years. Jobs we say no to someone somewhere will say yes. Some roofs deserve a no if they are too old or decayed and you must understand why. If your cedar roof is in poor condition but is scheduled to be washed expect the wash to do more harm than good. If the cedar shingles/shakes can't bear the washing process from their poor condition and/or old age it will be severly damaged. In that case we would say no to washing it and would suggest leaving it and replacing it in the near future. It's not fun paying for something that ends in disaster. To avoid throwing money down the drain only to grab for more shortly after we put together this article to help you, the homeowner.

What condition is your cedar roof in?

Assuming for example your cedar roof is about 19 years old with untreated shakes on it. You most likely will not benefit from a power wash service. Around that age and beyond untreated shakes/shingles become more brittle. Treated shakes/shingles get a few more years added on being what they are. When your cedar roof is in the range of 13-18 years old untreated it could benefit from a power wash. If it is younger than 13 years old it would be a good idea to wash to add more years to it. Organics like moss, lichen, and more like to hang out and munch on your cedar roof. Getting them off with minimal wood loss adds more time to your roofs life expectancy. Think of it like plaque on a tooth. We recommend washing your cedar roof around every 5 years to help maximize it's life expectancy.

Why repairs are always important.

The purpose of all the wood on your roof is to protect the felt. The felt underneath is sensitive to the elements and UV rays. When a shake or shingle has a hole in it or missing entirely the felt is left exposed. Once the felt has weathered away you're at risk for leaks. Once you have a leak water will potentially cause some undesirable damage to your home. It's a great time to do both a wash and repairs at the same time.

Why equipment matters.

As a homeowner this should be one of the most important things to know. Equipment matters drastically when it comes to cleaning your cedar roof of organics. When you use a standard power washer that can be found at home depot to wash a roof that's trouble. Why? Because these pressure washers have low volume from the wand and have high pressure. That ratio will remove between remove between 5-8 times the amount of wood from your roof than specialized equipment. Greater wood loss means less lifetime for your cedar roof. Specialized equipment should result in high volume and low pressure. That is the ratio for a gentler wash that is effective and is the least damaging. Our specialized equipment could power wash you without breaking your skin unlike a standard power washer. Ask what kind of equipment will be used to wash your cedar roof and rely on this information to know what to expect.

The Do's and Don'ts of Cedar Roof Cleaning

Alright now in conclusion let's summarize the finer points into a Do's and Don'ts list as promised.

Do

• Properly assess your cedar roofs condition by a professional
• Remove organics off your roof when they accumulate for added life expectancy
• Repair rotten, damaged, or missing shingles/shakes for added life expectancy
• Ask the professional what kind of equipment they use for the washing process

Do Not

• Wash your roof without a proper professional assessment
• Leave organics in place for years unless you want to shorten the life expectancy
• Have missing or damaged shingles/shakes on your roof especially after a wash
• Hire someone without asking what kind of equipment they use
• Use chemicals to removed organics from your roof ever (water and equipment is all you need)
• Do not hire someone who would say yes no matter the condition of your cedar roof