Your roof is a big part of your home, so it’s only natural that you want to put the best shingles on that you can. Some types of shingles like your average asphalt ones, for instance, will protect your home but aren’t that appealing to the eye.
Wood shake shingles, on the other hand, are able to provide that rare combination of beauty and functionality that many homeowners are looking for. If you’re thinking about possibly getting a wood shake roof, let’s go over everything you need to know before you give your roof a new look. From cedar shake replacement costs to alternative roofing materials, here is everything you need to know.
What are Wood Shakes?
Wood shakes are shingles that are cut from cedar or some other type of wood which is suitable for performing as a shingle. Although there are many different types of modern shingles available, including solar panel shingles, there are still a large number of homeowners who prefer the look and feel of a classic, rustic wood shake shingles.
There’s an aesthetic quality to wood shake shingles that just can’t be matched, especially for homes and buildings with more traditional styles of architecture. There’s also the fact that well-laid wood shake shingle roof will last you anywhere from 20 to 40 years if you take care of it properly.
How to Maintain a Wood Shake Roof
There are many things homeowners should know when it comes to how to maintain a wood shake shingle roof. Although your shingles might have a special coating on them to protect from moisture, lingering moisture is still going to be the number one thing you have to watch out for with a wood shake shingle roof. Lingering moisture can cause your roof to break down fast, due to things like fungi, mold, and mildew being able to take root within it.
Because of this, keeping your roof completely clear of any debris is essential to helping it last a long time. Pine needles, leaves, and anything else that holds moisture needs to be removed as soon as possible. You’ll also need to trim any trees that are shading your roof, as they will prevent it from drying out as quickly as it can. Keeping your gutters clean will serve the same purpose, and is also just as important.
Alternative Roofing Types
In addition to wood shakes, you can also have your roof fitted with vinyl shakes, asphalt shakes, hybrid cedar shakes, and more. Vinyl cedar shakes are cheaper but easier to maintain than authentic wood. Asphalt is the most durable and cost-effective, but doesn’t offer much in the way of style besides black.
Hybrid cedar shakes made with vinyl but styled to look like cedar or another type of wood offer a compromise between the two types of shingles. You get the durability and ease of maintenance, along with the beautiful aesthetics.
Choosing the best roof for your home at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide which type of roof is going to be the best fit for your home. It’s important to compare all types of roofing materials. Cedar shake shingles vs asphalt shingles, and so on. Whether you prioritize style, durability, ease of maintenance, cost, or some other factor, you should weigh all of these variables before ultimately deciding which roof is the best for you home. Life expectancy should be one of your top priorities when it comes to your roof. When it comes to cedar shake roof life expectancy, it is clearly a step above the rest.
