QUESTIONS, ANSWERS & THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR CEDAR SHAKE ROOF
Nobody wants to spend their money on the roof. I am certainly no exception. I would much rather put that money aside for a new RV, boat, car, washer/dryer set of a thousand other things – anything besides the roof!

Unfortunately, I cannot afford to do that and neither can many of you. The simple economics are that once your roof is allowed to deteriorate beyond restoration process capabilities, you will spend from $275 to $350 per “square” (that’s roofer’s lingo for 100 sq. ft.) to replace it. At that rate the vast majority of today’s residential cedar shake roofs carry a price tag of from $8,000 to $15,000. Some are a bit less and many are a lot more. Under certain conditions, which are commonly found in the northwest, total deterioration can and does take place in less than ten years.

For a cost of $20 to $40 (it averages from $25-$35) per square every 5-10 years, your roof can not only look good, but last a lot longer than either one of us need to worry about.

WHAT CAUSES YOUR CEDAR SHAKE ROOF TO DETERIORATE?
It gets “OREGONIZED.” When wood is exposed to the effects of sunlight and moisture, its surface begins to change. This change is both physical and chemical, and is commonly called weathering. The color will change first. The initial change from reddish brown to silvery gray is the result of the ultraviolet rays from the sun. This usually happens fairly quickly – well within the first year. Gradually the roof will take on a darker gray color. This indicates that your roof is being colonized by microfungi. Your roof is steadily becoming “OREGONIZED.”

As the roof continues to age, the surface and sharp edges are eroded by abrasive particles carried by wind and water, and by continued exposure to heat and cold. Wood destroying organisms continue to slowly degrade the shingle’s surface and edges. The roof no longer looks new. Debris from trees may be accumulating in the valleys and between the shakes. After each rain, these areas will remain moist longer. Because of the moist conditions, other plants soon begin to grow, primarily lichens and mosses. Your roof is now “OREGONIZED” and its deterioration will rapidly accelerate.

Moss and fungus growing on your roof does double damage: (1) During a rain, it retards the

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