Cedar Shake Roof Maintenance Guide

Cedar shake roofs are beautiful and historically authentic for New England homes - but they require more active maintenance than any other common roofing material. Understanding the maintenance requirements before installation is essential; neglected cedar rarely achieves even 20 years, while well-maintained cedar can last 35-40 years.

Why Cedar Shake Needs Active Maintenance

Cedar is a natural wood product. In New England's humid climate, it faces:

• •**Moisture absorption:** Cedar absorbs and releases moisture with every rain event and humidity change, causing repeated expansion and contraction that eventually cracks the wood
• •**Biological growth:** New England's humidity and moderate temperatures are ideal for moss, algae, lichen, and fungi - all of which accelerate cedar deterioration
• •**UV degradation:** Without protective treatment, UV radiation breaks down the lignin in cedar that provides its natural preservative properties
• •**Debris accumulation:** Leaves, pine needles, and organic matter accumulate in valleys and at flashing transitions, holding moisture against the wood

Regular maintenance addresses all of these factors, dramatically extending the roof's service life.

The Cedar Shake Maintenance Schedule

Annually (Homeowner)

**Debris Removal (Fall)**

Clear all debris from valleys, gutters, and around penetrations after leaf fall each year. This is particularly important for cedar because debris accumulation is more damaging than on asphalt - organic matter breaks down and becomes a growing medium for moss.

**Gutter Cleaning**

Clean gutters spring and fall. Water backing up from clogged gutters is more damaging to cedar than to asphalt because cedar absorbs and holds that water.

**Visual Inspection**

From the ground with binoculars:

• •Missing, split, or curled shakes
• •Unusual dark green or gray coloration (moss or lichen)
• •Debris accumulation in valleys or at transitions
• •Any areas where shakes appear to be lifting

Every 5-7 Years (Professional Service)

**Professional Cleaning**

A qualified contractor soft-washes the cedar to remove:

• •Accumulated algae and biological growth
• •Environmental staining
• •Weathered surface oxidation

Never pressure wash cedar shakes. High-pressure water strips the wood surface and drives moisture deep into the shake, causing accelerated deterioration.

**Preservative and Fungicide Treatment**

After cleaning, the cedar is treated with a penetrating wood preservative that:

• •Protects against moisture absorption and UV degradation
• •Contains fungicide and algaecide to inhibit biological regrowth
• •Restores some of the natural oils that protect the wood

Products should be specifically formulated for cedar roofing - not general wood stains or sealers, which can seal moisture into the wood rather than allowing it to breathe.

**Individual Shake Replacement**

The cleaning and treatment visit should also include inspection and replacement of individual damaged shakes. Splitting, cracked, or severely worn shakes should be replaced before the treatment is applied.

What Happens Without Maintenance

If cedar shake maintenance is deferred:

**Years 1-7:** Cedar weathers to silver-gray. Minor moss begins on north-facing slopes. No functional damage yet.

**Years 8-15:** Moss becomes established and holds moisture against shake surfaces. Algae staining becomes widespread. UV degradation begins to fragment shake edges.

**Years 15-25:** Moss rhizoids penetrate shake surfaces, lifting granules. Cracks and splits appear. Some individual shake failure. Water begins to work through the most degraded areas.

**Years 25+:** Without treatment, most cedar shake roofs in Massachusetts are approaching systemic failure. The cost of professional treatment at this point is high, and many shakes may be beyond salvage.

The same roof, with professional maintenance every 5-7 years, could be looking at 35+ years of service life.

When Individual Shakes Need Replacement

Replace individual shakes when you observe:

• •Through-cracks (splits that penetrate the full thickness)
• •Missing shakes (gaps in the surface)
• •Shakes that have curled beyond a 1-inch offset from the plane of the roof
• •Heavily moss-infiltrated shakes where the surface is pitted and granule-damaged

Individual shake replacement is a normal part of cedar maintenance. A small number of replacement shakes each maintenance cycle is expected and much more economical than addressing widespread failure.

The Maintenance Cost Reality

A realistic cedar maintenance budget for a 2,000 sq ft Massachusetts home:

• •Professional cleaning and treatment every 6 years: $2,500-$4,500
• •Individual shake repairs at each treatment: $500-$1,500
• •Annual debris removal (professional or DIY): $0-$500/year

Over a 30-year period, maintenance costs add $15,000-$25,000 to the total lifecycle cost of a cedar roof. This is a significant additional investment compared to asphalt, and should be factored into the upfront decision.

Roofing Doctors provides cedar shake inspection, cleaning, treatment, and repair services for Massachusetts and Rhode Island homeowners.