Cedar Shake Siding Maintenance
There are many different types of siding that one can choose from when looking through options for their home. From vinyl, to fiber cement, stone, clay, and more, there are definitely no shortage of options. Cedar shake siding is a type of natural wood siding that is popular with those who prefer a wood aesthetic.
Cedar shake siding is one of the most beautiful types of siding, but it does come with a lot of downsides as well. In case you’re looking for some new siding and wondering if cedar shake siding is right for you, let’s take a look at everything that goes into maintaining this type of siding, as well as what a better alternative might be.
Environmental Factors
As part of a dedicated cedar shake siding maintenance routine you'll want to inspect about every 6 months for a handful of different deteriorating and harmful factors to your siding. Cracking is one of the most common problems that cedar shake siding tends to have.
Cracking is caused by UV rays constantly beating down on your wood, drying it out, and causing it to gradually split apart as a result. Once your cedar shake shingles start to crack, they are more vulnerable to things like moisture intrusion and other dangers. If you see cracks occurring, you can fill them in and repair the cedar siding with clear silicone caulk or wood putty.
Warping is another thing you have to watch out for during cedar siding care. Moisture exposure causes the cedar shake boards to curl to the point where the nails pop out. If your boards are warped this severely, they’ll likely need to be replaced.
Rotting happens when moisture gets behind the board or inside it and softens it to mush from the inside out. Rotted boards can be hard to detect, but you’ll usually see some small spots of rot on the board. If you detect rotting, replace the boards as soon as possible.
Mold is another issue commonly faced by real cedar shake wood siding. Mold grows in specific conditions like damp and darkness. Constant precipitation is usually a precursor to mold and it can appear in a thin gray or green film on the surface of your shakes. Mold can be cleaned off the surface and you can avoid siding repair as long as you catch it early.
Animals and Insects
Another type of danger to your wood siding to watch out for is pests. Insects and birds can wreak havoc on your siding and cost you money. Some typical pests to watch out for are termites. These worm-like creatures dig their way into the wood and feed on it.
Signs of termites to watch out for are discarded wings and mud tubes. Woodpeckers and other pecking birds can also signal that there are insects in your siding by pecking on it. If you think there are termites in your siding, you need to contact an exterminator immediately.
Carpenter ants are another type of pests that will burrow into your cedar shake siding and cause massive damage if left unchecked. By applying cedar oil regularly, you can help prevent this issue. These ants cause damage similar to termites so inspect for holes in your siding during cedar shingle siding maintenance.
Caring for Your Siding
Real cedar shake siding needs regular maintenance to avoid damage, that includes cleaning and applying protective treatments to the siding. You can either power wash or manually scrub your cedar shake siding in order to remove dirt, debris, moss, and algae. You should clean your siding once or twice per year to help avoid mold and rot.
Cleaning the roof gutters is another less-known aspect of maintaining cedar shake siding. By cleaning the gutters you prevent water from spilling over onto your siding and facilitating deterioration.
Creating a seal between your cedar shakes and the open air is crucial to lengthening their lifespan. You can do this by using good old-fashioned paint, wood stain, or clear seal. Which type you choose will depend on what your stylistic preference is. You can also char the outside of your cedar, which is a technique some homeowners opt for as a unique style choice that also works to protect the wood.
A Maintenance-Free Alternative to Real Cedar
Synthetic Cedar shakes from CeDUR are a maintenance-free alternative to real cedar shakes. They look almost identical and come in colors like Live Oak, Shiloh, Golden Cedar, and Walden. Because of their synthetic composition, they are invulnerable to rot, mold, warping, mildew, insects, fire, and UV damage.
CeDUR shakes are so durable that they require almost none of the maintenance that normal cedar shake siding does, in fact. They only need a basic look-over and yearly cleaning to stay in tip-top shape. They also outlast regular cedar siding, and can last anywhere from 30 to 50 years and beyond.
When you compare these synthetic cedar shakes from CeDUR with the real thing, it’s pretty clear that they stack up well in terms of stylistic beauty while also outperforming the real thing in durability and longevity, which makes them a far superior alternative!
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