Vinyl Cedar Shakes Shingles: Common Problems and Alternatives
One of the things to keep in mind when selecting your roof is the material you choose, but with so many materials and styles available, how do you decide which one is best for you?
One of the common roofing styles you can find is shake roofing, a traditional style that has been around since the colonial times when wood shake shingles were the only roofing option available.
As time has gone on, however, new and safer shake shingle options have become available, such as vinyl shakes.
Here is what you should know about vinyl cedar shake shingles.
The Look of Vinyl Cedar Shakes
When they first came out, vinyl cedar shake shingles became a popular alternative to the high-maintenance wood shake shingles that were common in the past.
However, one of the issues with the early vinyl cedar shakes is that they did not maintain the same beautiful, craftsman-style appearance that traditional cedar shakes offered. Some described it as a cheaper alternative to the real thing, which had the potential to detract from the overall look of the home.
There were many vinyl shake colors options available, which made them more appealing. Added to that, beyond the various vinyl shake colors, it was also possible to paint them virtually any color.
As time went on, companies began releasing vinyl shake shingles that looked more like the traditional hand-split cedar shakes that so many love.
Vinyl Shingles Cost
A large draw to vinyl cedar shake shingles is the vinyl price point. There are vinyl cedar shakes at virtually every price point imaginable. With such a wide range of vinyl shakes cost, a shake roof is within reach for people across the country.
However, when you choose a lower cost, it also means it is a lower quality product. This can affect the value of not just your home, but the surrounding homes as well. Even the best vinyl shakes can potentially lessen the value of a home.
Another thing to consider about the vinyl shingles cost is that they are not a permanent roofing solution. This means that over time, they can become used and worn, which requires shakes to be replaced or a whole new roof to be installed. It can make the overall vinyl shingles cost much higher.
Durability of Vinyl Cedar Shingles
There is no denying that vinyl shakes are more durable than traditional wood shakes. One of the first things to note about vinyl cedar shingles when it comes to their durability is their higher resistance to water damage–a significant culprit in wood shake damage.
However, extreme weather still leaves vinyl cedar shingles incredibly vulnerable, particularly when they are left untreated. Treatments help to protect vinyl shingles from UV ways which can discolor and warp vinyl, and it can help make them able to withstand the elements.
Maintenance of Vinyl Shakes
Compared to traditional wood shakes, vinyl shake shingles require less maintenance. Even though vinyl can be painted, it is not a necessary step in the maintenance of vinyl shakes due to the number of vinyl shake colors that are available.
However, to maintain a clean appearance, you should clean your vinyl cedar shingles every year, or more often, depending on where you live. This will help keep them free from scuff marks and dirt.
Even if you go with the best vinyl shakes, there are still certain things to watch for when it comes to preserving the life of your vinyl shingles. Although vinyl offers more water resistance than wood, there is still the potential for water to get trapped beneath it and cause it to rot quicker. This allows for the growth of mold and mildew, as well as insect infestations.
5 Key Issues with Vinyl Cedar Shake Siding and a More Durable Alternative
In many parts of the country, cedar shake siding is a dream for most people. However, cedar shakes aren't easy for everyone to have. From the cost to the maintenance level, cedar has been difficult to attain in the past.
These days, there are better alternatives to real cedar shake siding. Instead of the real thing, there are options like vinyl cedar shake siding and vinyl shake shingles. However, vinyl is a cheap material that has superior alternatives as well.
Synthetic cedar is far more durable and looks better for longer. That being said, let’s look at some more vinyl siding issues with cedar shakes:
1. Installation Is Key
While installing vinyl siding is not necessarily difficult in itself, it is something to be approached with care. With any siding, you should hire a professional contractor to ensure the job is done correctly. Otherwise, you can find yourself with all sorts of issues.
If you do not install your vinyl cedar shake siding properly from the start, the long-term consequences can be disastrous–and costly. Planks or shakes nailed too tightly together will expand, crack, and bulge in different temperatures. If they are too loose, it can allow moisture to get through and into the membrane, where it can cause more damage.
2. They Can Be Hard To Maintain
When you live in an area that gets a lot of sun, it will eventually wear your vinyl shakes out. The colors will begin to fade after only a few years, and repainting them isn't an ideal option since the paint will eventually peel and crack.
When they get dirty, you also have to watch how you clean them. A pressure washer can damage the siding and can even get into the membrane, where it can seep into the home and cause issues like mold and mildew.
3. Fragility
If you choose vinyl siding that looks like cedar planks, the planks can split or break as they expand and contract when temperatures change. Additionally, if a rock hits your siding when you mow the lawn, it can damage the siding.
They can also suffer damage from strong winds and hail. Once vinyl siding is damaged, there is no other option other than to replace the damaged pieces.
4. Low Fire Rating
Vinyl cedar shake siding, in most cases, does not provide much in terms of fire protection. If you live in a location with strict building codes, vinyl shakes may not be permitted for safety reasons. It also means that if you choose this style of siding, your home is not as well protected as it could be from the risk of fire.
5. Moisture Can Get Below The Surface
The point of siding is to help protect your home from the elements, especially moisture, but it is not always successful. Jeff Guthrie, of Phoenix Roofing Contractors, advised “Because vinyl shake siding is generally installed over insulation, water vapor in the wall cavity can get trapped.
The water vapor can then penetrate through any holes in the house wrap (left by nails, for example) and allow it to penetrate the structure of your home. When this happens, the wood structure will begin to rot, which can lead to issues like termites and mold.”
Another Cedar Siding Alternative
While vinyl siding that looks like cedar planks sounds like a nice alternative, it still has some flaws. There are also other options on the market. Instead of vinyl cedar shake siding, you can choose synthetic cedar shake siding from CeDUR®.
CeDUR® shakes are advertised as a roofing material; however, they also look stunning as siding. With their unique polyurethane composition, they are an incredibly durable option that meets the strictest building codes.
CeDUR® is an incredibly lightweight option at just 170 pounds per square, that features a Class A Fire Rating, a Class 4 Impact Rating, and can withstand winds up to 115 mph.
CeDUR® roofing products are made to look like real cedar shakes, and the differences are virtually indistinguishable. CeDUR® shakes are easy to install, resistant to moisture, and will help to insulate your home better than other kinds of siding.
Once they are installed, they require very little maintenance, and one less thing you have to worry about with your home. CeDUR® shakes are impervious to bug damage and UV rays as well, and won’t fade in color over time.
Although cedar shake siding is popular and well-loved, it is not for everyone. Even an alternative like cedar shake vinyl siding has problems that make it less-than-ideal.
Fortunately, for those with their hearts set on cedar shake-style siding, there is a better alternative that will look beautiful and last for years: faux cedar shake shingles. Their realistic appearance, high durability, and low maintenance, make these shakes the perfect choice.
CeDUR® is the Best Alternative to Vinyl Shake Shingles
While vinyl cedar shake shingles are a popular option, the vinyl shakes price can quickly add up between the initial installation, maintenance, and any necessary replacement or repairs. In addition, although vinyl shakes offer some amount of durability, even the best vinyl shakes will become worn, warped, or broken over time.
CeDUR® Roofing Shakes is a company that responded to the desire for a better, synthetic alternative to classic wood shakes. CeDUR® roofing shakes are made using a lightweight, polyurethane material that is molded from real split logs and is highly durable.
CeDUR® shakes offer a superior Class 4 Impact Resistance, with the strength of withstanding winds up to 115 mph. They also have a Class A fire rating, the highest fire resistance rating available on the market.
Additionally, CeDUR® shakes are low maintenance, so they do not have the same concerns of growing prices, due to the various costs associated with vinyl shakes.
Although the vinyl shakes cost makes them an appealing option when compared to traditional wood shakes, they are not necessarily the best option on the market.
They still require a fair amount of maintenance, can suffer damage, and if not installed properly, can look cheap and degrade very quickly. Because of this, you will still find yourself spending a lot in the upkeep of this option.
Nothing Beats CeDUR® Shake Siding
CeDUR® Roofing Shakes are a beautiful, highly durable alternative that offers the appearance of real wood shakes, without the high cost to install and maintain them. Considering the impact, fire, and water resistance of these shakes, combined with their lack of maintenance needs, CeDUR® is, without a doubt, the best alternative on the market.
Their combination of beauty and durability is unmatched by any other product, which is probably why they are one of the hottest new siding and roofing materials around!