A popular choice for homeowners in Avondale, AZ, wood shake roof, aka cedar roofs, are well known for their longevity, beauty, and performance. Wood shake roof leaks are a common issue, and if you happen to be experiencing one, you are not alone. Luckily for you, a Avondale wood shake roof repair contractor is typically easy to find and relatively cheap. But if you would rather perform wood shake roof repair yourself, we’ll tell you how. Maintenance is the way to go if you do not have any major leaks or other noticeable damage on your wood shake roof. A wood shake roof will typically last around 20 years, some heavier styles of wood shake roofs can even last around 30 years or more. The lifespan of all wood shake roofs can be extended through proper maintenance. With maintenance, you won’t need to get an expensive roof replacement any time soon
Why Continual Repair & Maintenance Is Required
Wood will naturally attract water to its surface and will expand when it comes in contact with rain. It will then shrink as it dries. This process will occur over and over and can lead to the shakes splitting. The sun can then burn through the shake and leave the underlayment and interlayment exposed. A Avondale wood shake roof repair specialist’s job will typically consist of replacing broken and split shakes while also installing wood shims to protect the exposed underlayment. Making sure to keep any kind of debris off of your roof is vital to prevent water collection and blockage which can cause leaks. If you make sure to regularly inspect, repair, and maintain your wood shake roof, you can easily extend its lifespan. Here are some crucial steps to proper cedar shake roof maintenance: 1. Trim overhanging branches When trees are close enough to your home, they will drop leaves and other debris onto your roof. This debris can trap moisture leading to the growth of moss and algae, which can, in turn, weaken your wood shakes. You can avoid this by trimming any nearby trees that overhang your house. 2. Ventilate the attic adequately Moisture should always be avoided near your wood shake roof. To ensure this, make sure your attic stays well ventilated all year round. 3. Install strips of zinc or copper as ridge caps When zinc and copper come into contact with water, they create a solution that helps prevent the growth of mold and moss. If at any point, you notice moss or mold on your roof, remove it by scraping it off and them scrub with a solution of 1-quart household bleach, 1-ounce detergent, and 3 quarts of warm water.
DIY Wood Shake Shingle Repair
There are many forms of minor damage to wood shake roofs that you can easily repair yourself by following this guide. For this reason, it’s not always required that you hire a professional Avondale, AZ wood shake roof repair company for your roof damage. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, you may only damage your roof further or hurt yourself in the process. Working on roofs is not a safe job and not everyone should try and do it. If you are confident in your abilities then continue to read on. Before you get started: Your number one priority should be to safely access your roof. You need to be able to safely access the area of your roof where the repairs need to be made in order to make effective repairs on your wood shake roof system. You can use a chicken ladder to reach the roof. You will also need some specific tools to perform wood shake roof repairs correctly. The better the tools you use, the better the quality of the work. Here is a list of absolutely necessary tools for wood shake roof repair: ● Hammer ● Chisel ● Vise ● Electrical tape ● Tape measure ● Caulking compound ● Galvanized roofing nails ● Coping saw ● Hacksaw ● Nail set ● Replacement shingles or shakes Step 1. Split damaged shakes Using a hammer and chisel, split the damaged shakes into two pieces. Without damaging the surrounding wood shakes, remove the two pieces of the split shake. Wood shakes are not flexible so you won’t be capable of prying the nails directly out of them. You will instead have to cut off the nails as far down as you are able using a hacksaw. Step 2: Measure the gap After you have finished extracting the broken wood shake, you will measure the gap left behind and cut a new shake for it approximately 3/8in. shorter than the gap size. This is so the new shake will have room to expand when it gets rained on. Step 3: Install a new shake. Using the galvanized nails, insert the new wood shake and nail it down in two places. Step 4: Caulking Next, you will need to set the nail heads and then apply a caulking compound on it to seal them.
FAQs
How much does wood shake roof repair cost in Avondale?
A professional Wood Shake Roof Repair Avondale wood shake roof repair cost will be around $60 per hour and may depend on the job specifics. Some factors that will affect how much repair will cost include square footage, complexity, your home’s location, and the type of material.
How to find the best wood shake roof repair near me?
Lucky for you, you already have! We are a highly experienced and trained team of Avondale residential wood shake roof repair experts who operate near you. Give us a call for a free quote on your wood shake roof repair in Avondale, AZ today!