HEALTHY ROOFS YEAR AFTER YEAR
Once wood is cut, it is dead, and nature sees it as a prime candidate for reduction into soil. Your cedar shakes or shingles are a prime target for decomposition. Microbes, in thousands of forms, are designed by nature to reduce dead wood to soil. One of many types of Algae, Rot Spots grow like this… Microbes, each with hundreds of sub-groups, are carried in the air in the form of spores. A group of spores attack the weakest wood first. They colonize. Any success in de-composition creates an environment ideal for other types of microbes, and they attack, in wave after wave of progressively more damaging species.
The rot spots begin small, at the weakest points, and grow. Rot spreads exponentially as water ingresses to the underside of shakes. Friends of nature generally, these are enemies to your cedar roof and your pocketbook! Colony establishment becomes most damaging by about the 10th year of your roof's life. By 19 your roof will be "gone”, unless you act.
There is a popular trend in dealing with cedar re-roof jobs, commonly called "Conversion."
Fiberglass reinforced Laminated roofing is manufactured by a number of companies, and proves to be beautiful and economical way to replace cedar.
Laminate has the further advantage of lower maintenance costs over the lifetime, as well. These facts, put together with the good looks and wide colour choice, account for the popular trend of "conversion" re-roofs. The process of conversion to Fiberglass reinforced Laminate Shingles is the same as Architectural Shingles below.
Most cedar roof owners, when given the opportunity, choose to upgrade to Architectural shingles. Instead of the short life, high cost and maintenance needs of cedar, Architectural Shingles have a 30 year minimum guarantee, next to no maintenance requirements and lower cost!
These facts, put together with the good looks and wide colour choice, account for the popular trend of "conversion" re-roofs. There are many options and upgrades available, but the basic process of conversion to Fiberglass reinforced Laminated Architectural Shingles goes like this:
The Roofing Institute of British Columbia, who trains and places workers into apprenticeship programs, the voice of educated roofing in British Columbia, recommends all “flat” roofs be inspected twice a year for problems like the above, and repairs be done immediately. They recommend that proactive maintenance be carried out on a regular basis as well.
Inspections of flat roofs reveal issues such as weakening seams, bubbling and premature decomposition of the bitumen in isolated areas. These blemishes grow if not discovered and dealt with, and, like cavities, make themselves impossible to ignore over time. They can cause the premature demise of the entire roofing system.
Weakening seams on Tar and Gravel roofs can be strengthened to last longer than the rest of the roof by removing the protective gravel, cleaning, and applying modified bitumen in a professional manner. It is also important to check for and ensure proper drainage, as well as addressing leaks immediately.
Re-RoofingRoof RepairGutter Installation & RepairRoof Moss TreatmentFence
Algae Removal