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One of the worst enemies of cedar shingles is moisture. Moisture is the number one cause of deterioration and rotting. The cedar shingles must be regularly inspected for spots where the moisture can get in.
If the cedar shingles are painted, always check for peeling paint that may be a way for moisture to seep in. If the paint is peeling, do a touch up on all the spots where the paint has fallen off. And if the cedar shingles are stained, make sure that the stain is still thick enough to make it resistant to water. The stain must be regularly sanded down and reapplied to make sure that the cedar shingles are protected from moisture. Also look for nails that have loosened, hammer them back in and apply a layer of paint or stain to seal the spot. -
Exterior cedar shingles are prone to mildew especially if it is in a shade or damp portion of the house. Moisture promotes the growth of mildew. Cedar shingles covered with mildew is not a pretty sight. It will lessen the beauty of your house and make it look old and dirty.
Oxygen bleach is a powder that is mixed with water to make a very efficient mildew remover. Scrub down the cedar shingles with the oxygen bleach solution. Allow it to soak on tough spots and hose down with water. An ordinary garden hose can be used but a high pressure one will surely blow away all the mildew. -
There are two types of stains that can be used on exterior cedar shingles: Penetrating stains and non-penetrating stains. Both create a protective coating over the cedar surface.
Penetrating stain is oil-based and semi-transparent. It is the preferred stain to use on cedar because it does not coat the cedar with a film. This allows the cedar shingles to breathe. This type of stain also contains components that make the cedar water-resistant. It also serves as a fungicide which prevents the growth of mildew. The non-penetrating stain is like a thin paint. It requires a lot of labor to apply and does not last that long.
