Can You Walk On Cedar Shake Roof

Jason alexander began his professional writing career in 2003.

Can you walk on cedar shake roof.

So let s talk about cedar shake roofs and answer the question that homeowners have been asking for ages. And it is certainly not advised. Climbing a ladder and walking on the roof can be dangerous and most of what you need to see can be observed from the safety of the ground. Cedar shake roofs can last up to 30 to 40 years depending on factors including the quality of the installation and materials attention to maintenance age of the rest of the structure things like overhanging trees that drip sap onto the roof the local climate and even surrounding traffic.

The main problem is that cedar shingles and shakes are a potential fire risk. Hot dry climates tend to accept oils better than moist humid climates simply due to the fact that oils can seal unwanted moisture into the roof. There are several safety factors to keep in mind when it comes to attempting to walk on a shingle roof. A shake roof is a beautiful option for homes but between the high cost to initially install it and the amount of cedar shingle roof maintenance needed it is not an option for everybody.

The short answer is. Wood shake roofs are excessively slippery by default. However cedar shakes and shingles can be very slick even on a lower pitch of roof and or an individual shingle may be split or the nail loose and pull out under your feet. Keep in mind that no by products such as motor oil should be used on cedar roofs.

And they can get even more slippery if the wood shakes are wet damaged or if they have any moisture moss debris or mildew on them. Fortunately there are new options on the market that can give you the feel of a cedar shake roof without all of the required cedar maintenance. So can you walk on a cedar shake roof. If your shakes are in decent shape they re probably strong enough to support your weight.

Cedar shake is a very popular roofing material often utilized in many parts of arizona but despite its popularity there is always a chance that you may have to repair it and you want to do that safely. However it is possible to have cedar shingle treated in order to make them fire resistant. Keep your visual inspections on the ground. He has worked as a staff writer at several different newspapers including the eagle times and the northwoods sporting journal he has a bachelor of arts in english from a university in new england.

Have a means to record and save potential issues you want to watch from inspection to inspection. Nail zinc lead or copper strips across the roof near the ridge to prevent algae growth on the cedar shingles or shakes. In some high risk areas cedar shakes may not be allowed. But you must be very careful.

Is it safe to walk on this thing. Can you walk on cedar shake roof. You can also buy prefabricated ridge cap units or long cedar ridge boards.