Blog Post: The Hard Truth About Cedar Roofs: How Algae is Secretly Destroying Your Wood Shakes
If you own a luxury property with a cedar shake roof, you already know it offers a stunning, timeless aesthetic that regular shingles just can't match. But there is a hidden truth about cedar roofs that many homeowners don't realize until it's too late: your roof is constantly under attack by living organisms.
At Midwest Maintenance, our team—led by industry experts like Lisa and our field crews—frequently encounters massive properties where beautiful cedar roofs are being quietly compromised by moss, mold, and deep-seated algae.
We recently took our cameras to the north side of a humongous local property to show you exactly what happens when algae takes over, and why ignoring it can cost you a fortune in premature roof replacement.
You can watch the full inspection and step-by-step cleaning process in our latest video here: [Watch the Full Video on YouTube]
The Danger Zones: Where Premature Failure Happens First
Cedar roof algae cleaning
When our team inspects a cedar roof, we pay incredibly close attention to how the shingles overlap. In our recent project, we highlighted the two heaviest areas where algae concentrates and inflicts the most damage:
- The Bottom Open Edge: The very bottom edge of the shake collects the most moisture runoff, allowing algae to thrive heavily right at the lip.
- The Overlap Section: Algae spreads from the bottom edge directly onto the shingle nesting right below it. This is the thinnest part of the underlying shingle.
When algae attacks the thinnest part of a cedar shake, it causes premature structural failure. > Expert Insight from the Field: The roof we recently serviced features "heavy shakes" that are roughly 20 years old. Because they were premium, thick cuts of wood, they survived the algae buildup long enough for us to save them. If this roof had been built with standard "medium shakes," the algae would have rotted completely through the thin wood, forcing a incredibly expensive, total roof replacement.
Preventative Maintenance vs. Total Roof Replacement
You don't have to replace your entire roof just because it has turned green or black. However, you must keep up on preventative maintenance.
Regular, professional washing removes the algae, kills the hidden spores deep within the wood pores, and restores the natural coloration of the cedar. In our latest video, you can see the immediate difference where we just washed a section—the wood instantly regains its healthy tone, and the destructive moisture barrier is completely broken.
Trust the Specialists at Midwest Maintenance
Cleaning a cedar roof is not a DIY project, nor is it a job for standard pressure washing companies. High pressure will instantly shred wood shakes and destroy your roof. Cedar requires specialized, low-pressure chemical treatments that kill the root of the algae without scarring the wood.
Whether you need a routine inspection or a complete algae remediation, Lisa and the expert team at Midwest Maintenance are here to protect your architectural investment.
Don't wait for the decay to reach your ceilings. Contact Midwest Maintenance today to schedule your professional roof evaluation!
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