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Meet Brian

Meet Brian

The Cedar Roof Company began as a partnership between Brian Pott and Jim Gadsby, childhood friends and college roommates, who recognized a need in the cedar roof market that was going unaddressed. While working with a company that specialized in the installation and restoration of wood siding, they noticed that while cedar shingle and shake roofs needed the same professional care of preservation, there were no companies offering this service. The two young men combined their knowledge of wood preservation with additional research on materials and processes, and developed the region’s first solution for the preservation of cedar roofs.In their first summer of business, they completed just eight roof preservations. Today, the Cedar Roof Company serves approximately 300 new customers every year, while retaining its faithful past customers.

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Brian Q&A:

Why should I clean and preserve my Cedar Roof?

A cedar shake or shingle roof once represented one of the few types of roofs available. Today, it is a premium product that costs the homeowner more to purchase and install than the more common asphalt shingle roof. Protecting this investment in a luxury product from premature aging and replacement simply makes good economic sense.

How does preservation protect the roof?

The product used by The Cedar Roof Company is called AMTECO TWP 200. The benefits are immediately noticeable. The process of a thorough cleaning stage followed by the application of the preservative will protect the cedar from the damaging UV rays that will dry the natural oils in the wood. This will also repel moisture so the cedar will not soak up as much. All homeowners apply paint or stain to the exterior of their home’s windows and doors as well as the wood trim and siding. This keeps them protected from nature’s harsh elements. The cedar roof on your home is also wood and requires this same defence. Protecting with a preservative will increase the life expectancy and add an aesthetic beauty to your cedar roof. An unprotected roof will experience loss of wood girth, cupping and curling, splitting and cracking and checking. The wood fibers on the surface will die. All of these detriments can be avoided by simple maintenance to your roof.

How does the cost of preservation compare to a re-roof?

Preservation costs are relatively inexpensive compared to a re-roof. With the cost of cedar continuing to rise, preservation can make great economic sense. There are many other factors to consider including the age of the roof, the current condition of the roof, the past maintenance if any to the roof and your future plans in relationship to living in the home the roof protects. For example, If you just replaced your wood roof and plan on moving in the near future preservation may not be in your best interest. However if you own a home with a ten year old roof and plan on moving in the near future, preservation may be a value worth pursuing. Again every home and situation is different based on too many variables to mention here.

At what age should I start preserving my roof?

The Cedar Roof Company recommends preservation after 12 to 18 months of product installation. This “waiting period” required for newly installed cedar roofs is very important. It provides the new cedar time to weather and effectively absorb the protective treatment. A Preservation treatment applied immediately after installation does not allow sufficient penetration of the treatment and can result in a “blotchy” appearance in as little as two to three years. By starting maintenance this early, not only is the cedar roof protected while in prime condition, but you can save money on the Cleaning stage. Generally speaking the sooner preservation takes place in the life of your cedar roof the longer you can expect it to last.

Is it too late for me to preserve my roof?

Even an older roof which has lost its visual appeal may have years of service left in it. Instead, most cedar roofs are replaced because they have lost their aesthetic value and not because of their functionality. Cupping and curling are two major issues in older, primarily unprotected or poorly install cedar roofs.

Cupping and curling are caused by numerous factors, including UV damage and moisture, and are typically more prevalent on the southern facing roof facets. Direct sunlight is the biggest enemy of all roofing materials. This damage is also caused by poor quality cedar, poor quality installation and a lack of ventilation in your roof structure. Once the cedar has curled there is nothing that can be done to reverse it.

At this point, we may recommend the roof be cleaned and preserved. This will block out the harmful UV rays and repel moisture. Once protected, the cedar will not expand and contract as much, limiting the amount of ongoing degradation.

How does the process work?

The two-stage preservation process (to older wood roofs) begins by treating the roof with a weathered wood restorer followed by a thorough yet safe cleaning service to the roof’s cedar shakes and shingles. The gentle power washing removes dirt, mold, mildew and dead wood fibers bringing the roof back to a rich “new” appearance without causing damage to the wood. Note: It is not uncommon for an older yet functional wood roof to lose some shake/shingle butt end due to decay. In fact in situations where this “type” of decay is present the removal of the decay is an important step in eliminating it from continuing.

In the second stage, experienced and skilled technicians operate a high-volume, low-pressure spray unit to evenly and precisely coat the entire cedar roof surface with Amteco’s TWP (Total Wood Preservative) 200, a one-coat penetrating treatment designed specifically for cedar shake and shingle roofs. This protective coating penetrates the cedar shakes and shingles deeply to provide outstanding weather protection, while still allowing the cedar to breath. The EPA-approved coating prevents both cedar shakes and shingles from checking, cupping, curling, splitting and decay while its water repellent blend is guaranteed never to crack or peel.

Why must my roof be cleaned prior to treatment?

It is necessary for your cedar roof to be thoroughly cleaned to allow the coating to penetrate the shakes/shingles. Mold, mildew, and dead wood fibers if not properly cleaned/removed would stop the cedar from absorbing the treatment. The quality of the Cleaning stage will dictate the effectiveness of the product including the final aesthetics of the roof and the life expectancy of the coating.

Can power washing damage my wood roof?

Yes, in the wrong hands a power washer can damage the shake/shingle wood exposure. Using the proper wood restorer, the correct pressure and the right fan tip, power washing is the only way to completely clean older roofs never preserved. Again preserving your roof 12 to 18 months after new installation and staying “In Cycle” in regard to Re-coat requires less force (a topical cleaning) to adequately clean the roof prior to coating. A roof with extensive shake/shingle exposure damage including severe cracking/splitting/decay would be best left alone.

My contractor/neighbor/real estate agent told me cedar is meant to weather and age naturally, who should I believe?

Most builders/contractors/architects are ignorant to the lasting effects of preservation, as was I before learning about the preservation services that The Cedar Roof Company now offers. Our product protects the wood from sunlight and moisture while allowing the normal tendencies of cedar to take place. The preservative is not a sealer so the wood will still expand and contract.

My new roof looks great, why do I need to do anything more to it?

A brand new cedar roof represents itself well. The look of new wood vs the old is astonishing but UV rays and moisture can quickly take their toll on an unprotected wood roof. Without the benefit of preservation cedar shakes and shingles will experience loss of wood girth, cupping and curling, splitting and cracking and checking. The wood fibers on the surface will die. The Cedar Roof Company recommends preservation after 12 to 18 months of product installation. This “waiting period” provides the new cedar time to weather so that it will effectively absorb the protective treatment but is early enough that it is still in prime condition. Generally speaking the sooner preservation takes place in the life of your cedar roof the longer you can expect it to last.

How can I expect the cedar roof treatment to perform?

The roof coating protects your shake/shingle wood exposure from both sunlight and moisture: your cedar roofs greatest enemies. You can expect your tinted preservative to hold its color, protecting your cedar roof from damaging UV rays. The “free” oils fill in the spaces in the cedar that open up through the aging process. The coating closes off any openings for destructive growths to accumulate. Amteco TWP 200 (Total Wood Preservative) is the No. 1 rated and preferred cedar roof treatment product in the United States.

How long does the treatment last?

Your first treatment will last between four and six years. Subsequent treatments will last as long as five to six years before Re-coat becomes necessary. Remember, you can save money on your preservation treatments by eliminating the power clean stage by staying “In Cycle” in regard to your maintenance period.

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See How the Colors Compare

Colors depicted for comparison purposes only. Actual preservation color may vary based on the condition of wood roof. Please refer to the Gallery for more representations of colors.