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Experienced Roof Maintenance Services in Calgary
When to Maintain Your Shake Roof?
Don’t Be Intimidated Into Re-roofing, Know Your Options.
We specialize in inspections, maintenance and repairs to pine and cedar shake roofs ONLY!! Our Maintenance Program has been extending the life of shakes roofs in southern Alberta since 1999, saving homeowners money and keeping waste out of landfills.
How Does the Program Work?
Shake Experts will provide a general check-up, inspect any new concerns you may have, and prepare a quote to remedy the deficiencies that might affect the longevity of your roofing system. If the Homeowner decides to complete our recommended work, we provide a warranty guaranteeing the roof against leaks. We advise performing this check-up and service every 5 years and will contact our clients when their warranty period is up for renewal.
Why Do Shake Roofs Need Maintenance?
A shake roof is a superior 2-ply roofing system; a layer of asphalt-saturated felt is installed over the roof decking to keep it water-tight, and the shakes are layered over top to help shed moisture and protect that felt from the elements. Over time natural wear and tear can occur on parts of the roof, while the majority of the roof still has plenty of service life left. Wood shakes are an excellent material for roofing and can last 40 years, provided they get a little TLC every 5 years. Click here to see what our Inspectors are looking for.
What Are the Average Maintenance Costs?
This depends on many factors, including roof pitch, manufacturer, shake type, roof design, length of time between services, installation quality, presence of large trees, etc. But a good ballpark figure would be between $350 and $1,000 per year (x the age of the house, or since the last maintenance).
How Often Should a Shake Roof Be Looked At? Do You Come Every Year?
Shake Experts strongly believes maintenance at 5-year intervals will maximize the life of your shake roof. Once we have tuned-up the roof and provided you with a 5-year warranty, annual check-ups are not necessary – you shouldn’t have to think about your roof for another 5 years! While we recommend 5-year intervals, we do offer a smaller 2-year option for customers who want a check-up but don’t expect to be in their homes for another 5 years (e.g. they are preparing to sell).
What Does Your Warranty Cover?
Depending on which maintenance option is chosen, we will extend either a 2 year or 5 year warranty that covers the roof against leaks due to a shake failure. The warranty is fully transferable (it goes with the house) and covers the entire roof area, not just the shakes we replaced.
What Can I Expect?
Click here for a short video depicting what you can expect when you have your roof maintained by Shake Experts.
What Do Your Inspectors Look For?
Missing Shakes, Exposed Felt & Roof Decking
A layer of 15lb x 18” asphalt-saturated felt roofing felt is installed and interwoven with the shakes. This felt is an integral part of a shake roofing system, providing another layer to stop water penetration. That felt is not designed to be exposed to the elements. UV light causes felt deterioration. The shakes installed over top of the felt protect it from the elements. Any shakes that expose felt should be removed & replaced.
Checked/Cracked Shakes
Can eventually expose the interply felt. Most cracked shakes are age related but can also be due to hail damage or poor quality at the time of original installation.
Blowout/Feathertop Shakes
These are caused at the manufacturing level when shakes are cut, and can expose interply felt. They should be culled before installation.
Curled/Cupping Shakes
Curling is caused by natural stresses in the wood that are released when the shake or shingle is cut and are made worse by moisture cycling. Mostly a cosmetic deficiency but can also eventually expose interply felt.
Rotted Shakes
Rotted shakes are also a problem when they deteriorate/crumble and expose felt or become loose and fall out. Unless the rot graduates up to where the fasteners can be seen on the course below, or exposes the interply felt, they are not deemed deficient.
Ridge Cap
The upside down “V” shaped shakes at all the peaks of the roof. The ridge cap staples come loose over time and check or crack, eventually falling out and can expose roof decking.
Flashing
These are the metal details around roof protrusions. The integrity of skylights, chimney chases, wall and roof intersections and valley flashing should be checked. Care is required while installing original flashings, to ensure no water penetration.
Storm Damage
While we are onsite we will look for signs of hail or wind damage that may impact the integrity or life span of the roof covering.
Air Vents
Most static/turtle air vents are plastic and become brittle over time. Goosenecks, B-vents and plumbing vents should be inspected to verify integrity, ensure proper installation and sealants are intact.
Quality of Original Installation
Poor quality installation can lead to leakage if not rectified. Where the competition may attempt to fix wood roofs, they also may do tile, flat, asphalt, and shakes.
There is no other company that has our knowledge or experience in dealing with pine and cedar shake roofs. Click here for answers to more FAQ on shake roofs.