Cleaning Cedar Shingles Siding

Cedar shingles and shakes can last decades with very little maintenance.

Cleaning cedar shingles siding.

Get rid of that grunge by cleaning your cedar siding with an. The side of the house with the least sun exposure can be the worst spot with the cedar developing mildew or mold that looks black. A soft wash also known as a non pressure wash is where you take low pressure water and spray down a surface. An effective cleaning will not only restore that warm color it will increase the overall life expectancy of your roof and siding.

To ensure the longevity of your cedar roofing and siding it should be cleaned every five to seven years. Cleaning away the age is the first step in caring for cedar shingles. While you can use household bleach to kill mold and algae it tends to make the cedar shingle s surface fuzzy because of the excessive pulping reaction when using it. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles.

Wearing your rubber gloves. Department of agriculture s forest services laboratory recommends cleaning cedar shingles with an oxidizing bleach as opposed to a household bleach to avoid damaging the wood. Use a 12 volt pump system with pressure of about 60 psi. Water any grass plants flowers or other foliage surrounding your cedar siding.

The cedar bureau recommends using a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Apply it with a pump sprayerlet it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with with a garden hose. This is important as standard high pressure power washes might damage cedar shingles.