Zinc and Cedar Shingles
By Dymon Brady
This job is so unique, we just had to share it with you!
A customer contacted us wanting us to install a cedar shingle roof with 24 gauge Zinc flashings, drip edge, gutters and valley metal. A beautiful and rare combination!
However, Cedar shingles emit a tannic acid over the first 5 years after installation. This acid will actually drip onto the metal gutters and roof flashings below and potentially turn them black or even eat holes through them completely!
The only metal recommended for gutters under a cedar roof is stainless steel. Galvanized steel, painted galvanized, copper - none of these metals are guaranteed to hold up under the tannic acid.
What really blows our minds is that if zinc is installed above cedar shingles (i.e. As a ridge cap or head wall flashing), it will actually serve to preserve the shingles below as it runs onto them during storms.
We love the final decision made on this home. He chose to install Zinc ridge caps above, both complementing and preserving the cedar below, and stainless steel gutters, sure to prove the test of time!
It is both a functional and beautiful roof.
This customer was going for a very specific look so you will notice there are no eaves, and the gutter sits on top of the top course of brick rather than on the face of the wall like most gutters. It will look akin to an internal gutter system with heat tape running inside of it.
If you are interested in a specific look for your roof, contact us today for a free estimate!