Your first step in maintaining the quality of your cedar shake roof is applying protective treatments like fire repellents, fungicides, and algaecides to the shingles every 1-3 years. The other most important factor in maintaining a cedar shake roof is allowing it to breathe. It’s important to keep your cedar shake roof clean and remove debris as often as possible to avoid moisture buildup. You also should keep your gutters clear and even remove any overhanging tree branches so the sun can keep your roof dry.