Wood Shake Roofing

Many wood shakes and shingles have been replaced by composition or asphalt shingles. Nevertheless, wood shakes and shingles are still widely used on both commercial structures and residential housing. There are basically three different types of wood roofing products which include hand-split shakes, taper-sawn shakes and wood shingles. Most of them are made from the western red cedar tree and occasionally southern pine.

Wood shake and shingles are enjoyed by many because they provide a warm and elegant look. In fact, aesthetic reasons are the main reason why people choose to go with a wooden roof on their home. This natural roofing material is popular on the west coast, especially in California and also the Northwest and parts of the Midwest.

Each wood roof product is graded according to the cut and number of defects. Wood shingles are thinner than shakes and come in Grades 1, 2 and 3. Hand-split shakes have two grades which include premium and Grade 1. Keep in mind, up to 20% of wood shakes can be flat grain, which is more vulnerable to curling. Taper-sawn shakes are just as thick as hand-split shakes and are sawn smooth on both sides. They come in three grades which include premium and Grades 1 and 2.

Wood Shake Roof Maintenance

Wood roofs do require a bit of routine maintenance. They should be cleaned periodically to remove tree debris, moss or fungus. Be cautious of professionals using a high-pressure washer because the roof can become damaged this way. Wood shingles should also be treated with wood preservatives to limit weathering effects of moisture and retard growth of molds, moss and fungi. For more protection, they can be treated with a fire retardant to reduce the chance of ignition or fire spread. Make note, treatments should be reapplied periodically to remain effective.

Aside from periodic maintenance, the main drawback to having a wooden roof is that the life expectancy is shorter than most other roofing products. It is expected to last between 8-25 years, with proper maintenance. You do have the option of purchasing a compressed version that has a 30+ year life span, but expect to pay for that. Moreover, this roofing option is more expensive than most roofing options on the market. But apparently it’s worth it because it still remains popular, as homeowners cannot resist the look.

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