Wood shingles have been a popular choice for roofing and siding for centuries, offering a natural and timeless aesthetic appeal. They are typically made from cedar, a type of wood renowned for its durability and resistance to decay and insects. Wood shingles are not only chosen for their classic and elegant appearance but also for their proven performance in various weather conditions.

Wood shingles come in various types, each providing a distinct appearance and application method. The primary types include:

Standard Wood Shingles

Standard wood shingles have long been admired for their natural aesthetic and durable roofing capabilities, providing homes with a classic, timeless appeal. These shingles are meticulously crafted, typically sawn smooth on both sides and cut in a tapered fashion, offering a neat and tailored appearance suitable for both roofing and sidewalls. Available in various thicknesses and lengths, such as Fivex (1/4″ thick by 16″ long), Perfection (3/8″ thick by 18″ long), and Royal (1/2″ thick by 24″ long), homeowners have the flexibility to choose a style that best suits their architectural needs. The highest quality of standard wood shingles, often referred to as #1 grade, is derived from the tree’s heartwood, ensuring 100% edge grain with no defects, and is predominantly utilized for roofing and sidewalls due to its superior durability and visual appeal. These shingles are not only celebrated for their ability to enhance the aesthetic charm of a property but also for their natural resistance to elements, providing a reliable and sturdy roofing solution that harmoniously blends tradition with functionality.

Wood Shakes

Wood shakes bring a distinctive, rustic charm to roofing, embodying a blend of natural aesthetics and sturdy construction that has been cherished for centuries. Unlike standard wood shingles, wood shakes are often thicker and possess a more textured, rough-hewn appearance, which is particularly favored for its traditional and naturalistic visual appeal. There are primarily two main types of wood shakes, each offering a unique aesthetic and structural characteristic:

Handsplit and Resawn Shakes

Handsplits and Resawn Shakes embody the quintessence of rustic elegance and traditional craftsmanship in roofing materials. These shakes are renowned for their distinctive, rugged appearance, which is achieved by being handsplit on the exposed surface and sawn on the back. This method of crafting shakes not only provides a naturally textured and irregular surface, enhancing the rustic aesthetic of the structure but also ensures each piece is unique, adding to the charm and character of the roof.

The handsplit face of these shakes showcases a rough, uneven texture, which is often associated with historical and cottage-style architecture, bringing a sense of warmth and natural beauty to the structure. Meanwhile, the sawn back ensures a level surface for installation, providing stability and uniformity in the laying process. This combination of textured face and smooth back allows for a roofing material that is both visually appealing and functionally reliable.

Handsplits and Resawn Shakes are typically crafted from durable wood types, such as cedar, which is celebrated for its natural resistance to decay and insect damage. The thickness and robustness of these shakes provide excellent insulation and protection against various weather elements, such as wind, rain, and snow, ensuring a sturdy and durable roofing solution.

In terms of application, Handsplit and Resawn Shakes are versatile and can be utilized in various architectural styles, from traditional and historic homes to modern structures seeking a touch of natural elegance. They provide not only a protective roofing layer but also enhance the aesthetic value of the building, contributing to a visually striking and texturally rich architectural feature.

Tapersawn Shakes

Tapersawn shakes elegantly merge the aesthetic and functional attributes of both traditional wood shingles and handsplit shakes, offering a roofing material that is both visually appealing and structurally robust. These shakes are sawn on both sides, providing a semi-textured appearance that is somewhat smoother and more uniform than handsplit shakes, yet thicker and more substantial than standard shingles.

The crafting process of Tapersawn shakes involves sawing the wood in a tapered fashion, which results in a shake that is smooth on both sides, providing a sleek, tailored appearance while still maintaining a substantial thickness and shadow line. This unique combination allows Tapersawn shakes to deliver the aesthetic charm of smooth wood shingles while offering the durability and robustness of thicker shakes.

Tapersawn shakes are often chosen for their ability to seamlessly blend with various architectural styles, providing a roofing solution that is versatile and adaptable. Whether applied to a traditional, rustic, or modern structure, these shakes offer a warm, natural aesthetic that enhances the overall visual appeal of the building. Furthermore, their thickness provides excellent insulation and protection against external weather elements, ensuring a sturdy and reliable roofing cover.

Typically crafted from durable wood like cedar, Tapersawn shakes not only bring a natural, elegant aesthetic to roofing but also offer inherent resistance to decay and insects. The thickness of these shakes provides an additional layer of insulation and protection, ensuring that the roof is safeguarded against various weather conditions, such as wind, rain, and snow.