What are the Multiple Types of Cedar Roofing?

Red cedar is the most regularly used wood in North America for the purpose of roof shingles and shakes. Due to attractive color variation, cut and durability, both cedar shakes and shingles are preferred choices for roofing. Both cedar shingles and cedar shakes are widely used on commercial structures and residential houses alike. They can be used in nearly every climate and give your property a unique character.

Cedar shingles are sawn from wood blocks. They are tapered and generally have a smooth surface. Cedar shingles have uniform thickness, appearance and width, except for fancy butts and custom orders. There are two styles of cedar shingles: sawn and sanded cedar shingles. The sawn cedar shingles have the strength and general visual properties of cedar shakes, but with a more tailored appearance. The sanded cedar shingle is smoother on both sides and offers an even more refined look.

Cedar shakes are split from wood blocks; they are less uniform in thickness than shingles, are sometimes grooved, and often have little taper. Shakes may be split and then sawn to provide taper as well as a relatively flat side. Cedar shakes have a rustic appearance. Within the cedar shakes category, hand-split and taper-sawn cedar shakes are the two options. The hand-split shake has a rough outside and creates a more rustic effect. The taper-sawn shake is sawn on both sides and retains the thickness and strength of a shake while remaining closer to the texture and tailored appearance of a shingle. Taper-sawing means the shake is cut so it�s slightly thicker at one end, creating its �taper.�

The most important property to consider when buying cedar shingles and cedar shakes is durability, and its resistance to decay. Some woods, such as the red cedar, have natural durability and that makes it the most regularly used wood for shingles. Cedar roofing shakes and shingles also provide excellent insulation as a roofing material.

The most obvious features that distinguish cedar shakes and cedar shingles from each other are their unique visual characteristics. Cedar shingles provide your roof with a more tailored look, while cedar shakes supply a more rugged appearance. Shingles and shakes can be used on sidewalls as well as roofs and come in varying lengths, usually 16, 18, or 24 inches and in random widths. Both can be applied directly over some existing roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles or a previous layer of wood shingles.