What are wood roof shingles?

Written by No Doubt Marketing

Wood roof shingles are roof shingles that are made of wood roofing materials. While wood roof shingles have waned in popularity in recent years, they are regaining in popularity with higher end homes. There are several benefits to using wood shingle roofing, including maintenance of period integrity, durability and the ability to allow the house to breath, preventing moisture buildup. However, wood roof shingles also have a number of disadvantages including high rate of flammability during fire.

Wood Roof Shingle Material

Wood roof shingles are usually constructed of pine, spruce, cedar, cypress or, more rarely, redwood. Wood roofing has been used for centuries to produce a long-lasting roof which breathes and allows air to escape the house, preventing moisture buildup from occurring, which could lead to mold growing in the rafters and attic of the house.

Higher-end homes are now seeing resurgence in the use of wood shingle roofing materials. This can be particularly true for period homes, which also use wood roof shingles to maintain the historic and period integrity for restoration or replacement construction.

While many people consider the flammability factor to be a disadvantage, some homeowners consider it to actually be an advantage, since a highly inflammable roof means that the fire will burn through the roof, rather than keep the flames caught in the interior of the home. Allowing the fire to burn through the top of the house creates an escape route for the smoke and toxic fumes, which may actually stop a sleeping family from suffocating to death.

Many communities do not allow wood shingle roofing because it is so highly prone to fire. In California, for example, wood shake roofs are only allowed as replacement roofs if they have been treated with fire retardant and some counties do not allow them at all.

One of the newer and exciting developments in wood shingle roofing is the use of composite materials to create roofs that have the look and feel of wood roofing, but not the expense or dangers of the wood roofing materials. These composite wood roof shingles are often made of recycled materials such as asphalt, reinforced vinyl and cellulose materials. They have the appearance of traditional wood shingle roofing and are widely available in a variety of styles and colors that compliment almost any architectural home construction style.

Choosing a Wood Roof Shingle Installer

When choosing an installer for your wood shingle-roofing project, select a professional roofing contractor with experience installing this particular type of wood roofing material. It is a good idea to get several estimates from contractors who have been recommended to you, either by homeowners who have similar wood roofs or who have been recommended as roofing contractors by people you trust.

When searching for a professional roofing contractor, look for a contractor who has a valid contractor’s license, has experience with installing wood shingle roofing and who is willing to give you a detailed estimate that includes an estimated start and finish date. Also ask for information on purchasing materials yourself, since many contractors add a small mark-up when they purchase materials for a homeowner. Ask them about any potential installation problems they have experienced in the past. Finally, ask them for references from former customers who are happy with their work.

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