All About Oak, Larch & Cedar Roof Shingles & Shakes
Oak, Larch and Cedar shakes and shingles are great roofing materials known for their durability, carbon neutrality, insulation benefits, low maintenance and great strength against strong winds; however, with them come a whole range of questions. This article aims to answer some of the most frequently-asked questions about shingles in the hopes of helping our clients understand the subject and decide what they need with confidence.Â
If you have any pressing concerns or would like to speak directly to an expert, please do get in touch and we will be glad to help.
What Are Wooden Shingles?
Wood shingles are thin pieces of wood used to cover the roofs or walls of building for insulation or aesthetic purposes. Although the term `shingles’ is often used interchangeably with `shakes’, they are not the same.
Wooden shingles are thin and machine-sawn on both sides, giving the finished project a smooth and uniform appearance. Wood shakes are hand-split on one or both sides, giving the finished project a more rustic, weathered look overall. Wood shakes are radially cleft from a roundel or cross-section through a tree trunk, which enhances their stability and longevity.
How Long Do Wood Shingles Last?
Cared-for properly, Cedar wood shingles or shakes will last over thirty years; Larch shakes fifty to sixty years, and cleft Oak shakes will last seventy to eighty years. Although we have seen buildings in Bavaria and Austria with Oak Shake roofs which are over 100 years old.
Cedar wood is a popular option due to its rot- and insect-resistant properties, but Oak is strong, durable and the material of choice for those looking for wood shingles for sale in the UK. Oak will resist high exposure to the elements for a long time, upwards of seventy years, making it a popular option for ecclesiastical cladding projects.
How to Remove Roofing Shingles
Because a lot of our shake installation projects are replacements for older shingles, it’s useful to be aware of the removal process of existing shingles.Â
Fortunately, if you happen to be prepping your shed roof for new wood shingles, you don’t need any specialist tools to remove old ones. Simply grab a shovel (preferably with a serrated edge), insert it underneath a shingle, and lever it up by pushing down firmly on the handle. This will often dislodge more than one shingle at a time, so results can be quick, and it doesn’t matter where you start. Be sure to clear up the mess as you go to remove the hazards they pose. Remember to go back in your tracks and pull up the remaining nails and felt left on the roof.
The main thing to keep in mind is safety, especially if you’re working high up or near the edge of a rood. You will also need a safe and efficient way of hauling away all the redundant old shingles and debris.
As DIY projects go, however, we would always recommend seeking professional services to help you, especially when it comes to the quality of the new shingles you purchase and the installation process.
How to Stain Wooden Shingles
Staining and treating new wooden shingles are great ways of protecting them against the elements. Water-repellent shingle stain will penetrate the wood, protecting it from extreme weather and preventing any cracking, peeling or chipping. Stain can be used to soak shingles prior to installation or painted on once mounted. While the latter is less time-consuming, it is necessary for the shingles to be clean and dry for the staining treatment to be effective. Roxil, for example, is a simple silicone treatment that is effective and easy to apply.
As well as preserving the shingles from damage over time, stain can help to achieve specific colours or looks. For a more rustic or natural look, however, a transparent stain is preferable.
If you’re unsure what treatment is best for different types of shakes and shingles, get in touch with a specialist who can help you out.
How to Install Wood Shakes or Shingles
The installation of wood shakes and shingles is a project to be done by those with experience in the area and is not a DIY project to be undertaken lightly.
In order to understand wall or roof shingle installations, however, it’s useful to be aware of the structure and order in which materials are laid.
On churches, oak shakes are nailed onto sarking boards for extra structural strength, while the roofs and walls of houses or domestic buildings require layers of insulation such as mineral wool, followed by wooden sheathing, a membrane for weatherproofing and breathing material to prevent the undersides of shingles from rotting.
The idea behind multiple layers of material under shingles is to ensure insulation, weatherproofing, and structural strength. This way, if any nails penetrate the under layers, water cannot get in even if shingles get blown off. For a roof, it is common practice to lay up a three-layer ‘sandwich’.
Oak and Larch Roof Shingles For Sale UK
W. L. West & Sons Ltd supply oak and larch shakes for cladding and roofing projects on a regular basis, having worked on churches, hotel walls and home features in Europe as well as here in the UK.
We are the sole UK distributors for Rapold GmbH, a third-generation Schindlefachgeshäft (shingle shop) who have been making shingles and shakes in the same way for nearly 100 years in the mountains of Bavaria. Their Peter Harknett Oak Shake product, named after the renowned steeplejack, is particularly strong and durable and recommended for church spires for greater longevity.
Although these products haven’t changed for many years, W.L. West are actively working more and more projects that demonstrate that shakes and shingles are not old and outdated. In fact, they have many modern applications, such as timber frame buildings, and remain a sustainable, environmentally-friendly option for commercial and domestic buildings alike.
Architects are starting to recognise this and specifying for oak and larch shakes in their projects, such as the Klosterhof Hotel in Bad Reichenhall, which feature Rapold’s European Larch shingles both inside and outside the hotel.
For any outstanding questions or if you are in need of a quote, please get in touch below and one of our specialists will help you out directly.
W. L. West & Sons Ltd is a timber merchant and sawmill business with 150 years of experience. We provide a wide range of air-dried oak and kiln-dried oak timber products and supplies. We also build and install custom projects for our customers.
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For entirely finished products, timber supplies or woodworking tools, have a look at our Retail Shop (which is temporarily closed for lockdown but will re-open in due course).
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