Timber Shakes

Larch Shakes

Larch is a European golden softwood that is durable and requires no treatment. It has good insulating properties and is versatile, as it can be stained/painted with a coloured top coat to customer specifications. Our supplier, Rapold GmbH sources larch which is grown above 1000m in Germany and Austria, this means it is slower grown and a more stable product.

Standard shakes

These larch shakes are hand split, random width, taper-cleaned by machine and bevelled at butt.

Width - Shakes are delivered in various widths. The average width for larch shakes is approx. 90mm.

Standard shakes are bevelled (chamfered) at an angle of 45° at the thick butt end.

Fancy-butt shakes

These shakes are hand split, round scaled, taper cleaned by machine and bevelled at butt.

For further sizing information of all larch shakes, please take a look below.

Product Information

Standard larch shakes

Shake lengths (mm)  Approx. Thickness (mm)
600
12
500
10-11
400 10
300 9
250 7
200 6

Fancy-butt larch shakes

Shake lengths (mm)  Shake widths (mm) Approx. Thickness (mm)
400
 100 10
300 100 or 80 9
250 100 or 80 7
210 80 or 60 6

Coverage

The type of wood, shake length, method of laying, weather exposure and desired covering density should be taken into consideration when making calculations.

Please note: shakes are supplied in random widths and the packs calculated for a given coverage. The shakes should be used ‘as they come’, packs should not be sorted for widths.

Roof – shakes should be laid 3-ply

Exterior façade/wall – shakes should be laid 2-ply to 3-ply

Interior wall – shakes can be laid 2-ply

Standard shake lengths (mm)  600 500 400 300 250 200
Popular lengths for roof (R)/wall (W) R R/W R/W W W W
Roof/Wall 3-ply ① (22° to 90°) Exposure in mm ④ 180 155 125 90 75 60
Linear metres per m² 5.56 6.45 8.0 11.11 13.33 16.66
Wall 2-ply ② (71° to 90°) Exposure in mm ④ 270 225 180 120 100 80
Linear metres per m² 3.70 4.45 5.56 8.33 10.0 12.5

1. The exposure should not exceed ⅓ the length of the shake. Minimum roof pitch approx. 18-20°
2. The exposure should not exceed ½ the length of the shake.
3. LM – Linear Metre (100cm x shake length
4. EXP – Weather exposure (distance from the shake bottom edge to the next above shake bottom edge)

Additional Information

  • Wall Cladding

    • m² wall area

    • linear metre starter course (on the wall)

    • mm desired weather exposure

    • mm shake length

    Roof Coverage

    • m² roof area

    • linear metres for eave (the first course of shakes laid on a roof)

    • mm desired weather exposure

    • mm shingle length

  • Shakes should be pre-drilled and stainless steel nails used.

  • A top-coat of colour can be applied to larch shakes to achieve a desired finish.

  • We will be able to advise you of the delivery cost when you place your order. Once your order is ready, we will call you to arrange a delivery date/time.

    Our WL West delivery lorry delivers to the following postcodes in the UK: BH, BN, BR, CR, CT, DA, DT, E, EC, EN, GU, HA, HP, IG, KT, LU, ME, MK, N, NW, OX, PO, RG, RH, RM, SE, SL, SM, SN, SO, SP, SW, TN, TW, UB, W, WD.

    Outside of this area we will arrange delivery via a third party.

    Timber shakes and shingles are delivered on a pallet. Please ensure you have the appropriate equipment and personnel to manage unloading, which might require more than one person.

  • Timber shakes and shingles are a hand-made product, please contact us for up-to-date lead times on specific products. Items in stock can be delivered in 2 weeks.

All images on this page are credited to © Rapold GmbH

Do you require timber shakes for your next project?

We are a leading UK timber merchant & machinist, supplying trade, commercial & homeowners.

From providing high quality timber shakes and shingles to cladding and beams, we can help with your project needs. With over 155 years’ experience, timber is what we do. Get in touch with our Sales Team to get your timber shakes or shingles quote.