Pros and Cons of a Wood Shake Roof
There’s a certain natural appeal to a wooden shake roof that makes it a popular choice for many homeowners even during a time when better alternatives, such as slate and metal roofing, are available. Some high-end homes even prefer its rustic look to complement homes with country-style architecture. For all its visual advantages, they are not recommended for people looking for a low-maintenance roofing system.
Wooden roofs are perhaps the oldest type of roofing used today, but despite its rich history, it remains to be one of the most misunderstood materials.
Wood Shakes and Wood Shingles
You can choose between two styles of wood roofing: shakes or shingles. Shingles are typically machine-sawn, with cuts varying from being along the grain and against the grain. Meanwhile, shakes are hand-split, ensuring that one of its sides is always along the grain. This gives shakes better wind and water resistance, and makes them the better option of the two.
Advantages of Wood Shakes
As a poor conductor of heat, wood is one of the best insulating materials there is. This means you can make your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Wood shakes are also resistant to wind damage, one of the most common problems faced by asphalt shingles. In particular, cedar and redwood shakes have been shown to even improve the stability of the whole roof deck when installed.
Disadvantages of Wood
With all its great features and benefits, wood is held back by its high-maintenance requirements. You can protect it against its most common problems like rot and algae with certain treatments and protective coatings, but this will require frequent applications. Moreover, wood is also flammable, which means it is not recommended for homes in and near wildfire-prone areas.
Garlock-French Corporation is your leading provider of superior wood roofing materials and excellent installation services. Give us a call at (612) 722-7129, or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation and get a free estimate today. We also offer gutter cleaning services as well as installation of other roofing systems. We serve homeowners in St. Paul and Minneapolis, MN.
