- Wood shingles and shakes are perennial favorites for roofs because of their natural, rustic appearance.
- They are from cedar, redwood, southern pine and other woods.
- Wood shingles have smooth, machine-sawn surfaces and are thinner than shakes with a life expectancy of 15 to 25 years.
- Shakes are either sawn or hand-split for a more rugged appearance and they are expected to last up to 50 years.
- Some local building codes limit the use of wood shingles and shakes because of concerns about fire resistance.
- Many wood shingles and shakes only have Class C fire ratings or no ratings at all. However, Class A fire ratings are available for certain wood shingle products that incorporate a factory-applied, fire-resistant treatment.
- Fancy-cut wood shingles are available in a variety of shapes, including fish-scale, cove, and V-cut patterns.
