When it comes to wood roofing there are two different types of material that the wood is formed into, wood shakes and wood shingles. This leads to the all too common question from the everyday person, “What is the difference between a wood shake and a wood shingle?”

Differences Between Wood Shakes and Shingles

What is a Shake?

A wood shake is a piece of wood that has a rough or natural-looking split side and a smooth side

What is a Shingle?

A wood shingle is smooth on all sides and thinner than a wood shake.

Manufacturing

The major difference between a shake and a shingle is the appearance and the way each is made. A shingle when first produced was sawn on all sides from a block of wood. A shake was split on one side using a mallet or sharp blade.

Today the process has been streamlined. Wood shingles are fully cut by large machines to produce them more rapidly. Wood shakes are still manufactured by hand to achieve the natural split side but are made with the help of power saws.

Appearance

This is the most recognizable difference between a shake and a shingle. A shingle is smooth on all sides and much thinner. A shake gives a thick rustic appearance with what is described as a natural or raw edge. Shakes have more texture and provide more visual interest while a shingle is smooth and gives a clean and uniform look.

Sometimes you will see wood shingles used as siding on homes. They were very popular on cape cod style cottages on the beaches in northeastern states. Shingles offer a smooth and modern look that can complement more home styles when used as roofing. A shake still offers an impressive look but is more varied and rustic.

Durability

When it comes to durability a cedar shake is the most durable of wood roofing materials. A 3/4″ shake holds the highest durability in wood roofing materials. The 3/4 inch measurement refers to the thickness of the butt end of each shake. These are often called heavy cedar shakes and are often hand-split. The thicker cut of the wood offers more protection from wind, rain, hail, UV sunlight, and other forms of impact.

Price

A wood shake is more durable, but it is always going to be the more expensive roofing option. Shakes are thicker using more wood to produce. They also require more labor to produce the split rough edge. A wood shake roof will also require an increased cost to install because the process is a little more complicated than a shingle installation.

Wood Roofing Alternative

There are now alternative roofing materials that give a homeowner the look of real wood. Synthetic wood roofing products are molded from wood shakes but made out of a synthetic composite material that can stand up to all weather.

If you are considering re-roofing your home in Skagit or Snohomish County and love the look of wood but are not sure what type of wood roofing to choose, it is a great idea to talk over your options with a roofing professional. They can show you all of the wood roofing products they work with and help advise you on what those materials could look like when placed on your home and if they will work with the roof on your home. (not all materials work for every roof type and slope)

When you are ready to re-roof your home, whether you are considering cedar shakes, traditional shingles, or metal roofing the team at Orlando’s Pro Roofing is here to help. We are highly certified with over 15 years of experience. Call us today for a free consultation and estimate for your roofing needs. We provide excellent roofing services in Snohomish and Skagit Counties.

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