Shlngles vs. Shalces

nO YOU know the difference I-lbetween a shinsle and a shake? Although the producis may be similar in appearance and application-mostly as roofing, there are very real differences.

Shakes are made from wood, usually cedar, often with at least one natural grain textured split surface. Shingles, thinner than shakes, may be produced from various materials including wood (again, usually western red cedar). Thev feature sawn smooth sawn on both faces for a neat, tailored appearance. It is cut in a choice of three lengths:

16" called Fivex. The thickness at the butt end is 5/2"(five butts stacked on top of each other total 2" thick).

18" called Perfections. The thickness is 5/2-l14".

24" called Royals. The thickness is 412".

#l Grade, the top grade, is clear heartwood, lOIVo edge grain with no defects. On a 4112 and steeDer

The f'ace must be 10" clear on the 16" Fivex: 1|" clear on the 18" Perfections, and 16" clear on the 24" Royals. Flat grain and limited sapwood are allowed. Flat grain can easily be detected by the grain designs on the face of the shingle. Limited knots and defects are allowed above the clear portion.

On a 4ll2 or steeper pitched roof', #2 shingles are applied at 4" for 16"; 4-112" for l8'; and 6-l/2" for 24".

Most often it is used for reroofing. walls, and as a starter course.

Number 3 Red Gedar Shingle (Black Labels)

A #3 grade shingle is cut in the same lengths and thickness as the #l and #2 shingle. The face must be 6" clear on the 16"-,6" clear on the 18": and 10" clear on the 24". Sapwood and flat grain are allowed. Limited knots and defects are allowed above the clear portion.

faces and backs, and are tapered with a standard thickness at the butt.

According to the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau, both shingles and shakes come in a range of sizes and grades:

Number I Red Gedar

Shingle (Blue Labels)

A shingle is cut tapered and pitched roof, a #l shingle is applied at 5" exposure for 16"; 5-l/2" for 18", and 7 -1/2" for 24"

#l shingles are used for both roofing and sidewalls.

Number 2 Red Gedar Shingle

(Red Labels)

A #2 shingle is cut in the same lengths and thickness as a #1 shingle.

On a 4112 pitched or steeper roof, #3 shingles are applied at3 l/2" exposure for 16";4" for 18"; and 5-l/2" for 24".

It is used for the undercourse in a two course application, garden sheds, gazebos, walls for outbuildings, etc.

Number I Tapersawn Shake (Blue Labels)

Both faces are sawn, like that of a shingle, but is cut thicker. This shake has a naturally tailored look of a shingle, but is complemented by the sharp shadow line of a shake caused by the thicker buff. It is cut from clear heartwood. with no defects.

The tapersawn shake is 5/8" or 3/4" thick at the butt and is cut in two lengths-I8" and24". On a 4/12 or steeper pitched roof, it is applied at 7ll2" for a 18" shake and 10" for a 24" shake.

Number 2 Tapersawn Shake (Red

Labels)

The #2 tapersawn is cut in the same lengths and thickness as that of the tapersawn shake. The lower half of the shake is clear. Flat and cross grains are allowed. The top half of the shake allows tight knots and other limited defects.

The application exposure is dropped from'7-l/2" to 5ll2" for the 18" shake and from 10" to 1 -l/2" for the 24" #2 tapersawn shake.

It is a reroofing product for residences, and is also used for wallshake applications, starter coursing, sheds, etc.

Number I Heavy Handsplit & Resawn Shake (Blue

Labels)

A split and resawn shake is sawn on the back side and the face is split with the natural erain of the wood

Shingles, thinner than shakes, may be produced from various materials including wood, giving the shake a highly textured surface on the exposed face. Also known as a heavy resaw, it is thicker and heavier than any other shake, giving the roof a very rugged or rustic appearance. It is cut from clear heartwood. with no defects.

The shake is 3/4" thick at the butt and cut in two lengths-I8" and 24". On a 4l12 or steeper pitched roof, it is applied at1 ll2" for an 18" shake and 10" for a 24" shake.

Number I Medium Handsplit & Resawn Shake

(Blue Labels)

Cut in the same manner, the medium split & resawn shake is just not length and is applied at 10" exposure on a 4l12 or steeper pitched roof. No felt is required with a 3-ply system in snow free areas.

Number I Straightsplit Shake (Blue Labels)

This shake is also called a barn shake and known years ago as a ranch shake. It is produced mainly by machine but can also be split with a cut as thick or as heavy as the heavy split and resawn shake. Also known as a medium resaw, it provides the roof with a very textured appearance.

The medium split & resawn shake is cut from clear heartwood. with no defects. This shake is ll2" thick at the butt and is cut in 18" and 24" lengths. On a 4/I2 or steeper pitched roof, it is applied atl-Il2" for an 18" shake and 10" for a24" shake.

Number I Tapersplit Shake (Blue Labels)

The tapersplit shake is produced by reversing the block, end for end, with each split. Selected parts of the tree are required for this naturally split shake, which is largely produced by hand with a mallet and splitting tool called a froe.

A tapersplit roof will give a less rustic, rippled shadow line. It is cut from clear heartwood, 100Vo edge grain, and with no defects. The tapersplit shake is cut l/2" thick and 24" in mallet and froe, in the same manner as the tapersplit shake. The difference is that the straightsplit is split from the same end of the block, producing a uniform thickness throughout.

The straightsplit creates a rippled shadow line on the roof. It is cut from clear heartwood and is 1007o edgegrain, with no defects. The shake is 3/8" to 1/2" thick and is cut in 18" and 24" lengths. No felt is required with a 3-ply system in snow free areas.

Other types include fancy-butt shingles (decorative shingles for exterior and interior use) and, for sidewall applications, rebutted & rejointed sidewall shingles and shakes, and grooved rebutted & rejointed shingles and shakes.

Both shakes and shingles are packed in bundles and, depending on the type, four or five bundles are packed to make a square. One square covers 100 square feet.