Wood Shingle Roof
Wood shingle roofs have several application methods for different types of decking. The ideal decking for a wood shingle roof is either skip sheathing, 1x8 boards spaced about 2 inches in between, or strapping, 1x3 boards laid at the nailing points of the shingles. These types of decking enable the wood shingle to breath, allowing it to saturate during rain, as well as dry evenly on both sides. If shingles do not breath, then they will collect moss and lichen, cup and warp and fail prematurely. A more modern method uses a plywood deck, covered by 30 lb felt and a "Cedar Breather", which is a light poly strand woven to allow the shingle to remain about 1/4 of an inch above the deck. This product is about 10 years old, and the overall longevity as compared to an open deck, is yet to be tested.
Traditional wood shingle roofs were hand nailed, allowing the applicator to use their discretion when the head of the nail is flush with the surface. Modern techniques utilize nail guns, which cannot regulate the depth of the nail, which can cause shingles to be too tight to the deck. Heritage Restoration does use nail guns, but the guns are on a lighter setting sometimes requiring an extra hit or two with a hammer. A good wood shingle roof, applied as the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau recommends, can last up to 50 years. Also, using preservative treatments such as Amteco Total Wood Preservative, can extend a roof's life significantly.
Sample Scope of Work:
The project requires special consideration for several reasons. The first is the significance of the building as a local cultural resource and museum, preserving the integrity of the exterior, as well as interior elements. The second consideration is the building as a retail establishment, being sure that the contents are protected during the process. The third consideration is the sculptured grounds, being sure to protect and maintain as much of the planting as possible. The final consideration is the quality of product and application.
Heritage Restoration, Inc. takes pride in our ability to not only understand the needs of the client, but to comprehend the significance of a building and the impact any work has on it. We have completed several hundred squares of wood shingle roofs on historically significant buildings, from private homes to National Parks. We do consider not only the task at hand, but also the surrounding consequences of such work on the building and surrounding elements. The cost of the roof does include all historic district committee presentation planning, submittal and review, as well as building permits, materials, labor and mitigation on the surrounding landscape.
There are two choices for roofing material. Western Red Cedar was typically used in the 20 th century. The longevity of Red Cedar is about 20-30 years, depending on maintenance and application. Alaskan Yellow Cedar was introduced as a roofing material around 20 years ago. Some say it is superior to Red Cedar, having a bit more dense growth rings, although its longevity is still not proven to be longer than Red. The color of the two are different upon application, Red versus Yellow/Pink, but they both gray out over time, with the Yellow being a bit lighter than the Red. Traditionally, 18 th century roofs would have been local material, most likely pine or oak, or being a lighter gray than the Red Cedar. Also, after some queries, nail guns can be used with both applications, as long as the substrate is somewhat predictable in density. Since there is a plywood deck on this roof, nail guns can be used. The roof is about 14 squares. We also recommend a preservative treatment after the first year, to prevent lichen and moss, as well as add longevity to the wood itself.
The scope of work is as follows: