Cedar shingles, also called cedar shakes, are basically shingles made from wood. Cedar shingles have been used for roofing and cladding of exterior walls for a long time in the past. Cedar shingles are known for providing long-lasting protection from the elements while adding a rustic look and feel to a home. Cedar shingles must be edge-grain cut. This prevents warping and splitting during the drying time. When manufacturing cedar shingles it is crucial to focus on the orientation of the grain of the timber. It is vital when splitting blocks for manufacturing that the cut is exactly perpendicular to the grain.
Normally, 2 methods are used to split cedar shingles. A straight split where the shingle keeps the same thickness throughout. A taper split where the thickness tapers down from one end to the other. To achieve this a board of proper thickness is taken and split or cut diagonally.
Cedar Shingles Roof
If you intend to have a premium roofing system assembled from natural materials, a cedar shake roof is the best fit for your needs. While fulfilling the same function as asphalt roofs, cedar shingles offer breathtaking aesthetics that distinguish them from more commonly used roofing types. Cedar shingles are sophisticatedly fashioned from large cedar trees, being cut into 2-foot sections and then, either hand-split or sawed into tapered thickness (called taper sawn). Hand-split shingles lend a rustic, textured look. While taper-sawn shingles noticeably display a smoother texture.
Cedar shingles are offered in two thicknesses: half-inch and three-quarter-inch segments. Going for the three-quarter inch shingles means getting more durability but the cedar shingles prices of this thickness carry a higher tag. Similarly, cedar shakes offer varied exposure choices, including 12-inch and 7 1/2-inch exposures, to help create your desired aesthetic.
It’s notable that when exploring cedar shake shingles, there might be a bit longer wait time for your new roof. Cedar shake manufacturers normally produce these shingles on demand, so they split the cedar sections only when an order is placed. Due to that, you can expect a waiting period of between 3 to 8 weeks to receive the order for your cedar shake roof.
Cedar Slats Fencing
Red Cedar Slats are the new craze due to the natural variation in colour of cedar and its natural resistance to infestation and rot. Proving of Slats is done in section sizes of:
- 45mm x 18mm
- 95mm x 18mm
Cedar slats are planned on all four sides smoothly. The typical lengths of cedar slate range between 0.61m and 4.27m. Any longer and you run the risk of failing to keep the slats straight.
The two commonly used cedar slats variants include:
Canadian Western Red Cedar Slats
The Canadian Cedar has a darker red colour and reveals a lot of colour variation that makes it extremely attractive. This Cedar consists of minimal knots giving a modern look to your slats. The Canadian timber is stable and has negligible water movement so doesn’t expand and shrink as much as other timber varieties.
British Western Red Cedar Slats
British horizontal cedar slats are a consistent light red colour that is full of character. The knotty character of this timber lends a more traditional look to your slats.
Red Cedar Slats
The treatment of red cedar slats is done to retain their color by applying a UV protection oil. This allows for protecting the timber from turning silvery grey for longer. Moreover, Red Cedar Cladding has robust dimensional stability and durability. It lays flat and straight and is unlikely to twist and crack compared to other timber products. The supremacy of Red Cedar as an all-weather building material is just obvious. It contains natural oils that work as a preservative to enable the wood to resist insect attack and decay.
A Red Cedar screen creates an architectural look that provides visually pleasant shadow lines and texture in an outdoor space. Assembled with horizontal boards, the aesthetic appeal of this screen style originates from its simple clean lines and pleasing proportions. Red Cedar Battens are versatile and found suitable for varied purposes. Mainly used for framing fences, and trellis and acting as trim to hide fixings, battens are today most desirable for creating slatted screens and horizontal fencing.
Wrapping Up
Cedar shingles are a natural insulating building material. That makes them perfect at contributing to low carbon emission buildings because of less heating/cooling requirements. They are very durable and can be used in different regions. Buildings in both hot and cold climates extensively use this variety of building materials. Cedar is basically a low-density wood so there is minimal shrinkage over time. In other words, shingles can be installed without worries, as they are known to hold and maintain their shape and structure. Cedar is also a durable wood and easy to work with. So, it will stand the test of time, while ensuring the installation isn’t too difficult. Now it is easy to order timber online, from a genuine timber and building materials supplier. Also ordering timber online means the prices are kept competitive.
