Options for Cedar Shingles

Cedar Shakes

• Cedar shakes are available in handsplit and resawn or tapersawn types and are either tapered or uniform in thickness. Handsplit and resawn shakes are split on the front side and sawn on the back. Shakes come in 18- or 24-inch lengths with butt thicknesses ranging from 3/8 inch to 2 inches. Tapersawn shakes are sawn on both sides and are available in 18 or 24-inch lengths with butt thicknesses from 5/8 inch to 1 1/2 inches.

Cedar Shingles

• Cedar shingles are sawn on both sides to look more tailored and come in 16, 18 and 24-inch lengths. Shingles used for siding are rebutted and rejointed to provide square, even-sized butt ends and parallel edges. Sanded faces and machine-profiled edges are available to create varied siding designs.

Treatment Options

• Pressure-impregnated fire-retardant treated cedar shakes and shingles contain a factory injected fire retardant that is locked in through kiln drying. Pressure-impregnated preservative-treated cedar shakes and shingles have a preservative to ward off moss and mildew growth. The former product is best in wildfire-prone areas while the latter is preferred in areas of high humidity. Choice is necessary as the treatments cannot be combined on the same shingle or shake.

Class Options for Cedar Roofing

• Cedar shake and shingle roofs exist in four classes. Class A, used in hospitals and other institutions, provides the most protection against exposure to fire. A fire retardant fiberglass cap sheet underlay is combined with shingles or shakes treated with a Class B fire-retardant treatment. Class B, used in apartments and commercial buildings, provides moderate protection as no fire retardant underlay exists under the Class B treated shingles or shakes. Class C, used for single family homes and duplexes, have shingles or shakes treated with a Class C retardant suitable for exposure to light fires. Unrated cedar shingles or shakes are used for roofs on garden sheds or other unoccupied outbuildings.