What Kind of Roof to Install on a Log Cabin With a 40-Foot Roof Span & a Cathedral Ceiling

Asphalt

• Asphalt shingles are frequently used on log homes, and they work well with a cathedral ceiling roof. The rafters are covered with plywood decking, which is covered with felt and then shingles, nailed directly to the plywood through the felt. Shingles come in colors that can match just about any shade of logs, or they can be green or red to give a contrasting look. Architectural shingles come with warranties of up to50 years.

Metal

• Metal roofs are molded in many styles and colors, and give a slick contrast with the rougher edge of a home's log siding. With proper installation they can outlast the lifetime of the cabin. A metal roof will hold snow a little better than other roofs since the frozen metal allows the flakes to freeze firmly and build up quickly. A snow layer can serve as an additional layer of insulation, the same as an ice igloo protects from the outside cold -- which is important since cathedral roofs lack the insulation of traditional attic roofs.

Tile, Slate and Shake

• Polymer plastics allow a wide range of potential roofs for a log cabin. Molded to mimic tile, Engineered polymer roofs evoke a southwestern flair for a log cabin home. Polymer slate and cedar shake roofs are almost indistinguishable from real ones, but they last much longer. All three match the rustic charm of a log cabin without the cost and the weight load of the real material. They also can come with a 50-year warranty.

Artificial Thatch

• Early log cabin roofs in the Midwest were often covered by thatch, or long grasses bundled together. The material was free, and in areas where lumber was in short supply it did the job of keeping rain and cold out. Artificial thatching is available to give that same look and feel to your log cabin. It is sold pre-bundled. Installing the thatch is just a matter of laying it onto the roof and crimping the bundles together so they will not slide off the steep cathedral roof.