Cedar Wood Shake Shingle Roofing and Repair

A shake is a basic wooden shingle that is made from split logs. Shakes have traditionally been used for roofing and siding applications around the world. Higher grade shakes are typically used for roofing purposes, while the lower grades are used for siding purposes. In either situation, properly installed shakes provide long lasting weather protection and a rustic aesthetic, though they require more maintenance than some other more modern weatherproofing systems.

Most people in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii choose Cedar Shake because of it’s natural and incomparable look.

In the case of an emergency, wood roofing is easy for contractors to conduct repair services if the structure is still intact. Whether your roof system is cedar wood shake or wood shingle (royals), the underlayment can be replaced with new 30 lbs. felt, and the damaged materials can be changed out.

New shakes can be either weather treated with CCA (chromate copper arsenate) for wet neighborhoods or they can be fire treated for dry neighborhoods. The fire treatment is a patented process invented by Watkins Sawmills in Washington state.

MRC prefers the finished look of premium resawn shakes which have a uniform width and 100% end grain cuts. The conformity of premium shakes gives what most people consider the best overall look for a shake roof. Both residential and commercial applications benefit from the rustic appearance of shake roofs.

Now that Hawaii Building Code calls for all roofs to be solid sheeted with plywood, wood shake or shingle roofs lose their natural cooling ventilation affect. The best way to counteract the loss of ventilation is to add ventilation in the form of a solar attic fan.

Shake roofs are normally installed with exposures of 10” or 8 inches. Wood shingles are smaller and so they have a smaller exposure of 5”, 6” or 7 inches. Depending on the look you are trying to achieve, MRC can provide a free inspection and quote to reroof your structure with either wood shake or wood shingle.

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