Hearkening back to early colonial America, weathered wood shingles can create a traditional and nostalgic look for your home. Wood shingles, also known as cedar shake or cedar shingles, are made by splitting cedar logs and then cutting the shingles to size. They are also tapered at one end for easier installation.
Cedar shakes are left rough on one side while the other side is sawn, so they lay flat on the roof. This creates a natural and rustic look. Cedar shingles are sawn on both sides, to create a more uniform appearance that while still natural, looks a little more refined than cedar shakes. Both types of cedar shingles can create a weathered wood look.
How To Achieve Weathered Wood Shingles
Traditionally, weathered wood shingles could only be achieved in one way — new wood shingles were installed and as time went on and they were exposed to the elements, they would begin to take on a weathered look.
The beauty of weathered wood shingles is that as they are exposed to the elements, each shingle will take on its own appearance, leading to naturally variegated color and a truly one-of-a-kind roof.
This weathered look can also be found in slate and clay roofing, but it is difficult to achieve in manufactured materials. If materials like asphalt shingles or metal shingles become weathered, they look unkempt, rather than charming and full of character.
Pros Of Cedar Shake Roof Tiles
They add a beautiful natural aesthetic. Cedar shakes add warmth and beauty to a roof and enhance the natural aesthetic of a home.
They are a traditional building material. For the renovation and restoration of historic buildings, cedar shakes can be used to restore the building to its former glory, but even the National Park Service, while recommending traditional materials, acknowledges the need to sometimes use alternate materials.
Cedar shakes are durable. When properly maintained, a cedar shake roof can last up to 10 years longer than an asphalt roof, roughly 30 years, though some last longer and some don’t last quite as long.
They can also save on utility bills. Cedar shakes have a higher insulation value than asphalt shingles, nearly double, and can help reduce utility bills by helping to maintain the home's internal temperature.
Cons Of Cedar Shake Roof Tiles
Cedar shakes can be a fire hazard. Wood is a highly flammable material, so installing wood shingles on your roof doesn’t protect as well against fire as other materials. Cedar shakes should be treated to increase their fire rating, but in some areas of the U.S. and according to some building codes, cedar shakes are prohibited.
They are susceptible to wear and tear. Over time, wood shingles can curl, crack, and break as moisture gets trapped inside, freezing and thawing throughout the year. Once the shingles break, they will have to be replaced to ensure that the underlying roof is protected.
They can attract insects and grow mold. As a natural material that, in its tree form, plays host to insects, cedar shakes will attract insects more readily than other materials. It is also prone to growing mold that must be removed periodically to protect the integrity of the roof.
Cedar shakes require regular maintenance. As wood roof shingles age, even if you’re going for a weathered wood look, they must be regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they continue to protect the roof.
Other materials have been used to replicate the look of cedar shakes and shingles, including:
Metal
Asphalt
Vinyl
Composite
The problem with most of these materials is that they’re unable to replicate the depth and dimension that comes with an authentic weathered wood roof.
Create A Weathered Wood Look With Brava Cedar Shakes
The rich texture and diverse patterns that are found on weathered wood shingles can be found in Brava’s Cedar Shake roof tiles. These stunningly realistic shingles recreate the look of wood shingles and come in a variety of colors that mimic the look of weathered wood, allowing you to channel the rich, deep shades or old-growth cedar, the weathered look of wood exposed to a coastal climate, or the muted tones of a cabin sitting cozy in the woods.
Our Cedar Shakes are molded from hand-split Western Red Cedar shakes giving them an authentic look that, when paired with our variegated, multi-toned colors creates a one-of-a-kind roof that captures the weathered look of a shingles that have stood the test of time — as ours will.
Contact the experts at Brava today to see how you can recreate an authentic weathered roof shingle look without the downsides.
