One of the most sought after roofing materials that people ask Sugar Land roofing experts to install is wood. Homeowners love wood roofs because of their natural beauty and because they typically last longer than asphalt shingles with proper maintenance. However, choosing the type of wood is just half the battle; homeowners also have to determine if they want shingles or shakes. At first glance, they might assume that the only difference between the two is appearance, but these types of wood roofs vary in functionality as well.
Homeowners often incorrectly use the terms wood shakes and wood shingles interchangeably when referring to wood roofs. While it's true that homeowners can correctly call any wood roofing material a shingle, they can't call all wood roofing materials shakes. Wood shakes are typically much thicker and wider than shingles, ranging between 4 and 12 inches in width. The thicker shakes gives the roof a unique look while also increasing the home's overall insulation, which can help the homeowner save money during the cold winter months.
The biggest difference between wood shingles and shakes is how they are manufactured. Shingles are often cut and pressure treated by machines, creating a uniform appearance. Shakes are split straight from logs by hand. As a result, shakes have a much rougher exterior, and they tend to vary in size.
Roofers from Houston Restoration Services of Sugar Land can answer any questions about remodeling or residential roofing.
Most of them aren't painted, but sometimes they are pressure treated before they are shipped to contractors. In either case, the wood has to be sealed to increase its tolerance to moisture.
Regardless of the styles of wood roofs that homeowners may choose, the most common type of tree that manufacturers use for these wood products is cedar. Sometimes, they use cypress, pine or redwood, but none of these are as common. Most contractors recommend cedar because of its natural bug repellent properties. Both shakes and shingles have to be chemically treated to reduce both their flammability and susceptibility to insects. This process has to be done every few years.
Most wood roofs last between 30 and 50 years depending on how well they are maintained. However, the life cycle of this roofing material also depends on the climate. Wood roofs on homes in very humid climates deteriorate faster than if the homes were located in drier climates. While wood isn't as resistant to moisture as some other roofing materials on the market, it is more resistant to impact damage than metal and slate. Also, wood acts as a good insulator for homes, lowering the homeowner's carbon footprint year round.
