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Shake Roofs Explained
The rustic charm of a shake roof has made it a traditional favorite for both casual-looking and formal-looking homes. Cedar shakes are a remarkable natural roofing material that resists decay much longer than other woods; a shake roof has been known to last more than 100 years.
The one drawback is that it is not fireproof; for this reason, many codes do not allow shakes in certain wooded areas or on homes with a fireplace. Shakes that have been treated for fire resistance -- some with a Class A rating -- fulfill most code requirements.
The one drawback is that it is not fireproof; for this reason, many codes do not allow shakes in certain wooded areas or on homes with a fireplace. Shakes that have been treated for fire resistance -- some with a Class A rating -- fulfill most code requirements.
Kinds of shakes. The most common types of shakes are taper split, hand split, resawn, and straight split. Except for the straight split, they are thick at the butt end and taper to a thin end.
Straight-split shakes are equal in thickness at both ends and are not suitable for most roofs because they are so bulky. Hand-split shakes are the most expensive but are also the thickest. Tapered resawn shakes are not as thick, but they give the roof a more even profile because one face is smooth and flat.
Exposure. Shakes function best on roofs with at least a 6 in 12 slope, particularly in wet and humid climates. Shakes measuring
Straight-split shakes are equal in thickness at both ends and are not suitable for most roofs because they are so bulky. Hand-split shakes are the most expensive but are also the thickest. Tapered resawn shakes are not as thick, but they give the roof a more even profile because one face is smooth and flat.
Exposure. Shakes function best on roofs with at least a 6 in 12 slope, particularly in wet and humid climates. Shakes measuring
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18 inches are overlapped 10 1/2-inches, leaving an exposure of 7 1/2-inches; 24-inch shakes are overlapped 14 inches, exposed 10 inches.
This amount of overlapping provides standard 2-ply coverage. However, you will have a markedly better roof with 3-ply coverage, which means a 12 1/2-inch and 16 1/2-inch overlap, respectively. Nail the same as you would for wood shingles. Allow 1/2-inch of space between shakes.
Preparing the roof. Shakes are normally laid over spaced sheathing, either 1 by 4s or 1 by 6s. However, because shakes are irregularly shaped, air can still circulate underneath them -- essential for wood roofs -- when they are installed over solid sheathing or an existing composition roof.
Solid sheathing should be used in areas that get wind driven snow or in earthquake areas where plywood is needed for lateral strength. To cover an existing roof, cut back all roofing at the eaves and rake edges to make room for 1 by 6 trim boards. The trim boards provide solid edges for the shakes to rest on and conceal the unsightly existing roof. Flash all valleys with ribbed valley flashing, before applying roofing felt. The underlayment assures that any water that penetrates under the shakes will be carried out to the roof surface again.
This amount of overlapping provides standard 2-ply coverage. However, you will have a markedly better roof with 3-ply coverage, which means a 12 1/2-inch and 16 1/2-inch overlap, respectively. Nail the same as you would for wood shingles. Allow 1/2-inch of space between shakes.
Preparing the roof. Shakes are normally laid over spaced sheathing, either 1 by 4s or 1 by 6s. However, because shakes are irregularly shaped, air can still circulate underneath them -- essential for wood roofs -- when they are installed over solid sheathing or an existing composition roof.
Solid sheathing should be used in areas that get wind driven snow or in earthquake areas where plywood is needed for lateral strength. To cover an existing roof, cut back all roofing at the eaves and rake edges to make room for 1 by 6 trim boards. The trim boards provide solid edges for the shakes to rest on and conceal the unsightly existing roof. Flash all valleys with ribbed valley flashing, before applying roofing felt. The underlayment assures that any water that penetrates under the shakes will be carried out to the roof surface again.
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Photo courtesy of homeplacestructures.com