Friday, December 21, 2012

Comparing Shingles & Shakes

For comparing shingle and shakes, you must first know the difference between Cedar Shakes and Shingles. Although, the disparity between cedar shakes and shingles is less apparent now than it was 50 years ago. To begin with, cedar shingles were sawn from a block, whereas cedar shakes were split off by means of a mallet and froe.

Cedar shingles are, to be precise, pulverized and then vibrated, to make available an additionally superior characteristic appearance, which suits well to all varied range of styles. Shingles were mostly the siding choice for the post Victorian 'Shingle Style' in the late 19th century, along with many styles of the Arts and Crafts Period. Cedar shingles were very common in more than hundred Craftsman Style bungalows designed by Gustav, and were often specified for installations of both roofing and siding.

Cedar shake installations make available a more unequal, rural form to make a little stylish, more appealing statement that also worked fine for many smaller cottage styles. Machines are making most cedar shakes nowadays, with at least one side being sawn. Sometimes shakes are machine ribbed for appearing more as genuine hand split shakes. Even though cedar shakes at present are hardly ever hand split, but they still tag on the dimensional rules of their ancestors, which differ by rating. Shakes are thicker than shingles with sizes ranging from 1/2 " to 3/4 " or even bigger at the butt end, even as shingles size range from about 3/8" to 1/2".

The most significant difference among cedar shakes and shingles is that shingles are milled much more accurately than shakes. Cedar shakes are more asymmetrical, and do not lay as flat when set up. This produce space, which can be make a way into by windblown rainfall. As shakes can easily be infiltrated by windblown rain or snow, therefore a layer of felt paper is needed between processes for roofing installations. Inserting felt paper to assist in blocking windblown precipitation, and allows shakes to be put up with two layers of shakes and one layer of felt paper, in place of 3 layers of shakes that would become relatively thick as per Houston Roofing.

Regrettably, at the time of installing cedar shakes, several roofers take benefit of this felt inter-laid as a license to disregard the code requirements. All junctions connecting cedar shakes must remain offset by no less than 1" to 1/2" from course to course. Once the joints in neighboring courses are lined up, the solitary fortification from the elements is the felt paper, which has previously been pierced with nail holes, and can easily tear. The felt underlayment has been designed for short-term protection, and as a secondary barrier for sparse and intermittent leaks but not as a principal weather barrier.

In contrast, the cedar shingle installations by Houston Roofing are much more accurate as they lay flat and have never been installed with felt interleaving. For roofing purpose, shingles are at all times set up so that there are 3-layers of shingles at any point. Cedar shingles, when appropriately installed as 3- overlapping layers are effective in making it highly weatherproof also during extreme climate.

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