Shingles are really more often known as Cedar shakes
These are more poular in America
Cedar shakes combine a traditional look with reliable, modern performance. Cedar shakes are a great choice for historic homes or homes in new developments with high appearance standards. Also, cedar shakes are an environmentally friendly option for consumers. The life expectancy of cedar shakes is up to 30 years, if quality materials are used. If the contractor uses commodity materials (low quality) or if the workmanship is poor, the life expectancy can drop to only a few years. Another concern potentially associated with cedar shakes is that many councils will require you to install pressure-treated fire retardant shakes, which increases the cost of the materials.

We source our Cedar shakes from John Brash Ltd.

Cedar Shake Specification
1. Estimating
Shakes can be applied at a variety of gauges but, like Shingles, there are three
standard gauges. The minimum pitch shakes may be applied at is 20º.
a) Roofs 3 ply (3 course) shakes applied at a 190mm gauge = 1.39m² per bundle.
b) Roofs 2 ply (2 course) shakes applied at a 250mm gauge = 1.83m² per bundle.
c) Vertical (max gauge) shakes applied at a 290mm gauge = 2.12m² per bundle.
N.B. These are exact areas and do not allow for cutting and wastage.
In addition for all cases allow extra for the following:
i) Starter Course, either
a. double course of shingles - 1 bundle to 9 lin.m. or
b. single course of shakes - 1 bundle to 7 lin.m.
ii) Valleys - 2 bundles for every 7.5 lin.m.
iii) Hips & Ridges* - 2 bundles for every 7.5 lin.m.(traditional method)
*There is no pre-formed capping available.
2. Nails
For maximum life, fixings should be made with 2 no. 45mm x 2.36mm silicon bronze
or stainless steel nails per Shake. As a guide 0.9kg of nails is required for 4 bundles of Shakes.
3. Fixing Method
The Shakes are fixed as per Cedar Shingles directly on to the batten at the specified
gauge. Shakes are normally fixed directly to the upper parts of the battens (thereby
avoiding conflict with the felt underlay nails) and applied in straight single courses. A
starter/ eaves course of one or two layers of Cedar Shingles is overlaid with a single
course of Shakes.
Hips and ridges are formed with alternative bevels laid to the same gauge as the plain
roof.
For roof pitches of 20° - 30°, a breathable roofing felt interlay, complying with BS 747:1977
Type IF, is required between the Shake courses to act as a baffle to prevent the ingress
of wind driven snow or other foreign matter into the roof space.
The strips of felt should be fastened to the lower part of the next batten exposed above
the head of the Shake, and the lower edge of the felt should be at a distance above the
butt equal to twice the weather exposure. For example, 600mm Shakes laid with a
250mm exposure would have felt applied 500mm above the butt. Thus the felt will
cover the top 100mm of the Shakes and extend 357mm onto the sheathing. Note that
the top edge of the felt must rest on the spaced sheathing.
As an alternative for steeper pitches where the slope of the roof is over 30° a more
simple method of fixing may be used. A breather type of roofing felt is laid over the
rafters and battened in the traditional fashion. We would recommend using a 3 ply roof
construction in this case.
In conditions of severe climatic exposure or other exceptional applications, please
contact John Brash & Company Ltd for further advice.

ROOF FORCE MEMBER.