Curious About Wood Shingle Roofing Installation for an older home in Penn Township Pennsylvania?
Our team can explain how a wood roof is made and how it ages
Contact us at 412-858-8858 to talk about a wood roof
Split Wood, Layered Like Scales, and Why People Choose It
Wood roofing is built from thin, tapered pieces of rot-resistant wood that overlap in rows, so rain passes from each piece to the one below it, down to the eaves; a wood roof is a living material that changes over the years.
Wood suits the steep gables, curved eaves and small dormers that are common on older houses; a wood roof may be chosen to match an original look.
Anyone asking about Wood Shingle Roofing Installation should begin with what the house needs and what kind of roof suits its style; a crew will want to see the valleys and the edges.
Smooth or Rugged: a Practical Overview
A sawn shingle has two smooth faces and a taper, so it lays flat and gives the roof a crisp, uniform pattern; split faces shed water by their texture and their thickness.
Edge-grain wood sheds water and stays flat, while flat-grain wood is more likely to cup, warp and split; straight grain is the sign of a well-chosen bundle.
Wood roofing may be treated with preservatives or left natural, and the choice changes how the roof resists rot, moss and insects over time; coatings and stains change the color and the upkeep.
Before you decide on Wood Shingle Roofing Installation, ask for the species, the cut and the thickness in writing; ask what the crew does when a bundle looks poor.
Spacing That Keeps the Roof Dry, From the Deck Up
Wood shingles must be able to dry from both sides, so they are often laid over spaced boards or strips that leave an air gap beneath; a vented ridge keeps the air moving.
A layer of felt or synthetic material between courses, or an ice and water barrier at the eaves and in valleys, adds protection where it counts; the barrier under the shingle must be installed with care.
Anyone planning Wood Shingle Roofing Installation should ask what will be done beneath the shingles and how air will move there; ask how the crew checks the sheathing.
Cold, Wet and Slowly Aging: What Happens Up There
Pittsburgh winters bring wet snow, freezing nights and long damp spells, and wood on a roof reacts to every one of them; spring is the time to look at the damage winter left behind.
Cupping, curling, splitting and gray streaks are normal signs of aging in wood, but loose, cracked or missing pieces allow water to reach the deck; a crew should explain which signs are cosmetic and which are serious.
A sensible plan for Wood Shingle Roofing Installation takes account of moss, damp slopes and the ice that forms at the eaves; there is no hurry to decide in the middle of a freeze.
What Holds Wood Shingles in Place, and How They Are Sealed
Each piece is held by two nails driven flush, and the nails should be of a metal that does not rust or react with the wood; nail heads that stand proud will wear through the layer above.
Valleys, ridges, hips, chimneys and skylights all call for metal flashing laid in a way that works with wood and not against it; chimneys and walls call for stepped flashing.
A plan for Wood Shingle Roofing Installation is only as good as its details, so ask about the fasteners, the valleys and every flashing; point out any place you have seen a stain.
Repair, Replace or Keep Cleaning: Weighing the Options
A few split, loose or missing shingles can be replaced one at a time, and the new pieces blend in as they weather; matching the color is easier on an older roof once the new wood has weathered.
A wood roof with widespread decay, repeated leaks or a worn deck has reached the point where a full tear-off is the sensible answer; the deck often shows what the surface hides.
Questions about Wood Shingle Roofing Installation should include what the roof will need five years after the work is done; compare the scope, not just the wood.
Order of Work on a Wood Roof, Piece by Piece
Before wood goes down, the deck is cleaned off, soft boards are replaced and the eaves are lined with a barrier; the deck is checked for gaps and rot.
Courses go on from the eaves upward, each row overlapping the one under it, with the joints staggered and each piece nailed by hand; photographs of each detail make a handy record.
- How will the valleys and the eaves be protected, and how will it be written down?
- How will the ridge be capped, and what are the trade-offs?
Keeping Cedar Healthy: a Plain Routine
Keep the roof free of leaves, needles and branches, since debris holds water against the wood and encourages moss; avoid pressure washing, which can drive water under the shingles and strip the surface.
Look inside too, since stains on the attic boards, damp insulation and daylight through the deck often reveal a roof problem before the roof does; a quick patch is easier before water gets into the deck.
Before you decide on Wood Shingle Roofing Installation, ask how the roof will be looked at in future seasons; ask which signs deserve a call.
Can the Roof Carry It: Load and Support
Rafters, decking and the supports underneath carry the weight of the roof plus snow, and older timbers deserve a careful look; a crew should walk the attic as well as the roof.
A proposal for Wood Shingle Roofing Installation ought to say who checks the rafters and the deck before the first piece of wood goes on; low pitches may need a different underlayment.
Start the Conversation: We Can Help
A wood roof gives a house a character that few materials can match, and the decision to choose one deserves some care; bring your questions and any photographs of the roof.
Call 412-858-8858 to talk about Wood Shingle Roofing Installation in Penn Township Pennsylvania; we can begin with a look at the roof as it stands.
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