Planning Wood Shingle Roofing Installation in Western Pennsylvania?

The Roofing Company will go over the parts of a wood roof in plain terms

Reach 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; wood suits some house styles better than any other covering.

Cedar is the usual choice for a wood roof in this part of the country, since the wood resists rot and splitting better than most other species do; some owners pick it for its natural warmth.

Before you decide on Wood Shingle Roofing Installation, note the pitch, the number of valleys and dormers and the trees nearby; note which ones have aged well and which look worn.

Sawn, Split and Hand-Finished Wood: Texture and Thickness

Shingles are sawn on both faces, which makes them flat, even and neat, and they go on in tidy, regular courses; 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.

Preservative treatment helps wood resist rot, moss and insects, and treated and untreated roofs age at different rates; untreated wood weathers faster in damp spots.

A plan for Wood Shingle Roofing Installation should explain why one kind of wood piece suits your house better than another; a crew should be able to say what it likes and what it avoids.

Wood Needs Air Under It, From the Deck Up

Open sheathing and battens let air move under the shingles, which helps each piece dry after rain and snow; solid decking needs a separate air channel if it is used.

Beneath the shingles go felt or synthetic layers, and at eaves and valleys a self-sealing barrier gives extra protection against meltwater; a plan should name each layer from deck to surface.

Before you settle on Wood Shingle Roofing Installation, find out what will happen if the old deck is damaged; ask what changes the plan once the old roof is off.

Freeze-Thaw, Moss and Mildew, and Why Shade Matters

Snow melts on a warm roof and refreezes at the eaves, and the ice can lift shingles and push meltwater under the wood; an ice dam at the eave is a danger to any roof.

Wood roofs show their age in the grain, with some curling and gray weathering expected, while cracks and gaps are the signs that matter; a crew should explain which signs are cosmetic and which are serious.

Before you decide on Wood Shingle Roofing Installation, ask how a crew expects the roof to behave in a hard winter; compare what each proposal says about winter.

Every Edge and Valley Matters: What to Inspect

Nails matter on a wood roof, since cedar encourages corrosion and ordinary steel nails can fail long before the shingles do; a crew should say which fastener it uses.

Ridges and hips are capped with specially cut pieces, which overlap in a way that sheds water down both sides; a crew should be able to describe the details at each valley.

Anyone comparing proposals for Wood Shingle Roofing Installation should look for the details of the work, not just the wood; ask for a sketch of one valley detail.

Deciding How Much to Do, and What Each Involves

A few split, loose or missing shingles can be replaced one at a time, and the new pieces blend in as they weather; a moss-covered roof is often cleaned before repairs begin.

When most of the pieces are curled, cracked, thin or soft, replacement makes more sense than patching a roof that is failing everywhere; the crew should say what it expects the deck to look like.

Anyone weighing Wood Shingle Roofing Installation should be shown the condition of the old wood, with photographs where possible; ask for each option written separately.

A Typical Sequence: What to Expect

A job starts by protecting the yard and the house, stripping the old roof and checking the deck for damage before any wood is laid; the early steps set how long the roof will last.

After the deck is ready, the courses go on from the eaves upward, each one overlapping the row below with the joints staggered; the roof is checked for straight lines from the ground.

  • Will the old roof be removed or covered, and what could change the plan?
  • Who cleans up the debris and old wood, and what happens if something goes wrong?

Small Habits That Extend a Wood Roof, Spring and Fall

Keep the roof free of leaves, needles and branches, since debris holds water against the wood and encourages moss; do not walk on wood roofs when they are wet or frosty.

A wood roof that is looked at in spring and fall and kept clean can last far longer than one that nobody inspects; early action keeps small leaks small.

Upkeep is part of any plan for Wood Shingle Roofing Installation, since a well-laid wood roof still needs clear surfaces and an owner who looks now and then; a note on cleaning and trimming is a good thing to receive.

Structure Comes First, and Why It Matters

Structure matters under wood, because timbers that have sagged, cracked or soaked up water cannot hold a roof for long; the deck must be solid enough to hold nails firmly.

Anyone planning Wood Shingle Roofing Installation on a house with an unusual shape should ask how the structure and the slope will be handled; photographs of the attic help a crew plan.

Take the Next Step: a Simple First Step

Choosing and laying wood shingles is a big project, and the quality of the details sets the result; the next step is a simple one.

Contact us at 412-858-8858 to go over Wood Shingle Roofing Installation for your roof; tell us about the age and the style of the house.