With the growing interest in timber products, primarily because of people looking for renewable materials, western red cedar shingles are becoming increasingly popular in the UK.

Cedar shingles satisfy environmental criteria imposed on construction products in Canada and the US, where they are sourced and which both have strict reafforestation programmes.

The production of shingles from western red cedar is a virtually pollution-free process as it mainly uses waste residues from the sawmilling industry, making them the ideal natural choice.

Western red cedar shingles are suitable for pitches as low as 14° and can be applied to a variety of roof types – boarded roofs, metal decks, and warm roof constructions. Cedar shingles have a high strength to weight ratio and their light weight in comparison to traditional tiles is an outstanding advantage, enabling them to be used in areas subject to subsidence where the weight of traditional tiles would entail greater expenditure on foundation construction.

Shingles for cladding

Although the use of cedar shingles in the UK is more commonly associated with roofing, in Canada and the US they are extensively used for cladding applications – locally referred to as sidewall applications. Western red cedar shingles are ideal for cladding because they are taper sawn on both sides, come in lengths of 400, 450 and 600mm, and have a relatively smooth face and back which enables them to follow complex contours in any given design.

For both types of applications it is important that the shingles are obtained from a source that meets the grades and requirements set out by the International Conference of Building Officials which is the recognised industry authority governing the various regional grade auditing agencies, such as the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau. The grades of shingles are indicated by the colour of the label in each bundle.

The natural attributes of cedar make it one of the most popular woods for building applications. Western red cedar shingles are renowned for their insulation qualities, dimensional stability and natural resistance to the elements. The species contains a natural preservative that makes the wood uncommonly long-lasting in its natural state and in the UK it is classified as a ‘durable species’. It will, however, readily accept pressure preservative or fire retardant treatments where these are required. These treatments are available from a number of UK importers, some of whom offer a preservative treatment with up to a 40-year guarantee against fungal decay or insect attack.

Western red cedar’s unique cellular composition makes a roof or wall of shingles a natural barrier to heat and cold by providing a high degree of insulation and when properly applied they give outstanding rigidity and resistance against the severest hail storms and gale force winds up to 130mph. The maintenance of structural integrity is provided by the overlapping application and nailing techniques described in detailed application manuals available from importers or the industry representative in the UK.

Western red cedar shingles provide any project with a distinctive beauty. The rich warm colour and texture of cedar shingles can enhance the design of both traditional and modern structures to create a truly individual building that blends naturally with the environment. The shingles age well over time, with their appearance turning to an attractive silver-grey colour over time.

Variety of design

The flexibility of shingles allows them to be applied to various designs. They are normally applied in straight lines starting with a double or triple course at the eaves depending on the conditions of climatic exposure. This application may be varied to produce different patterns of staggered butts, double or shadow coursing, thatch wave or ocean wave. For specific projects where the aesthetic appeal is of extreme importance, many suppliers offer sculptured shingles, which are also know as “fancy butt” shingles. These are speciality products that have undergone further manufacture and usually come in a variety of patterns – for example, round, arrow and diamond shaped. Sculptured shingles are suitable for roofs and walls, both exterior and interior applications. They can be mixed with other patterns or standard shingles to break up large areas and create a unique feature.