I would like to find a supplier of, and costings for wood shingles. I only want a small quantity, but have no idea how much they might cost. Can anyone help?
Tony
posted on 23-06-06
Try cedar shingles they will last 80 years on a roof even at a twentyfive degree ptich.
Richy
posted on 24-06-06
Cedar shingles are lightweight so you can reduce timber rafter sizes, too! Google "John Brash" they are a major supplier in the UK. Not sure about the green credentials, though, I guess you need to check the source is into replanting?
Ivor Davies
posted on 18-08-06
Carpenter Oak near Bath (and a few other companies)produce beautiful cleft oak shingles which, unlike western red cedar shingles, do not need to be pressure treated with wood preservative to achive a good service life in the UK. Oak shingles are expensive to buy and slow to lay but they look great and are proven to last 80 years in our damp climate.
fostertom
posted on 21-08-06
I recently received this info:
We are currently having some research done by Imperial College to define durability of home grown Western Red Cedar shingles.
As no definitive research has been carried out as far as we can ascertain. and 'beliefs' are not always founded on empirical evidence. Initial tests appear to be very positive.
Our first shingles are now two years old and are looking fine with no sign of mould. There should be a 5mm gap between shingle edges which tends to close during wet weather and open in dry allowing ventilation But as always its good to have as much ventilation as poss, if wood can be kept below 20% emc (equilibrium moisture content) moulds and fungus should be kept at bay and keeping them dry with a good pitch makes sense too.
Tino Rawnsley
Rawnsley Woodland Products
Waverley
Burlawn
Wadebridge
Cornwall PL27 7LD
Tel 01208 813490 Mob 07817 450009
www.cornishwoodland.co.uk
Ivor Davies
posted on 23-08-06
Imperial College do good wood science & it will be interesting to see their results. However, to reiterate my previous point Canadian WRC shingles are pressure treated with a leach proof preservative before being exposted to the UK. This is because untreated WRC shingles have failed in less than 20 years in our climate (which tends to be more biologically active than most of North Americia). I agree that there is little test data on the service life of shingles made of UK grown WRC but it would be very surprising if the timber (which virtually all tests indicate is less durable than imported WRC)performed better than imported material.
For comparison, thick shingles made from the outer heartwood of European redwood (durability class 4: moderately durable) have a service life of 40-60 years (depending upon the site) without preservative treatment providing they are given a surface coating of tar every four years plus other maintainance if required. Thin redwood shingles containing sapwood are also used in Norway, they obviously have virtually no resistance to fungal decay and so are used in much the same way as a thatched roof: i.e. a thick well drained and ventilated layer which is easily replaced if it starts to rot. I'd expect that UK grown WRC shingles would behave in the same way as those of European redwood.
