Wood Shingle Installation

Cedar shingles are a much more attractive alternative to asphalt. With proper care wood shingles last longer and provide more protection than asphalt shingles. The key to proper wood cedar shake life is to protect them from moisture. Modern shingles are pressed and coated with water resistant material. The fact remains that water is most likely to cause damage to wood. Wood resists impact better than thin asphalt, but it cannot handle standing water.

For that reason, it is best to use wood roofing in dryer climates. In areas where hurricanes frequent, only some higher quality cedar decking passes residential code. These shingles actually resist updrafts much better than composition shingles. Roofing contractors in Denver tell me that the increased thickness of wood shake allows it to hold a stronger nail than composition staples. This kind of roofing material can withstand winds far beyond hurricane strength.

Homeowners considering wood shingles often worry about the fire hazard. Wood is naturally much more flammable than many other building materials like metal or concrete. To fireproof shingles, the wood is treated with a fire retardant. The shingles are also connected to a fire retardant material that provides additional protection while making sure burning embers do not start flying around in a fire.

A good hardwood excels in impact resistance. Old dry, weak shingles can split from hail impacts. The best way to combat this is to use a sealant around the wood. This will keep the wood from drying to a brittle state. Shingle roofs exposed to moderate impacts should not tear, fracture, or split. Roofing contractors in Denver use an industry standard to determine what kind of resistance the wood has by what diameter steel ball it can hold up under. In Colorado, you can get a discount on your homeowners insurance by using strong roofing. The insurance companies figure that they will have to pay less on hail storm damage.

When getting shingles installed from roofing contractors in Denver, make sure they are certified under state building licenses. Other than the strength, the finish is second strongest part of the roof.