Since the beginning of the year, we have noticed that interest in wood shake as a roofing and finishing material is returning again. By the beginning of the 2025 construction season, the number of requests for the price per m2 of shake roofing has increased sharply and we decided to resume this type of service, the popularity of which has been fading lately. At the moment, wood shake, as a roofing and finishing material, are entering the trend. What is the reason for this phenomenon on the market and what is important to know about the qualities and features of this roofing and finishing material, this is discussed further in the article

APPLICATION SCOPE AND TYPES OF WOOD SHAKES

Despite the fact that wood shake were originally a roofing material, due to their versatility they were often used for both exterior and interior finishing, for example as a decorative material for facades and even rooms to emphasize the authenticity of eco-style and especially the atmosphere of country life surrounded by nature.

Wood shake(shingle) has several varieties:

• – Chopped wood shake, or laths, are obtained by splitting a log into thick chips that have a rectangular shape and the same thickness (about 10 mm) along the entire length. Such shingles are laid in layers overlapping each other tightly, without grooves.
• – Sawn wood shingles, also have a rectangular shape but are made of wedge-shaped thickness, where the thick side has a tongue-and-groove groove along the entire length of the part so that the adjacent part is inserted into it with its thin side in engagement.

Wood shake has a practical advantage for two reasons:

1. а) Its surface is obtained by knife splitting, so moisture does not linger on it or is absorbed, it quickly flows down or evaporates, which provides a solid guarantee of durability;

2. b) With the help of chopped shake it is easier to cover non-flat roofs, on which it provides sufficient density of adhesion of parts in several layers, which, under certain conditions, is difficult to do with the help of sawn shingles and tongue-and-groove construction.

Sawn shingles, on the other hand, thanks to the tongue and groove connection, provide aesthetics and quick installation of the roof, but their sawn surface is rougher and prone to getting wet when their initial impregnation loses its water-repellent properties over time.

WOOD SHAKE MATERIAL AND PRICE

The best material for making shake & shingles is larch (modrina), as it has dense wood and of all species it is the most resistant to constant exposure to moisture and adverse weather conditions. However, today larch is a very rare material in Ukraine, and expensive.

That is why shingles in Ukraine are made not only from larch, but also from European spruce, fir. Its durability in untreated form is lower than that of larch, but in order for spruce or fir shake to last longer, they are impregnated. Since ancient times, spruce shingles were soaked in heated “Tyr with paraffin”, today, the composition of fire-retardant impregnation with the help of modern autoclaves completely impregnates the shakes and they are not afraid of not only fungus, mold, moisture, but also short-term exposure to fire. This method is environmentally friendly, effective, and has extended the service life of spruce shakes from 20 to 40 years.

At the time of writing, the price for split shingles made of spruce/fir starts from 1200 UAH/m2 for laying 2.5 layers. With such a price and a service life of up to 40 years, this offer is quite competitive in comparison with other roofing materials, and as for wood shake finishing, a relatively low price for an excellent appearance, external or internal finishing, is certainly a big advantage for a stylish authentic design.

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You can also get more information in the section 👉Shake roofing