Types of Wood Shake Shingles | Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, White Cedar Wood

Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, and Eastern White Cedar wood are visually pleasing and durable wood types that provide a host of advantages for homeowners, architects, contractors, and builders. Western Red Cedar, Eastern White Cedar, and Yellow Cedar are reliable wood products that are renowned for their beauty, durability, and resistance to the elements. If you are considering wood shake shingles for your next roofing repair, siding project, DIY project, or home renovation project, let us discover the essentials of these wood types. And if you are looking for roofing alternatives to wood shake shingles, be sure to give Our Products page a visit.

Key Article Takeaways

• Wood shingles, especially those made from varieties of cedar like Western Red, Yellow Cedar and Eastern White Cedar, are popular in construction and building materials due to their aesthetic appeal and natural resistance to decay, insect damage, and harsh weather. Wood shake shingles are not just visually pleasing, they bring a host of advantages that homeowners and builders find attractive.

• Distinct characteristics of cedar wood types such as the durability and warm tones of Western Red Cedar, the exceptional strength and fine grain of Yellow Cedar, and the fine grain and warp resistance of White Cedar wood influence their specific applications in construction and craftwork.

• Yellow Cedar wood is one of the most durable woods in the world. It is a very slow growing species with densely packed growth rings which creates high density and weather resistance.

• White Cedar wood, available in Northern White Cedar and Eastern White Cedar varieties, is a versatile wood used for a variety of applications. The application types include construction, furniture, canoes, medicine, tools and even food. It has a strong aroma and provides natural resistance to decay and weathering.

• Western Red Cedar wood is celebrated for its inherent properties that offer decay, insect, and weather resistance, making it ideal for outdoor use in roofing, siding, and landscaping, while also being environmentally friendly due to the lesser need for chemical treatments.

Types of Wood Shake Shingles

The world of wood shake shingles is full of variety. The most commonly celebrated types include:

• Western Red Cedar wood, with its rich, reddish-brown hue, commands attention and respect as a premium shingle material. It is a strong and durable material that is available is larger pieces when compared to these other wood types.

• Yellow Cedar, also known as Alaskan Yellow Cedar, offers a distinctive yellow tint and exceptional durability.

• White Cedar wood, also known as northern white cedar or eastern white cedar, is found primarily in Eastern Canada and parts of the Western United States.

• All of these wood types are utilized in roofing applications and have a natural durability and resistance to natures harsh elements.

Benefits of Cedar Wood

Apart from its aesthetic appeal, cedar wood offers a multitude of practical advantages. Some of these advantages include:

• Naturally resistant to decay, cedar wood stands strong against the elements, making it a prime choice for outdoor applications.

• The inherent oils in cedar repel insects, reducing the need for chemical treatments and enhancing its eco-friendly profile.

• Durable, yet lightweight, cedar wood is also easy to work with, lending itself to a wide range of construction and design projects.

The versatility of cedar extends from the grand scales of construction to the intricate details of woodworking. Whether used for the sturdy beams of a building or the delicate shavings of a sculpture, cedar’s natural resistance and aesthetic qualities make it an invaluable resource. This wood is not just about endurance; it’s about bringing a touch of nature’s resilience and beauty into our daily lives.

Characteristics of Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar and White Cedar Wood

Hailing from the west coast, Western Red Cedar and Western Hemlock set themselves apart with their exceptional durability and stability. Western Red Cedar is the most popular cedar type and for good reason, the beautiful reddish brown appearance provides stunning wood tones and compliments any design style. Western Red Cedar is durable and weather resistant, which is what makes it the ideal wood type for decking, siding, pergolas, gazebos and exterior home renovation projects. This wood grows from the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast and north into Alaska. Their resistance to rot, insects, decay and weather along with their light weight product composition, make Western Red Cedar popular for both residential and commercial projects. The rich, warm tones and the inviting texture of the wood make it not only a practical but also an aesthetically pleasing choice.

White Cedar, including the Northern and Eastern varieties, features a pale brown color palette and is celebrated for its fine grain and resistance to warping, making it a choice material for more delicate applications. Northern White Cedars are particularly noted for their ecological communities, physical characteristics, bark, leaf structure, and reproductive features. They also exhibit unique growth patterns and seed production. Each type of cedar wood, such as the Eastern White Cedar and Northern White Cedar, have carved out a niche in the construction and woodworking industries, with specific attributes that lend themselves to different uses and environments. White cedar is light weight and resistant to decay, thus making it useful for fencing, lumber, and roofing applications. Northern White cedar leaf oil is often distilled and used in perfumes and medicine.

Characterized by its naturally bright yellow hue and dense hard wood, Yellow Cedar, also known as Alaskan Yellow Cedar, is quite distinctive. Known as the strongest of all cedars, this wood is also highly resistant to decay and insects. Yellow Cedar’s fine texture and straight grain make it a joy to work with, particularly in detailed joinery and carving. This cedar is also revered by indigenous peoples, who have traditionally used it for various cultural artifacts, including:

• totem poles

• canoes

• masks

• baskets

• ceremonial objects

Western Red Cedar Wood - Benefits and Popular Uses

Western Red Cedar is more than just wood; it’s a brilliant example of nature’s engineering. Renowned for its durability and stability, this cedar wood type is a favored material for exterior uses that require aesthetic appeal with practicality. From construction to landscaping and woodworking, this wood can be found in many facets of our built environment. The wood’s natural resistance to decay, insects, and weather make it a valuable asset for various home improvement projects. Let’s explore the specific applications that contribute to the versatility and popularity of Western Red Cedar, a tree species often managed by the USDA Forest Service.

Insect Resistance

Western Red Cedar has several benefits that make it an excellent choice for outdoor products:

• It contains thujaplicin, a natural compound that provides strong insect-repelling properties, eliminating the need for chemical treatments.

• It is resistant to pests like termites and wood borers, contributing to its long lifespan.

• It is environmentally friendly, as it does not require chemical treatments. Although you can apply fire retardant chemical if needed based on your location.

The aromatic qualities of Western Red Cedar are not only pleasant to the senses but also serve a functional purpose. This wood is sought after for closet liners, chests, and storage boxes, where its natural moth and insect-repellent features are particularly valued. By choosing Western Red Cedar, you are not only selecting a robust material but also protecting your belongings with nature’s own defense system.

Decay Resistance

The heartwood of Western Red Cedar is rich in natural preservatives that guard it against decay, rot, and moisture, thereby making it suitable for outdoor applications. Its decay-resistant properties are particularly beneficial in areas prone to high humidity or rainfall, where other materials might falter. This makes Western Red Cedar a go-to for exterior siding and lumber, ensuring longevity even in challenging environments.

This resistance extends to landscaping elements that remain untreated, such as garden furniture and structures. Western Red Cedar’s ability to maintain its integrity, without succumbing to the dampness of the earth, ensures that your outdoor spaces will enjoy the wood’s beauty and strength for years to come. In comparison, swamp cedar also offers similar benefits in terms of resistance and durability.

Woodworking

Western Red Cedar’s lightweight nature and stable structure make it a favorite for various woodworking projects, including:

• Boat building

• Fence construction

• Outdoor furniture

• Custom millwork

• Musical instruments

Western Red Cedar’s lack of pitch and resins make it ideal for finishing, as it allows for even adhesion of paints, stains, and finishes. This versatility is further illustrated by the wood’s initial bright reddish-brown color, which is sought after for its aesthetic appeal, especially when a clear finish is desired. To maintain its beauty and structural integrity in outdoor applications, a penetrating finish with UV blockers is recommended. It also provides excellent acoustic resonance, which lends itself to the creation of high-quality musical instruments, where the wood’s natural properties enhance sound quality.

Landscaping

When it comes to landscaping projects that require materials that are both attractive and durable, Western Red Cedar is a perfect match. Its natural beauty makes it a classic choice for cladding, rustic fencing, and decking, adding a touch of elegance to any outdoor space. Its durability ensures that these landscaping elements will stand the test of time, even in the face of environmental challenges.

Western Red Cedar, a medium sized tree, showcases its adaptability in its use for patio furniture, playground equipment, and a variety of garden structures like greenhouses, garden boxes, gazebos, sheds, and pergolas. Its attractive reddish-brown color and straight grain make it a fitting choice for both contemporary and traditional designs, enhancing the natural beauty of gardens and outdoor living areas.

Construction

In construction, Western Red Cedar shines with its resistance to insect damage and decay. It’s perfect for exterior uses such as roof shingles, siding, cladding, and decking. This cedar’s use extends indoors as well, where it is utilized for sashes, doors, windows, and even wall and ceiling paneling, providing a warm and natural touch to interiors.

The Kwakwaka’wakw people of the northwest coast have long recognized the strength and versatility of Western Red Cedar, utilizing its withes to craft strong, lightweight ropes and lashings for traditional house construction. The wood’s structural grades are essential in modern construction as well, where its strength is critical for framing and support, ensuring the safety and longevity of the building.

Weather Resistance

Thanks to its low density and minimal shrinkage, Western Red Cedar exhibits excellent dimensional stability, which allows it to resist warping, twisting, and checking. This stability is a benefit in regions with severe weather fluctuations, from coastal areas with salt spray to places with heavy snowfall. The wood’s ability to maintain its form and function across diverse climates is a testament to its resilience. Despite its robust nature, Western Red Cedar does have its preferences. It does not fare well with drought or dry winds, which suggests that it benefits from protection against intense sunlight in arid climates.

Yellow Cedar Wood - Popular Uses and Benefits

Yellow Cedar, also known as Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Alaska Cypress, Nootka Cypress, or Yellow Cypress, is a cedar tree praised for its remarkable strength and longevity. This makes it a prime candidate for a myriad of applications, ranging from construction to traditional indigenous uses. Its distinct yellow hue not only provides a unique aesthetic but also signals the wood’s inherent qualities that have been harnessed in both modern and traditional settings. Yellow Cedar or Alaskan Yellow cedar can be found along the Oregon-California border north into Alaska and along the Western coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is a slow growing species that grows up to 85 feet and features a beautiful golden yellow hue.

You’ll find Alaskan Yellow Cedar gracing the structures of boats, decks, and various specialty items. Its strength and resistance to decay are especially valued in maritime environments, where durability is paramount. Beyond that, the wood is also popular in roofing, flooring, and as a material for intricately carved artworks, showcasing the versatility and enduring appeal of this remarkable cedar variety.

Density and Durability

A unique feature of Yellow Cedar is its exceptional density and strength. Yellow Cedar is one of the most durable woods in the world and it does surpass Western Red Cedar in impact resistance and strength. It is a very slow growing species with densely packed growth rings which creates high density. Yellow cedar also provides strong resistance to fungi and insects.

Popular Uses

Yellow cedar provides lasting strength and longevity which makes it a great choice for a variety of uses. From shingles, poles, paddles, oars and posts to chemical tanks, exterior doors, flooring, and window boxes, yellow cedar has many different uses. Yellow cedar is used to build boats, store chemicals, furniture, build horse stables, cabinets, interior and exterior millwork, build doors, and much more.

Competitive Pricing

Yellow Cedar is among the most affordable out of these wood types. If you are on a tight budget, but still want beautiful wood aesthetics, consider Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Yellow Cedar also takes well to treated staining, so if changing the color and appearance of wood is something you are interested in, consider Yellow Cedar wood.

White Cedar Wood - Popular Uses and Benefits

White Cedar is a coniferous tree species known for its white to light brown heartwood and unique aroma. Available in Northern White Cedar and Eastern White Cedar varieties, is a versatile wood. In comparison to Western Red and Yellow Cedar, White Cedar is more soft, less dense, and weaker than both, however it is still a very resilient wood that is used in various construction projects.

Decay Resistance

White cedar wood naturally repels insects and is resistant to decay. Even in harsh weather, eastern white cedar does not shrink, warp, swell or decay and the heartwood is inherently rot resistant. Due to it’s inherent weather resistance abilities, white cedar wood is used in a variety of construction applications including decks, fence posts, siding, and log cabins.

Pleasant Aroma

Eastern White Cedar provides a unique and pleasant scent and it’s natural aroma is enjoyable. Often times oil is distilled from white cedar to be used as an essential oil or fragrance. Specifically, northern white cedar oil is used in soaps, disinfectants, hair preparations, insecticides, and room sprays.

Workability

Since it is a softer wood with straight grain patterns, White Cedar is used for shingle roofs, canoes, poles, and novelties. White Cedar holds paint, glues, and finishes very well, although it does have density variances which contributes to its poor screw holding abilities. With that being said, let the knowledge of cedar wood’s natural resistance to decay, insects, and weather, as well as its wide range of applications, inspire your next project. With its ability to bridge the gap between natural beauty and practicality, cedar wood stands as a testament to nature’s craftsmanship, ready to enhance and endure in our ever-changing world.

Synthetic Roofing is a Great Alternative to Wood

As we reach the end of our journey through these various types of cedar wood, we are reminded of the incredible versatility and resilience of this natural material. From the decay-resistant Western Red Cedar to the durable Yellow Cedar and the adaptable White Cedar, each variety brings its unique strengths to the table. Whether for construction, landscaping, or intricate woodworking, cedar wood offers a blend of aesthetic appeal and functional benefits that few other materials can match.

Keep in mind, the most desirable and beautiful look in roofing applications, is the look of a heavy hand split natural cedar wood shake roof. A natural cedar wood shake roof complements almost any architectural design style and color scheme and provides a timeless look that other roofing materials don’t. Just like natural cedar shakes, a CeDUR synthetic roof compliments a home and its natural surroundings and provides a warm welcoming wood shake appearance with unsurpassed curb appeal.

Frequently Asked Questions: