cedar roofing


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Cedar Shingles and Cedar Shakes are two different things, although both are made of cedar.

Cedar shingles or shakes have many different grades and cuts.  They are distinguished by Blue, Red and Black labels. Our knowledgeable staff will be able to assist you to choose which product is best for your roof.

At Dwight’s Roofing, we are committed to providing you with a greater life expectancy for your newly constructed roof.  When selecting the right roof for your new construction, there are three main things to take in to consideration:


A cedar shake has a split face exposure on one side giving it a more rustic appearance. It is sawn smooth on the back.


A cedar shingle is sawn on both sides to give it a more tailored appearance.

There is also a Tapersawn Shake which is a hybrid of shingles and split shakes. Like a shingle, both faces are sawn, as are the edges, giving the tapersawn a uniform appearance. Thicker than shingles, the tapersawn shake has a heavier shadow line on the roof. It is cut on a shingle saw but because of its size and thickness, it is called a Shake.

manufacturing &


  • Cedar Shingles. Shingles are larger than shakes and more precisely cut. They are rectangular, generally anywhere from 16 to 24 inches long, about 3 to 4 inches wide, and up to 0.4 of an inch (sometimes 1/2 inch) thick. Circular saws are used to cut rectangular slices from a block of cedar wood. Each pass of the saw creates a tapered cut of uniform thickness. Another saw is then used to trim the edges and remove any irregularities. This works to produce a shingle that is tapered on all sides. Because they are more precisely milled than shakes, shingles provide a more even, uniform appearance.

  • Cedar Shakes. Shakes are smaller, thicker and less refined than shingles. They range from 1/2-inch thick to 3/4-inch thick and provide a more irregular, uneven, rustic look. Shakes are made by splitting chunks from a log and then shaping them into blocks. The shake blocks are then split by a hydraulic press, and the pieces are referred to as blanks. In the old days, they were split by hand. Shakes are smoother on the underside and more split and “worn” looking on the upper surface.


Based on the fact that shakes are more irregular, compared with the precisely milled shingles, they don’t lay as flat when installed on a roof. This unevenness can provide a great textured look but can leave tiny gaps in the system, making it susceptible to penetration from wind-blown rain, snow, and debris. Installers will place a layer of felt paper between the shakes to protect against the weather. Shakes are generally installed in 2 layers. Meanwhile, shingles sit flatter and even and thus never need felt paper. They are usually installed in a pattern that ensures there are three overlapping layers covering the entire roof.

cedar shingle grades

The grade of cedar shingles varies as follows:

  • The highest grade is called a Number 1 Blue Label and this is the highest grade of shingles for roofs. They are made of 100% heartwood with 100% clear and edge grain. Heartwood is defined as the older, harder central wood of a tree that is usually darker, denser, less permeable and more durable than the surrounding sapwood of the tree. Sapwood is the younger, softer outer portion of the tree that is more permeable and less durable, lighter in color than heartwood.
    • Number 2 Red Label cedar shingle grade is a good grade for many applications, but flat grain and limited sapwood are permitted in this grade.
    • Number 3 Black Label cedar shingles are a utility grade for economy applications and secondary buildings such as sheds, gazebos and sidewalls.
    Number 1 and premium grades of cedar shakes and cedar shingles are available with preservatives via a pressure treatment process. They can also be purchased with pressure-treated fire retardants.

    Interesting Properties of Cedar Roofs

      Cedar has some very interesting properties as well. Sometimes in the late summer after the first rain, a home may experience a leak. Then through the whole winter, the leak is never seen again. This is because, when the cedar is dry it can shrink a little and at the first season rain, the water drips in before the cedar has had a chance to soak in the liquid and swell. When wet, the cedar swells slightly and that can sometimes seal the crack. Cedar is a beautiful natural roof. There are many attributes to shingles and shakes that come into play when deciding the proper roofing material for your home.
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    your cedar roof.

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