You can buy wood shingles (and also wood shakes) in different types of wood such as pine, oak, chestnut and also cedar. Cedar is the most common type as it looks stunning plus is very easy to install. Despite being wood, it can also last as long as 60 years if you take good care of it.

They may look amazing and glossy brochures will tell you all about how wonderful it is, but there are some unfortunate pitfalls to buying cedar roof shingles. The main problem is the fire resistance. If you live somewhere to often has forest fires you're house will be more prone to going up in flame. Because of this increased risk you might even have to pay more on your insurance premium. However there are shingles available which have been pressure treated so that they have either a B or C class fire resistance rating. This is something you should really think over if you live somewhere that often suffers from fires such as California.

You're best to avoid installing shingles on a flat roof because if it rains or snows, the water won't be able to drain off very easily. It will therefore collect on your roof and cause damp and extra unnecessary weight. That's why you should really only install it if you have a pitched roof.

When shopping around for cedar shingles you may notice that the price can vary wildly. This is because you get what you pay for and it all comes down to size, quality and fire-resistance rating. That's why prices listed can be as cheap as $50 per square meter and as expensive as $350. As with any roofing material, you should ensure that cedar shingles don't get fitted when it's raining and they should be installed from the bottom upwards to the top of your roof.

You're roof catching fire isn't the only problem with shingles. They can also have a tendency to curl, however buying premium grade shingles should help with this. It can also happen when the nails are placed too far from the edges. If you notice this happening you need to fix the problem otherwise you're roof may not be wind and water tight.

This article is simply an introduction to all the things you need to be aware of when thinking about having cedar shingles installed. There is a lot more you should be aware of including how to get rid of mold and moss plus how to keep it clean without damaging the shingles.