Maybe you are planning to redo your roof and are toying with the idea of replacing your entire roof with wood shingles, but you haven’t a clue where to start. Wood shingles give your home a naturally beautiful general appearance.

Aside from the ornamental value that shingles can add to your roof, they are also crucial to providing durable protection to your home from wind, rain, snow, and other elements.

With wood shingles being so important to a home, just how big are they?

Wood shingles come in three general sizes. The 24-inch wood shingle typically has 0.5 inches in width thickness. The 18 inches come with a width of 0.45-inch thickness, while the smallest length shingle is 16 inches with a width of 0.4 inches. You can custom make your wood shingles widths of up to 13 inches.

There are different styles, sizes, and types of wood shingles available for the roof, and according to the home style and location, there are different criteria used to decide on the best kind of shingles for you.

Wood singles are usually sourced from different tree species to complete different esthetics.

 Whether you are looking to achieve the all-American esthetic or a more exotic esthetic, it will depend on the specific type of wood you choose for your singles.

The wood species affects the ornamental value of the roof and the overlay length and width of the shingle.

Wood Shingle Sizing

In America, wood shingles come in three distinct lengths with varying widths depending on the specific wood that makes up the shingle. The available lengths are 24 inches, 16 inches, and 18 inches.

A single wood shingle of 24 inches will typically have a 0.5-inch thick width, while 18 inches long shingles will be about 0.45 inches in width. Finally, wood shingles that are 16 inches thick would come in a 0.4-inch width.

Wood singles typically come in a rectangular shape for easy installation.

Though the thickness of the wood single is directly proportional to its length, there are options to have your shingles custom made to a different width. You might want to consider generally using thicker shingles because they are less likely to warp.

Warping in wood may also occur as a result of the direction in which the wood grain runs. When the shingle’s surface runs vertically to the direction of the grain, edge grain, it will reduce warping.

However,  in the case of a flat-grain shingle in which the surface of the wood is beside the rings, the wood would warp quite easily.

Another consideration when deciding on shingle width is the building code in your particular area. Most building codes in the United States restrict shingle width to eight inches.

What Wood Is Best For Shingles

Wood shingles come from various tree species, including the Wallaba tree, Teak, Ceder, Cypress, and many more.  Prices of the wood shingle will vary depending on the quality and grade of wood used for the shingles. 

Shingles that don’t have knot holes and are cut thicker are considered the best grade. In comparison, top-grade wood shingles are edge-grain cut from the duramen of the tree.

Let’s look at some of the best wood shingles and why they are highly rated.

Some of The Best Wood  Shingles

Good roofing is supposed to resist harsh climatic conditions and last for a very long time, which is why most people prefer wood shingles because they are supposed to be cost-effective and esthetically pleasing.

The three top-most rated and recommended wood shingles are listed below.

Teak Shingles

This is one of the most expensive types of shingles. It is highly water-resistant and can maintain its strength even in extreme conditions.  It can counter rot, fungi, and mildew.

Thanks to this ability, it will not need wood treatment to protect it against these conditions.

Teak shingles have unsurpassed durability and will maintain their immaculate condition for any duration of the residency. It has a lifespan of 80 years. The only maintenance required is dust from time to time.

As mentioned earlier, teak shingles are not the cheapest, but the price is more than made up for in the durability. Though you will spend a hefty amount upfront to purchase the shingles, you can save money on maintenance and replacement coast.

Plus, they are very easy to install, thanks to their sleek and simple nature.

If the price scared you away, then this next bit will pull you in. Teak shingles are completely natural and environmentally friendly. No chemical is used in the manufacturing of teak shingles because they already have natural oil and are resistant.

Wallaba Shingles

Wallaba shingles are made from the reddish-brown wallaba tree. Wallaba shingles cost a little less than teak shingles. Wallaba emits oil resins and gum exudates that make it resistant to fire, mites, bugs, mold, and corrosion.

Wallaba has great ornamental value; it comes in the eye-catching reddish-brown color that ages into a silver-grey color. This color change should not cause worry as wallaba shingles will still retain their weather-resistant qualities.

The natural resin and gum exudate by wallaba do not require any chemical treatment during processing.

Wallaba shingles are among the most long-lasting shingles out there. With a durability span of more than 50 years, it is better than certain synthetic wood shingles. Furthermore, its durability can make it weather a hurricane.

Cedar Shingles

This robust wood is the most popular wood shingle both on the market and on roofs worldwide. Cider singles are fine scented, flexible, and strong. Together with that, they also have very pocket-friendly prices.

Cedar shingles have fine grains and uniform textures, making them easy to custom make into any length shingle you want or paint with any coating or oil of your choice for a perfect finish.

Thanks to their strength, toughness, and longevity, cedar singles are considered among the best roofing shingles. They have a 30-year lifespan but can last for longer if properly maintained.

Cedar is a plank of very warm wood and can enhance housing insulation. When it gets cold outside, the shingles enhance house warming, and when it gets hot, it keeps humidity at bay, therefore saving on insulation costs for the homeowner.

How To Estimate Roofing Cost

Knowing the approximate amount required for roofing can be good for your budgeting if you plan to swap your roofing with some wood shingles.  After picking the wood shingle, you probably know the pricing on them.

To ensure you do not over-purchase or under-purchase the amount you will need for your home, approximate the square footage you need to be covered.

• Square footage approximation. Determining your square roof footage is easy. Simply half the house’s square footage.

Next, you need to approximate the labor cost, which is directly tied to the pitch of the roof and the level of overall difficulty.  A roof with chimneys, skylights, and other overhangs to work around are at a higher level of difficulty compared to a plain roof.

• Pitch calculation. The pitch of your roof is the relationship between how much your roof rises vertically versus how much it extends horizontally. A roof with a high degree of steepness will be expensive to work on as the roofer would need safety equipment to work on it.

Generally, a roof with big square footage, overhangs, and a high level of steepness will be the most expensive to replace or install.