What Types of Wood Are Best for Roofing?

January 20, 2020
by Charlie Priest
Wood Shake Roof

Wooden roofs are an elegant and aesthetically pleasing addition to any home. Some people prefer roofs made of wood because wood is a renewable and biodegradable resource. It is important to understand the differences between wood types before beginning the roofing process to build a roof that is as durable as it is beautiful.

White Oak

White oak is considered to be a very reliable wood, making it desirable for a variety of commercial products. It is a popular choice for cabinets, furniture, boats, and flooring because —according to Zack Hardwood Flooring—of its beauty and durability. Affordable, strong, and rot-resistant, white oak is well-suited for building a roof that stands the tests of time. White oak is more durable than its relative the red oak. Also, the white to light-brown color makes it a prime candidate for staining, making it highly customizable.

Red Cedar

According to Pinnacle Roofing, western red cedar is naturally rot and insect-resistant. It is one of the most popular woods for roofing because of its durability along with its appearance. In addition to shingles, western red cedar is also a popular choice in the crafting of boats, musical instruments, and exterior siding. This tells you how durable this material is. Western red cedar’s beautiful reddish to pinkish brown color that changes as it ages provides a unique touch to any home. However, the wood also takes stains and finishes in a variety of shades well due to its lack of pitch and resin. Western red cedar is also capable of maintaining proper temperatures in homes due to its insulating properties.

Eastern White Pine

Eastern white pine is prevalent in housing projects due to how easy woodworkers find it to work with. While being a popular choice for products such as crates, lumber, boats, and boxes, it is also widely used for the shingles of roofs. The light color creates a blank slate which is desirable for staining. Biodegradable eastern white pine is a well-suited roofing material when building roofs that are as environmentally friendly as they are durable. It also has insulating abilities, making it a very energy-efficient material with the potential to assist in saving money on energy bills.

There are many types of wood that are used commercially in roofing. It’s important to pick the wood that best fits the needs of your home and can protect you from the weather in your area. Understanding which types meet your needs in terms of reliability and longevity ensures that you will receive a roof that is as satisfactory as possible.

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