Author: swadolowski

When thinking about roofs, people usually forget about the elements they don’t see. While rooftop (shingles, shakes or tiles) protects the house against water or snow, the roof truss works like a foundation for it. For this reason, we decided to describe every part of roof structure, starting with sheathing. Thus, what should you know about roof sheathing?

What Exactly Roof Sheathing is?

Roof sheathing (also roof decking, plywood) is a layer of wood placed on rafters in order to support the weight of the roof. It’s a base for the shingles, and its role is to protect them from bending. Plywood sheathing is also the roof truss’ element which is the underlayment nailed to.

Other Parts of Roof Truss You Need to Know

Apart from sheathing, which we will describe later, nearly every roof lays on a structure called roof truss. While each type of roof has its own type of truss, there are some universal components, present in virtually every timber roof.

Ridge (beam or board)

Ridge plays crucial role in every roof – it’s a horizontal beam or board, located at the highest part of the roof truss. In fact, it functions the same way as the backbone for a human. Ridge must spread the load across the rafters, distributing the tension created by the rooftop.

Purlins

Purlins are in fact a kind of support for rafters. Their role is to reduce the load on rafters – as these reach up to 25 feet, the tension in the middle of them might be significant, especially if the roof is covered with heavy materials, such as slate, concrete or terracotta.

Use of purlins is not always essential – some smaller roofs are built without such a thing, mainly because of the limited homeowner’s budget.

Rafters

Along with ridge, there are also rafters – these beams, however, are placed vertically, not horizontally. In our opinion, rafters are actually the most important part of every roof structure. Their role is to transfer the load directly downwards, to the walls.

Why is Sheathing Installed on the Roofs?

The essential function of sheathing is to transfer the pressure generated by the roof to the rafters. A layer of plywood or boards evenly distributes the pressure to the sides, stiffening the shingles.

In addition to their structural function, sheathing plywoods also protect the interior of the house from leaks. Of course, the sheathing is additionally protected by underlayment, but necessarily, it is another layer that provides a barrier to water.

Finally, sheathing is necessary to be able to install the roof. The planks are perfect for nailing shingles to them and screwing on flashings. Thus, the plywoods are, so to speak, the foundation for the rooftop.

Materials Used in Roof Sheathing

The choice of sheathing material affects on roof’s performance, durability and lifespan. While the characteristics of common materials, such as plywood, OSB or wood (mainly pine) is quite well-known for roofing contractors, some projects require something more specific, such as a gypsum, fiber cement or even concrete.

Plywood

Plywood is a board made of thin layers of wood glued together. Each layer of wood is oriented in different way, to improve the strength of the whole structure. Properly produced plywoods are mostly elastic, and at the same time, durable.

Typically, roof sheathing is made of 3/8″ or 1/2″ thick plywood. When slate or terracotta tiles are used, or there only a few rafters in the structure, there is a need of use thicker boards, even up to 7/8″.

While plywood isn’t that commonly used as 20 years ago, it’s still probably the most popular sheathing material.

OSB

OSB (Oriented Strand Boards), are panels made of compressed wood strands mixed with adhesives. Strands are usually 3-5″ long and they face multiple directions, to enhance the rigidity and strength of the board

Due to its significantly lower price, OSB became much more popular than plywood these days. In many cases, 1/2″ boards will be completely sufficient, and at the same time, they cost around $15-16 for a 4 x 8′ sheet instead of $23-26.

While OSB offers noticeably worse bending resistance, it’s much stronger in terms of load bearing properties and shear capacity.

Planks (Boards)

Plank sheathing is virtually not used anymore in the United States, but it’s still quite common in Europe. It’s a great sign of diversity in roofing at the two continents, which we mentioned in article dedicated to popularity of asphalt shingles in Europe.

Plank sheathing was always made with variety of types of wood, mainly fir, pine and spruce. What’s important, in order to protect them, roofers frequently soaked planks in chemicals preventing the mold and rot growth.

Typically, sheathing planks are 1″ thick, therefore they are usually used to support heavy roofs, made of concrete, clay or stone. There’s virtually no reason to use plank sheathing on shingle roofs these days.

Is it Necessary to Replace the Sheathing During the Roof Replacement?

As usually, it depends. If your old roof leaks, there is much chance that it will be necessary, at least in part of the roof area. However, if you decided to replace the roof because of its degradation or to improve the thermal insulation properties, sheathing might be in condition good enough to be used for next 20 or 30 years.

Generally speaking, well preserved sheathing is virtually eternal. Plywood or planks, if well waterproofed, aren’t susceptible to any dangerous incentives such as UV rays, water or pests.

Unfortunately, as a roofing contractor we regularly see rotten, molded or cracked sheathing. That’s why, during the shingle replacement, all sheathing plywoods or OSB’s should be meticulously inspected.

Is Sheathing Replacement Expensive?

It might be expensive. As a roofing contractor, we charge every $150 for each 4 x 8′ board we replace (disposal cost included). Cost of replacing all the plywood boards on a typical roof ranges therefore from $9,000 to even $19,000.

Asphalt shingles cover about 80% of homes in the United States, making them by far the most popular roofing material in the country. Despite this massive popularity, asphalt shingles remain relatively uncommon in Europe – you can obviously find them in virtually every European country, but they are significantly less visible than clay tiles or metal roofs. This difference comes down to a mix of historical, cultural, climatic, and economic factors that shape roofing choices on each continent.

Americans Love Asphalt Shingles Because of Their Affordability and Ease of Installation

One of the biggest reasons asphalt shingles are so widely used in the U.S. is their cost-effectiveness. On average, one square of high-quality asphalt shingles costs as little as $200, while clay tiles or cedar shakes often exceed even $800. Even after taking labor costs into account, placing asphalt shingles on your roof will not ruin your budget.

Additionally, asphalt shingles are easy to install. Producers such as GAF, Owens Corning and Atlas took months of work in order to make installation of their products as simple as possible. In many cases, shingles can be applied right over an existing roof without the need to remove old shingles or shakes first. We don’t recommend it, but it’s still completely possible and quite common, especially for those with a tight budget.

Asphalt shingles are cheap, so they are broadly available in big stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. As an American, you can simply get into your truck, buy some bundles paying less than $5,000 and install your new roof during the weekend with your brother in law or 17-years-old son. However, if you prefer to hire a roofing contractor, you won’t need to pay tens of thousand of dollars for a new roof, as there is a huge competition on the market and everyone can reroof your home.

Asphalt Shingles Can Last Long Enough

No one treats asphalt shingles as an eternal rooftop material. And you know what? It’s not a problem at all. The average American moves 11.7 times in their life. People usually spend no more than 7 or 8 years in one place and just don’t want to invest in better roof, gutters or attic vents. They simply don’t see it and twice more expensive shingles will not satisfy them more.

As the typical lifespan of medium range asphalt shingles ranges from 20 to 30 years, most of homeowners will not see their roof leaking. There are obviously people who live in one place for all of their lives, but they can probably afford a much more expensive rooftop.

We won’t be lying when saying that asphalt shingles are optimized for use in the United States. Variety of weather conditions, such as intense heat, snowfalls and hailstorms are usually not destructive for properly installed shingle roof. The main destructive factor is UV radiation and long exposition for temperature exceeding 85°F (~30°C).

Aesthetic Flexibility Appeals to Homeowners

Another factor behind the popularity of asphalt shingles in the United States is their wide range of colors and styles. Virtually average American homeowner can find adequate shade of brown or gray for their siding. If you are more extravagant and looking for something special, it won’t be that difficult to find green, red or even white shingles.

Homeowners can choose from many options, including architectural shingles that mimic the look of more expensive materials like slate or wood (cedar) shakes. This means people don’t have to sacrifice curb appeal to get a durable and affordable roof. Asphalt shingles suit many home styles, from traditional to modern.

The Growing Market Reflects Ongoing Demand

The size and growth of the U.S. housing market also contribute to the dominance of asphalt shingles. With a population expected to reach 345 million by 2025 and steady demand for new homes and reroofing projects, the market for asphalt shingles was valued at around $8.8 billion in 2024 and continues to grow.

Americans build about 1.5 mln new houses each year and replace another 5 mln roofs anually. In total, it’s more than 6 milion of roofs to be installed. As there are 100,000 roofing contractors in this country, each company on average replaces 1 roof for every 6 days. It won’t be possible if American use materials such as shakes or tiles.

So Why Do Europeans Prefer Different Roofing Materials?

At the same time, average French person moves three to four times during their lifetime. Average Polish citizen moves less than 3 times. Europeans simply spend more than 20 or even 30 years in one place and it’s common to pass the property to the next generation. Usually, European families live in the same city or even family members live next door.

European houses are generally designed to be livable for at least 100 years. For this reason, walls, roofs and foundations are usually significantly more durable and are made of significantly higher quality materials. It obviously translates to higher property prices – while average American house is worth 7.56 times more than average yearly wage, average Brit needs to work as much as 11.4 years to buy a house of similar floor area.

In Europe, more important than ease of installation or price are insulation and energy efficiency properties. Citizens of Germany, France or Spain simply tend to pay more for the same amount of electricity or heat, so they don’t want to have their roof leaking.

Tradition is also important. Europeans tend to restore instead of building new houses, so they often spend thousands of dollars on renovating buildings that are over a hundred years ago. While local authorities care about the appearance of especially smaller cities, sometimes the only possibility is to use the same materials as neighbors, which are usually clay tiles.

Europeans Care About Ecology, Americans Not That Much

European Union prioritizes ecology – governments tend to ban technologies with harmful impact on the environment, such as asbestos, some kinds of plastic and non-recyclable materials. While an extensive research is being conducted, asphalt shingles are virtually non-recyclable now. Not states try to use degraded shingles as a construction material, it’s not as simple as in case of clay, concrete or steel.

Summary

Asphalt shingles are the go-to roofing solution in the United States because they offer a unique combination of affordability, durability, ease of installation, and design options. They are simply cheap, tough and attractive for average American. At the same time, in Europe, long-standing traditions, high energy prices and local policies favor other materials such as clay, slate or metal, keeping asphalt shingles on the sidelines.

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between cedar shakes and cedar shingles? Or maybe you thought that it’s exactly the same? While most of the American homeowners care only if their roof is covered with natural cedar or not, the way how the wood is cut is absolutely crucial. This the reason why we decided to explain you whether you should shingles or shakes when planning a roof replacement.

What Are The Key Differences Between Cedar Shakes And Shingles?

While cedar roofs look generally the same, it’s worth noting that when giving a closer look, you will probably easily recognize the differences between shake and shingle roofs. These are:

Cedar Shingles Are Smooth, Shakes Have Uneven Surface

One of the biggest differences between shingles and shakes is the way they are produced. As a rule, cedar shingles are sawn on both sides by machines. Because of that, their surface is flat and even. At the opposite, shakes are traditionally hand-split, what results with more rugged surface and rustic appearance.

Cedar Shakes Are Generally Thicker

Since shakes are hand-sawn (or split), they are noticeably (up to twice as much) thicker. Usually, their thickness ranges somewhere between 1/2″ and 3/4″, while shakes measure between 0.3″ and 0.5″.

While the shingle or shake longevity derives mainly from the kind of a wood quality, the dimensions are also important. In normal conditions and if properly installed, shakes should last slightly longer – up to 30-35 instead of 20-25 years.

Shingle Roof Surface is Harmonized And Smooth, Shake Roof Does Not

Just as asphalt shingles, cedar shingles are also rectangular, and their edges are straight. Therefore, they can be easily installed evenly, and the entire roof has elegant, uniform look. Since cedar shakes are split by hand, their dimensions differ, and the roof surface is much more diverse – therefore you can achieve “rustic charm”.

To achieve a watertight roof with wood shingles, you simply need to lay the 3 layers. To achieve the same with hand split shakes, roofer need to spend much more time, sorting pieces of cedar and placing them in a strict order. It obviously affects the labor cost, making shake roofs more expensive.

Difference Between Wood Shingles And Shakes in Terms of Grain Structure

When it comes to new roof installation, you should also decide what kind of grain you choose. You can opt for edge-grain, flat-grain and slash grain shingles (or shakes).

In the vast majority of cases, shakes as well as shingles may be cut in order to achieve either grain structure. In practice, homeowners decide on edge-grain shingles more frequently, but it’s mainly because that these people are usually ready to pay more, if the quality is better. While edge grain shakes (or shingles) are renowned for their increased durability and curling resistance, customers with more limited budget can opt for flat grain shakes, which are usually cheaper. Unfortunately, it translates into inferior properties of such a roof.

Are Wood Shakes Better Than Shingles?

Roofers usually use term “cedar shakes”, not “cedar shingles”, but we believe that it derives from will of distinction cedar shingles from asphalt shingles. In fact, new cedar shake roofs are hardly ever seen nowadays, as customers prefer wood shingles as a roofing material – just because of their aesthetics.

Whether you choose shakes or shingles, much more important criteria is the kind of cedar wood, it’s thickness and grain structure. These factors influence the roof’s real performance and longevity. As long as the only difference between wood shingles and wood shakes is their aesthetic appeal, it doesn’t matter in our opinion.

What Kind of Cedar Shakes or Shingles Should I Get?

If you live in rather inhospitable climate (Canada, Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire), you should definitely go for thick (3/4″ or even 1″), hand-split or resawn shakes. As they are thicker than shingles, their supposed lifetime is longer – the thicker the pieces of wood are, the better.  If you opt for alaskan yellow cedar , which is generally much more robust than western red cedar, you should count on 30-40 years without thinking about a new roof or significant repairs.

The difference between wood shingles and shakes is less remarkable if your home is located in a rather mild climate. Homeowners from Kansas, Missouri, Virginia or Idaho can choose cedar wood shakes what they want, without prioritizing their thickness. In our opinion, mid-range, 1/2″ thick shingles made of western red cedar or eastern white cedar will work perfectly.

It’s worth adding that wood roof is not a great choice if you live in humid areas, such as Florida, Louisiana, Missisipi or Georgia. High temperature and water vapor in the air lead to growth of mold and premature aging. In such a climate, natural wood as a roof cover is simply bad choice. However, if you are in desperate need of natural look of cedar, you should aim for slash-grain or edge-grain shingles – these should give you the highest level of curling and humidity resistance. Nevertheless, it’s still much better to install steel or aluminum roof.