Wood Roofing History

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Historically, wood roofing has been a popular choice in every country possessing sufficient timber resources. Across the United States, wood roofs graced many fine homes and businesses as well as humble cabins and small stores from the time of the earliest settlements to the heyday of the westward expansion. Today, alternative roofing materials have decreased wood roofing's market share, but wood is still a fashionable choice for custom homes and a virtual "given" for many restoration projects. Wood Shingles and Wood Shakes Are Different Although wood shingles and wood shakes are often made from the same types of lumber, they are not identical. Wood shingles are typically cut with a saw to uniform sizes, and their surfaces will be flat and …show more content…

A mallet and sharp blade would be used to split the wood, which would then be smoothed with a knife, or dressed, so that each piece would lay …show more content…

Wood roofing products could be mass-produced, and the uniformity of the shingles eliminated the need for dressing them by hand prior to installation. The advantages provided by shingle machines need to a surprising number of patents for new machines; in 1857 alone, for example, almost 20 patents for shingle making machines were issued. Many refinements were also made to existing machines. However, the demand for hand-split shingles did not disappear. For example, New Jersey had a thriving industry throughout most of the 1800s that was dedicated to producing split shingles, often using white cedar logs that had been unearthed in nearby swamps. New Jersey shingles were shipped to many locations throughout the area, including Wilmington, New York City and Philadelphia. To Learn More About Wood Roofing Alpha Roofing Industries is an award-winning company serving customers in the greater Austin area as well as many other locations in Central Texas. We install a variety of roofing systems, including metal roofing and asphalt shingles, and we also offer roof repairs. In addition, we install attic insulation, gutters, siding and skylights. Our highly qualified crews are dedicated to delivering superior results in a safe, professional manner. If you would like to receive a free estimate, you can submit the online form or call us at (512)

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