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Cedar Shingles

Western Red Cedar Shingles

Western Red Cedar Shingles are used for roofing, both domestic and commercial, and as a cladding for side walls. Not only do they provide an eye-catching and unique aesthetic, they are incredibly durable, lightweight and environmentally friendly. In fact, they are so durable, they are often the chosen choice for Victorian church spires and the restoration of historic buildings thanks to their resistance to the great British weather.

Maintenance is also minimal with Western Red Cedar shingles. They offer long term performance with a life expectancy in excess of 40 years when treated with Tanalith E preservative. This keeps not only the performance but the appearance at its best throughout the lifetime of your build.

Cedar Shingles for Roofing

Shingles are versatile and suitable for a range of roofing applications. They can be fixed at a roof pitch as low as 14 degrees. This provides you a reliable alternative to felt or lead for roof coverings. Pre-formed Hip+Ridge capping also often accompanies roofing shingles to compliment the design. Benchmark can provide these, too.

Cedar Shingles Sustainability

All the timber we sell at Benchmark is sustainable and responsibly sourced. Our cedar shingles however, take it one step further, being the ultimate eco building material. This is due to the fact that shingles are mostly created as a by-product from logs which have been sawn into their desired lengths. Rather than waste the left over material from processed log, shingles are created to be used in alternative projects.

This is alongside all our shingles being PEFC certified, so you can rest assured they are from a responsible source with sustainable harvesting.

Grades of Cedar Shingles

Blue Label Cedar Shingles

Blue Label shingles are a high-quality grade timber product and being 100% heartwood and edge grain, will not allow for knots or sapwood. This grade of shingle can be used on all roof and vertical applications. Blue label cedar shingles are available untreated or with a Tanilith E treatment.

Black Label Cedar Shingles

Black label cedar shingles on the other hand do allow for a small number of knots. However, these knots are secure and tight and are only on the top third of the shingle ensuring they won't be seen once installed. This grade can also be used for all vertical situations and on roofing for garden buildings or stables. Only available untreated.

Cedar Shingles The Tree

The scientific name for Western Red Cedar is Thuja Plicata. It is an evergreen, carniferous tree in the Cypress family. The tree can grow to large heights ranging from 40 to 1,500 ft. with a 22 ft. trunk diameter.

Depending on the growth conditions, some individual trees of this species can live to nearly 1000 years old. Those growing on Queen Charlotte islands for example, are around an astonishing 900 years old.

Crowns on this species will also vary depending on the amount of space they have to grow. Those out in the open will exhibit a crown that reaches the ground while those in dense areas such as woodland will only exhibit a crown at the top where the sunlight reaches the leaves.

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