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Shaker Shingles

Replacement Options

Sections Overview Making Shingles Historic Patterns Replacement Options

Historic Patterns

Available Wooden Shingles and Shakes for Re-Roofing
Type	Image	Size	Description	Notes
Custom split & dressed		Made to match historic shingles	Handsplit the traditional way with froe and mallet. Tapered. Surfaces dressed for smoothness	Appropriate if: •Worked to match uniformly dressed original shingles
Tapersplit		Typically L=15", 18", 24" W=4"-14" Butts vary 1/2"-3/4"	Commercially available. Handsplit the traditional way with froe and mallet. Tapered. Bundles contain varying widths and butt thicknesses. Surfaces may be irregular along grain.	Appropriate if: • irregular surfaces are dressed • butt thicknesses ordered uniform • wide shingles are split
Straightsplit		Typically L=15", 18", 24" W=4"-14" Butts vary mediums = 3/8"-3/4" heavies=3/4"-1 1/4"	Commercially available. Hand or machine split without taper. Bundles contain varying butt thicknesses, often very wide shingles. Surfaces may be irregular along the grain. Thick shingles not historic.	Not appropriate for most preservation projects • Limited use of thin, even straightsplits on some cabins, barns, etc.
Handsplit resawn		Typically L=15", 18", 24" W=4"-14" Butts vary mediums = 3/8"-3/4" heavies=3/4"-1 1/4"	Commercially Available. Machine split and sawn on the backs to taper. Split faces often irregular, even corrugated in appearance. Butt thicknesses vary and may be too wide.	Not appropriate for preservation projects
Tapersawn		Typically L=15", 18", 24" W=4"-14" Butts vary 1/2"-3/4"	Commercially available. Made from split products with sawn surfaces. Tapered. Butt thicknesses vary and shingles may be too wide. Saw marks may be pronounced.	Appropriate if: • butt thicknesses ordered uniform • wide shingles are split • pronounced saw marks sanded
Sawn--straight butt		Typically L= 16"-40" (3/8") 18"-45" 24"-50 (1/2") Butts vary by oder	Custom or commercially available. Tapered. Sawn by circular saw.	Appropriate to reproduce historic sawn shingles
Sawn--fancy butt		Typically L= 16"-40" (3/8") 18"-45" 24"-50 (1/2") Butts vary by oder	Custom or commercially available. Tapered. Sawn by circular saw. A variety of fancy butts available.	Appropriate to reproduce historic fancy butts
Steam-bent		Varies by order to match, "Thatch" roofs	Custom or commercially available. Tapered. Thin sawn shingles are steamed and bent into rounded forms.	Appropriate to reproduce "thatch" shingles

Source: Adapted from an article by Leigh Cree White.

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