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Guide to Wood Burning for Wood Roofs

Guide to Wood Burning for Wood Roofs

Holding a wood plank up to an open flame sounds like a great way to start a fire. However, it's also a great way to provide greater protection to the wood and make a roof look elegant and sophisticated. Learn more about this technique, first practiced more than two centuries ago, and the potential benefits it offers. 

What Is Shou Sugi Ban?

Shou sugi ban involves charring the outer layer of wood of a plank. The method began in the 18th century when Japanese builders discovered that holding a flame to wood and slightly charring it helped better protect the wood against the elements.

Benefits of Wood Roof Shingle Charring

What does burning the surface of wood do? It sparks many advantages, including: 

  • Discouraging insects from burrowing into the wood because the element that attracts them, lignin, is eliminated.

  • Holding up better against snow and rain as the technique essentially makes the wood waterproof.

  • Providing a unique appearance that appeals to viewers, a little different and darker than non-charred wood.

Does Burning Wood Make it Stronger?

Yes, charring wood makes the wood stronger. When you burn wood, the timber's grains become fused tighter together, making the wood more durable. Of course, the quality of the charring job contributes to that longevity. The craftsperson must know what they're doing or the results will be less impressive. The best wood type for burning has open-celled timbers, and softer wood generally works better than hardwood.

Does Burning Wood Make it Last Longer?

Does Burning Wood Make it Last Longer?

Charring also makes the wood last longer. Wood burned by an experienced craftsperson can last for decades, doubling the lifespan of timber that hasn't been charred. You can apply char oil to the wood to give it even greater sturdiness. Taking care of your charred wood is the best way to extend its lifespan. 

Char depth contributes to the longevity of the wood, too. The deeper the burn goes, the longer the wood will last. When you have a deeper char layer, erosion will take longer to reach beneath the char and fester to cause damage. 

Specialty Wood Shingles From Custom Shingles

Using charred wood shingles gives your home or business a unique appearance. You'll appreciate the product's long lifespan and outstanding durability. 

Contact our team at Custom Shingles to get information on our specialty roofing materials. Fill out our contact form or call (877) 323-3553 today!

The Difference Between White and Red Cedar Shingles

White and red cedar are both softwoods, and Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada have used both trees for centuries. However, that's where the similarities between white and red cedar end. The similarly-named woods create shingles you can use on your home, but you should understand the merits and differences of each before you decide which to purchase.

Zook Shingles

One of the more well-known contributors to the undulating roof design was architect R. Harold Zook. His homes were built in the 1920s to the late 1940s, and can be found throughout Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. He designed mainly Cotswold and Tudor style cottages, each full of character and well thought-out details. The designs included many natural elements such as exposed wood beams, stone, iron and brick, and he often incorporated his signature spider web design into the iron work or stained glass windows.

A key feature on many Zook houses is the undulating wood roof designed to look like thatch and stacked “Zook Shingles”. The undulating design is created by cutting and installing shingles in a wave pattern with the “Zook Shingles” on eaves and gables layered and steam-bent to give the whole roof a subtle flow. Today, this shingle design is still referred “Zook Shingles” and is a concept we use often.

Throughout the years, we have had the opportunity to re-roof several of these homes that showcase both styles, including his own home and studio he built in 1924:

 

Each Zook House is truly a unique piece of art and a beautiful representation of the era’s craftsmanship.

 
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