Shakes & Shingles
The difference between timber shakes & shingles
First things first – what is the difference between timber shakes and shingles? They may both be used in roofing and cladding, but the difference lies in their manufacturing. Timber shingles are sawn on both sides and therefore have a smoother, more uniform look– perfect for modern applications. Shakes are hand-split on one or both sides, with a more textured appearance.
Whether you are involved in the restoration of a historic building or creating a contemporary new structure – timber shakes and shingles are a wonderfully versatile option for internal and external use on both domestic and public buildings. They offer a beautiful and sustainable solution, with the added benefit of having good insulating properties.
An example of timber shingles. Notice they have a smooth, uniform look.
An example of timber shakes. They are hand-split on one or both sides and have a more textured appearance.
Shakes & Shingles at WL West Timber
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Eastern White Cedar Shingles
Durable, naturally resistant to decay and weathering and requiring minimal maintenance, Eastern White Cedar shingles are a striking and cost-effective choice for roofing and cladding. They can bring a ‘New England look’ to a property and one of their advantages is that they have no tannins, which can cause discolouration over time.
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Larch Shakes
Larch is a European golden softwood that is durable and requires no treatment. It has good insulating properties and is versatile, as it can be stained/painted with a coloured top coat to customer specifications.
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Oak Shakes
Oak is beautiful, traditional, durable, extremely weather-resistant, highly textured and frequently used for ecclesiastical projects. One of the most well-known steeplejacks in the South of England is Peter Harknett. He is so revered by Harald Rapold, that the company has trademarked a Peter Harknett Oak Shake©. This product is made slightly thicker for greater longevity and is ideal for use on church spires.
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Robinia Shakes
Robinia shakes are extremely strong and very durable. They resist rot and the weather like no other European timber species and their golden-brown colour develops a soft silver-grey patina over time.
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Spruce Shakes
A very cost-effective option, European Spruce is lightweight, stable and environmentally friendly. It has a lovely uniform texture and can be treated to increase durability and decay resistance.
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Western Red Cedar Shakes
Western Red Cedar shakes have a unique and attractive reddish-brown colour. They are durable, lightweight, stable and environmentally friendly making them a sought-after alternative to traditional roof and wall tiles.
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Western Red Cedar Shingles
Western Red Cedar shingles have a unique and attractive reddish-brown colour. They are durable, lightweight, stable and environmentally friendly making them a sought-after alternative to traditional roof and wall tiles.
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Yellow Cedar Shakes
With a distinctive warm yellow colour; Yellow Cedar shakes are durable, low maintenance and require no treatment. They are an affordable cladding and roofing option and weather to a beautiful soft, silvery grey over time.
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Yellow Cedar Shingles
Yellow Cedar is well known for being durable, low maintenance and requiring no treatment. It is an affordable cladding and roofing option and weathers from a warm yellow to a gorgeous, silvery grey as time passes.
All images on this page are credited to © Rapold GmbH
Where to buy timber shakes and shingles
WL West Timber are the sole UK distributor for Harald Rapold Schindelheimat® wood shake and shingle products. Based in Bavaria, Harald Rapold Schindelheimat® are a long-established family-run business and are renowned for their high-quality products. We offer a range of timber species, size and style of shakes and shingles to suit a variety of budgets and styles of property. Contact our team to discuss your timber shake or shingle project.
| Timber Species Available | Shakes | Shingles |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern White Cedar | No | Yes |
| Larch | Yes | No |
| Oak | Yes | No |
| Robinia | Yes | No |
| Spruce | Yes | No |
| Western Red Cedar | Yes | Yes |
| Yellow Cedar | Yes | Yes |
Do you require timber shakes or shingles for your next project?
We are a leading UK timber merchant & machinist, supplying trade, commercial & retail.
From providing high quality timber shakes to timber shingles, we can help with your project needs. With over 155 years experience, timber is what we do. Get in touch with our Sales Team to get your timber shakes or shingles quote.