Shingle roofing for the house

Alongside thatched roofShingle is part of a universal heritage. It is a type of roofing found on old houses in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Finland, England, but also in Canada and the USA. Where wood was not hard to find, skilled craftsmen found a way to use it to cover houses easily, whatever the shape of the roof. Our country was no exception. Wooden churches and traditional gates of MaramureșThe old Bucovin houses that also have their exterior walls covered with "wooden scales", the old Gorj or Siberian houses with shingle roofing are all evidence of the use of wood for roofing houses.

The very pleasing traditional look, as well as the return to wood and natural that we have been feeling more and more in recent years, have led to a revival of this sector. As a result, in addition to traditional shingle producers, there are also industrial producers. There are differences in appearance between the two types, as always between hand-made and machine-made objects, but the method of installation and protection remains the same. Let's take a look at the advantages of wooden cladding, the species used, what needs to be done to make it as resistant as possible over time and what the standards say about it.

Wooden cladding

There are many different types of wood paneling. Besides shingle, șiță or draniță, the houses were covered with uluc plank, Finnish shingle (longer than ordinary shingle) or long shingle (wooden planks wider than shingle). The most commonly used is shingle. The term comes from the German - schindel - like many other terms adopted by carpenters and joiners from German craftsmen.

Shingles are pieces of wood of certain sizes cut along the grain. The difference between shingle, shingle and shingle is size and sometimes shape. Officially, in the normative, shingle is the longest and dranița the shortest. During the documentation, however, I saw that some people consider the dranița, specifically from Maramureșe, to be longer. The difference is also due to the way the visible part is finished. They are straight, round, wavy or cut so that they can create certain patterns on the roof.

Advantages of wooden cladding

Shingle has a rustic, traditional look and is particularly recommended for roofing houses in the village. It can also be used to cover kiosks or terraces, churches or restaurants with a specific character, in which case the recommendations are more lenient.

Shingle wraps are not just used for their great looks. They also come with a number of advantages:

• low weight. Shingle is lighter than any other type of cladding. This saves on the structural strength of the house, making it softer, which is also an advantage when located in areas at high seismic risk;
• is a good thermal and sound insulator. However, for maximum comfort, it is recommended to install insulation between the rafters;
• not temperature dependent. It remains flexible at low temperatures and has no dimensional variations at high temperatures;
• is durable no matter where the house is located - mountain, sea, village, town;
• in case of malfunctions local repairs can be made;
• is natural.

What kind of wood is used

As it is a flattened object on the outside, totally unprotected, the wood chosen should be as strong as possible. Availability has also played an important role in the choice of wood for shingle. In our country, traditional craftsmen made and continue to use mainly spruce wood. It can also be used oak treeBut it's more expensive and harder and harder to work. Our Hungarian neighbors make shingle from acacia, a durable wood that they have in abundance. In the Nordic countries they use pine or larch, and in Canada and the USA, cedar, especially white cedar, is considered one of the hardiest outdoor species.

While there are no major restrictions on the species used, the important thing being availability and outdoor resistance, much stricter requirements are set for the quality of the wood. It must be well dried, free of knots and cracks. It can be treated with oil to increase its moisture resistance. But if the slope of the house is steep enough so that water and snow do not puddle, shingle will work very well unprotected.

Factors on which the durability of a shingle roof depends

The life expectancy of a shingle roof is typically 30 years, but can be as long as 50-60 years. Many aspects are important, not just the species used. Here are some of them:

• building orientation. As with any other outdoor wooden object - doors, windows, fences - it's important how wind, rain and sun it is exposed to. The more it is exposed to such phenomena, the less resistant it is over time;
• roof slope. If the slope is shallow and the water puddles, the resistance will decrease over time. If you think about the appearance of the wooden churches in Maramureș, the ones that have a slope almost vertical, you will understand why there are such small churches, with a functional roof, that beat the hundred years;
• how it has been mounted. As a roof made of thousands of pieces of wood, it is very important how they are fitted. The slightest irregularity can cause water to seep in and damage the roof;
• wood protection. You may have noticed that some houses develop mold and fungus over time. If the wood is first treated with oil and then maintained, its moisture will not increase and will not create conditions for these parasitic plants that destroy the roof over time;
• regular maintenance. Cleaning moss from the shingle sheathing should be done as soon as it appears. Broken shingles should be replaced with new ones to prevent water from getting under the shingle.

How to make wooden roofs. Standards

The installation of shingle roofing is regulated by NP069 standard - 2014. It is this standard that also differentiates between shingle and shingle. The shingle has a straight, thin and narrow end, whereas the shingle may be rounded or have concave edges at the top. Depending on the area, the shingle may have flap and groove side grooves for a better joint. Șița It is 30, 35, 40, 50 or 60 cm long, 7 to 14 cm wide and 5 to 7 mm thick. Shingle It is 35, 40 or 50 cm long, between 5 and 13 cm wide and 3 mm thick at the flap and 15 mm thick at the uluc. Dsrog is shorter and wider at 10-12 cm long and 9-13 cm wide.

The slope of the house on which the shingles are mounted must be at least 50% (22.5º). Mounting is on the slats or on the batten. Shingles on a slope shall be very similar in size. A deviation of only 5% is acceptable. It is recommended to treat them prior to erection with biocides and fire retardants.

Because they are made of several pieces nailed together, shingle sheathing is considered ventilated sheathing. However, it is recommended to install underlay foil (anti-condensation or waterproofing) on the rafters. Thermal insulation is recommended to ensure a constant interior temperature.

Depending on the area and requirements the shingles can be installed in one, two or 3-5 layers. The overlap can be 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 of the length of the shingle. Overlapping 1/4 and single-row installation is only acceptable for spaces that do not require sealing (sheds). Overlapping 1/2 and 2 courses gives a medium tightness and overlapping 1/3 and 3 courses is used for enclosed living spaces that need maximum tightness.

Aesthetics play an important role

Shingle roofing has a lot of qualities, but the main reason we choose it is the way it looks, especially as it is an expensive roofing material compared to others on the market. But a shingle roof on a well-designed house in the countryside will add a touch of authenticity.

Shingle is very versatile and can also be used to protect the walls of houses. In this case, depending on the design of the house, shingle can emphasize the traditional look or create an interesting, even modern look. Shell-shaped house, presented some time ago, can be an example.

There is also a thinner version of shingle that is used to make roofs like those in children's stories. The way it is fitted creates "waves" and unevenness on the house. About such dwarf-house-looking houses, but I told you on another occasion.

I hope I have caught your attention this time. If you think this is an article that would be of interest to others, feel free to share. And if you want to chat, have any questions, additions or comments, please leave them below in the dedicated space. I will certainly reply.