Wood Shakes vs. Wood Shingles: Pros, Cons, Cost, and More

If you love an elegant wood roof, you’ve undoubtedly come across wood shakes and shingles. While both look classic and charming, there are differences between the two—and it comes down to the manufacturing process. Our guide will show you the key differences between wood shakes versus wood shingles so you can decide which is best for your home. 

What Are Wood Shakes?

Wood shakes are a timeless roofing material. Wood shakes come from hand-split logs that are reshaped into a rectangle through manufacturing, giving them a rustic aesthetic. 

Because they’re hand-split, wood shakes come in varying sizes and thicknesses, making them a popular choice if you want to achieve a classic colonial or chic mountain-style look.

Types of Wood Shakes

The most common wood shakes are from cedar trees, but you can also find wood shakes from cypress, pine, and redwood trees. In addition, there are also varying types of each wood shake material, with top-grade cedar shakes costing 30% to 50% more. 

Differences Between Wood Shakes and Wood Shingles

The difference between wood shakes and wood shingles comes down to manufacturing. As stated above, wood shakes are hand-split from trees and remastered using power equipment. 

Wood shingles are machine-made with the use of saws. So, wood shingles come out smooth, and wood shakes are textured. Both wood shakes and shingles provide a natural, homey aesthetic that will give you many years of architectural roofing bliss. 

If you aren’t sure which option would be right for your home, contact a local roofer for expert advice.

Wood Shakes Pros and Cons

Wood shakes provide protection and comfort from storms and other weather-related elements. Yet, they are also cost-prohibitive and can be a fire hazard. 

Pros

• Durable

• Beautiful appearance

• Protects against UV sunlight, hail, wind, and heavy rain

• Natural insulator

• Eco-friendly

• Long-lasting

• Versatile

Cons

• Higher-priced

• More difficult to install

• Heavy material

• Requires a lot of maintenance

• Highly flammable

Wood Shingles Pros and Cons

Wood shingles provide a smooth, uniform look while protecting your home from rain and high winds. But they’re also not fire resistant, and they require extensive maintenance.

Pros

• Durable

• Lightweight

• Protects against high winds and UV sunlight

• Long-lasting

• High curb appeal

• Energy-efficient

• Eco-friendly

• Easy installation

• Versatile 

Cons

• Not insect-resistant

• Prone to rot

• Highly flammable

• Requires a lot of maintenance

Wood Shakes vs. Wood Shingles

See whether wood shakes or wood shingles are a better fit for you depending on their appearance, customizations, ease of installation, maintenance, and more. 

Appearance

Wood shakes have a rustic, country home feel due to their hand-split, highly textured aesthetic. Wood shingles are smooth and uniform due to being sawn on both sides. 

When deciding between shingles versus shakes, it ultimately comes down to preference—both shakes and shingles offer a timeless design.

Most visually appealing: Tie  

Options and Customizations

Both wood shake and wood shingle roofs come in a variety of wood species, colors, grain cuts, and sizes (shingles range from 3/8 to 1/2 inches thick, and shakes range from 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick). 

Also, you can enhance wood shakes and shingles to resist fire and fungus. Because of the manufacturing process, wood shingles provide more options for shape, color, finish, and style (diamond, fish scale, steam-bent, and sawtooth).

Best options and customizations: Wood shingles 

Durability

Wood shingles are machine-sawn, with varying cuts going along and against the grain. Wood shakes are hand-split, with one of its sides always going along the grain. 

Because wood shakes always go along the grain, this provides more resistance against wind, hail, UV sunlight, and rain—making wood shakes the more durable choice.  

Most durable: Wood shakes

Price

Cedar shake roofing costs an average of $21,500, whereas the average cost for a shingle roof installation is $12,000. Wood shakes usually cost more than shingles because they’re thicker than shingles and more complex to install.

Better price: Wood shingles

Ease of Installation

Wood shakes require a skilled roofing contractor near you to install them properly because they do not lay perfectly beside each other due to their various textures. You’ll need to ensure proper installation of your wood shake roof, covering all gaps and adding felt interlayment between each row, or you’ll have a lot of maintenance issues down the road. 

Wood shingle installation requires an expert roofing contractor. Still, it isn’t nearly as difficult to install as wood shakes because of their sawn shape, allowing them to lay flat and easily overlap each other to help seal your roof. 

Easiest to install: Wood shingles

Ease of Repair

Most wood shakes require a complete replacement because it’s challenging to repair a broken shake. Wood shingles are easier to repair and usually don’t require a total replacement to treat a damaged shingle.

Easier to repair: Wood shingles 

Maintenance

Both wood shakes and wood shingles are high-maintenance roofing choices. Both require frequent coating protection against rot, algae, mold, fungus, and insects. They also both require deep cleanings every five to seven years. 

On average, the cost to maintain your cedar shake roof will run between $300 and $600 or $0.20 to $0.60 per square foot.

Requires the most maintenance: Tie

Length of Life

Wood shake roofs can last up to 50 years if you maintain them. Wood shingle roofs can last 30 to 40 years if well maintained. 

Although, the longevity of these roofs ultimately depend on the materials used, the installation quality, the weather conditions where you live, and your yearly maintenance schedule.

Longest-lasting roof: Wood shake

Energy Efficiency

Both wood shakes and wood shingles are natural insulators for your home. They retain heat in the winter, making your home nice and toasty, and keep your home cool in the summer. In addition to being energy efficient, wood shakes and shingles keep your energy costs down, which is a win-win. 

The most energy efficient: Tie

Better for the Environment

In terms of being environmentally friendly, wood shakes and shingles are both good choices. Both wood shakes and shingles are sustainable, recyclable materials. Cedar, for example, uses low energy consumption during the manufacturing process. And, because cedar is a natural woodland element, there’s no need to use hazardous chemicals during the production phase. 

Most sustainable: Tie 

Resale Value

There’s no doubt that beautiful wood shakes and wood shingles increase your home’s resale value. Aside from being eye-catching, wood shakes and shingles are highly durable, especially in harsh climate environments. Their energy efficiency is another win. And wood shakes and shingles look more distinguished with age, which is another resale boost. 

Better resale value: Tie