Wood shake roof over plywood?????
andybuildz
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Some builders are doing a fantastic job up the street from me. They seem to really know what theyre doing but one thing concerned me. Theyre putting woodshake roofing ontop of felt paper over plywood…I always thought one had to do woodshake roofs over furring strips or a mesh membrane at least…..to keep an airspace. The job theyre doing looks fairly complicated and is coming out awesome..Whats with the wood shake roof over plywood? Any thoughts?
Be well
Namaste’
Andy
It’s not who’s right, it’s who’s left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Replies
Yeah. Whatsupwiddat? I'm with Andy, and 90% of the time I've seen shakes and shingles installed over felt over 1x4 skip sheeting. Someone, please, do tell! Or are Andy's neighbors just doing it wrong?
Ken Hill
Ken
Is so hard to figure. You should see what a spectacular job theyre doing....real complicated tie ins etc etc. HArd to believe they'd screw up the most aparent part. Spose it made me think.......does it matter if wood is on wood? I could almost understand THAT but with felt paper between seems the mositure in the heat of the sun will just rot the wood shingles and plywood..what a pity.....you should only see what a beautiful precise job they did with mega details..Thats the only reason I'm asking about this issue!
Be well
Namaste'
Andy
kIt's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
you MUST have an airspace underneath the shakes..wether it be skip sheathing or cedar breather
jason
I think a condesation problem waiting to happen.Of course they are selling those Pre-fab interlocking wall systems now. Aren't they mounted on to plywood sheathing.
Once , I worked on a 25 year old slate roof . Putting grey alumminium strips ,up between the waterlines. The Original installer screwed up! Slate doesen't shrink as far as i know. Each course was too far apart. There was a 1/2" space between the top of the nailed course and the alternate overlapping course. Leaving a thin strip of felt paper, exposed for 25 years. it never leaked. It should have lasted forever. The roof had copper valleys an gutters. Go figure. Talk about a Pain in the back. It was 7:12 pitch.
Shakes should have 30# felt interwoven.
Sounds like you are right Andy. Best bet before installing cedar products is to check the website Cedarbureau.org for their recommended installation practices.
In my experience, site location has a lot to do with cedar shake durability.
All in all, it is an expensive roof given the service life. That freakin cedar breather alone is 80 bucks a square just for he material.
In my area shakes may run 800/sqare and more installed and I have replace roofs as young as 18 years.
Sure looks great but shakes wouldn't be my first choice.
Tom