What are the Best Wood Shingles for a House in the Tropics?

We recommend Wallaba Shingles, Teak Shingles or CCA Treated Cedar Shingles for houses located in tropical regions. While untreated wood is an excellent, long-lasting option for areas without high humidity, Wallaba, Teak and CCA Treated Shingles have elements which allow them to hold up better against the high humidity and moisture in the tropics.

Wallaba Shingles

Sourced from the rainforests of South America, Wallaba is a hardwood with a very dense grain. It is imbedded with natural oils and tannins which help repel mold, moisture and even insects, making them a perfect choice for island homes. 

When initially installed, Wallaba shingles are bright red, which begin to fade to a relaxed, silvery gray within one-two years. Their superior resistance to the elements makes them a long lasting option, even in harsh climates. Their expected lifespan is 35-60+ years, depending of course on maintenance and care. Our Wallaba shakes and shingles can be found on houses along the beach and on island villas. 

Newly Installed Wallaba Shakes on Jacksonville, Florida Home

30 Year Aged Wallaba Shingles on Miami, Florida Home (Deering Estate)

Teak Shingles 

Teak has long been used for all things outdoors and tropical. It's known for its ability to repel insects and water because of its naturally occurring silica content. Not only does it work well for common uses like outdoor furniture and decking, it is the perfect solution for a roof in the islands or anywhere with high humidity. Sourced from Southeast Asia, teak is a marbled, pale yellow to begin with before fading to a weathered gray. Teak shingles can last anywhere from 50-80+ years, again depending how well it is maintained. Teak shingles are a luxury option, often found on tropical villas and resorts. The shingles can come traditionally cut or like the examples shown below, custom cut and steam-bent to fit the desired aesthetic: 

Newly Installed Reclaimed Teak Shingles on Private Residence in Kona, Hawaii

CCA Treated Western Red Cedar 

Our most common wood species, Western Red Cedar contains some naturally occurring oils and tannins, but with CCA treatment, they can hold up to even the highest humidity and mildew conditions. CCA stands for copper, arsenic, and chromium, which is pressure-impregnated into the shingles. Treating the shingles alters the original reddish-brown color just slightly, giving the shingles a pale yellow overlay. Our CCA treated shingles can be found on beach houses and villas along the coast. 

Best Roof for Your Island Home

When choosing a roof for your tropical retreat, it is important to look for a long-lasting option that’ll help protect your home against the rain, humidity and insects typical of tropical climates. Teak, Wallaba and CCA Treated shingles are the best options for roof longevity, and they bring a relaxed vibe to any property. Reach out to us with any questions regarding your home’s roof.

Preservation Month: Our Favorite Historic Projects

May is National Historic Preservation Month, so we are taking a look at some of our favorite historical projects we have been involved in!

Charles H. MacNider Art Museum 

This museum was originally built as a private residence in the 1920s. It was purchased in the 1960s and remodeled to serve as an art museum and remains to be present-day. This building showcases all the styling of a traditional Tudor; the red brick with varying installation patterns, the wood beams, the stone, and the imitation thatch roof. 

Used in this roof replacement were our 16” #1 Blue Label, Western Red Cedar Shingles:  

Bryce Canyon Lodge 

The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is a  National Historic Landmark located in Utah. The lodge’s designer (Gilbert Stanley Underwood) chose the roof’s hunter green color to better blend in with the surrounding Ponderosa Pines. 

We carefully matched the shingle wave pattern to the original roof, and painted the shingles on site: 

R. Harold Zook Home and Studio

Designed by the renowned architect himself, this house and studio served as his private residence until his death in 1949. During the 2000s, a developer purchased the property with plans to demolish the home. Hinsdale locals got involved and saved the home from being demolished by relocating it. Read more about it here: http://www.zookhomeandstudio.org/

R. Harold Zook was a huge fan of faux-thatch roof, and even created his own variation of it by stacking the shingles instead of steam-bending them. We have had the pleasure of replacing the roofs on several of the homes designed by him, as well as the honor to replace the roof on his home: 

Deering Estate

Located in Palmetto Bay, Florida, Deering Estate is a classically styled estate owned by the Charles Deering until his death in 1927.  It is currently owned by Miami-Dade County and runs as a museum and event space. 

We used Wallaba shingles for the roof replacement, as their natural tannins and resistance to moisture help ensure a long-lasting roof, even in South Florida!

Shingles by the Shore

Nestled in St. Simon’s Island’s marshes is this breathtaking home wrapped in cedar shingles. Every detail was carefully and thoughtfully designed by the renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects. We were so honored to have had the opportunity to help bring their vision to life. 

Cedar Shingled House in St. Simon’s Island

The cedar shingled roof features our #1 Grade 18” Western Red Cedar CCA Perfections, with every seventh row being triple-stacked to give the roof extra depth:

Stacked Cedar Shingle Roof

The pre-dipped cedar shingle siding is an array of our most decorative shingles, including our wavy and diamond Fancy Cutt™ profiles:

The main portion of the shingle siding used the #1 Grade Stained Perfections, again with a special installation pattern to add in more detail. The gables feature our wavy shingles installed both at an angle and horizontally: 

Our Fancy Cutt™ diamond shingles can be seen wrapped around the entire top portion of the siding: 

The end result is truly stunning. The many, many small details packed into the exterior of the home cause one to pause to take it all in. We are so thrilled with how this one turned out!

Tudor Home Roof Designs

Tudor homes are a classic style, with their use of natural colors and materials making them simply timeless. Stucco, wood, stone and brick are often their main counterparts, with earthy color tones and the more recent trend including white or black mixed in. The Tudor design originates from 16th century medieval England and Wales* with the style making its way to the US during the early 20th century [1]. Traditional English Tudor homes typically have either slate, clay tile or thatch roofs. When the style first came to the US, architects attempted to recreate the distinct thatch roof on these homes, using cedar shingles to replicate the natural appearance of thatch. Gables, eaves, and valleys were steam-bent to mimic the natural flow of thatch, and the shingles were installed in a wavy pattern to replicate the different layers of thatching. The end result was a style all its own, and a quite beautiful one at that!

In the 1980s when the cedar roofs began to fail due to age, we got our start with our patented equipment, steam-bending cedar shingles to replicate the 1920s undulating roof design (read more about our story here!). 

Featured below are some of our most favorite Tudor roof designs we’ve completed through the years:

MacNider Art Museum

This unique private residence turned art museum is located in Mason City, Iowa. It boasts all the features of the English Tudor style: the mixed brick patterns, stone, half-timbering and of course, the faux-thatch roof, which we meticulously replaced in 2008.

Minnesota Lake House

This 1919 lake home is a gorgeous representation of an English-American Tudor home. The stucco walls, lighter stained half timbers, sweeping cedar shingle roof and surrounding gardens evoke a whimsical charm reminiscent of an old-world countryside retreat.

Eyebrow Dormers

One of the more unique cottage roof designs we’ve done features ‘eyebrow’ dormers. This roof design was original to the home, and includes custom hanging gutters.

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View our Country Cottage porfolio to see more Tudor and similar styled homes, or read more about our Tudor Revival roofs here:

Sources:

[1] https://www.thespruce.com/tudor-architecture-478822