The roof is a defining characteristic that can separate your home from the others on your block. Wood shingles are timeless, complementing the aesthetic of any style house, including modern or historic. This luxury roofing material honors the simpler, familiar time of our history while also giving your home a unique appearance.
Cedar roof shingles were the material of choice for most historic homes, but you now have the option to invest in other wood species, such as wallaba and teak. Besides its classic appearance, wood also has a high wind resistance and a naturally high R-value to preserve your home in the winter. Use this guide to discover popular home styles for wood shingles.
1. Cape Cod
The Cape Cod, a cozy American cottage, has been a popular home style for over a century, serving as a convenient residence for travelers, veterans and commuters alike. This one-story house includes plenty of attic space, dormers, simple doors and symmetrical windows. The roof to a Cape Cod home is gabled and pitched, giving the home its unique dimensions. The chimney, usually appearing above the front door, is also a focal point of the house. Cape Cod style roofs are often made up of cedar shakes and may even include cedar siding as well. Check out the custom cedar siding we did on this Cape Cod inspired building located in South Carolina:
2. Tudor
A Tudor style of home from the late 19th century is most popular in the Northeast and the Midwest. It often feels like a dwelling out of a storybook with its tall towers, robust turrets and mullioned casement windows. The half-round or arched doors enhance its coziness, and the exterior walls usually feature patterns of stone and brick, with half-timbering giving the home a medieval appearance. If you love the whimsical look of Tudor architecture, consider also installing a Tudor style roof. The steep slopes, undulating ridge lines and curved edges of the high-pitched roofing will give your house a luxurious yet animated design. A simple Tudor home can become a work of art with a false-thatch roof.
3. Cottage
The Cottage houses originate from the English medieval period where small homes surrounded a main estate where the tenants of the homes worked. These homes we built more cheaply and made of locally sourced items, such as the prominent thatch roofs. Today, cottages can be described as a cozy, small dwelling and are usually located in a rural area. Although they tend to range in layout and size, they still carry the quaint, unique style of the original cottages. As they came into North America, many people began replicating the thatch roof with steam-bent cedar shingle. Below, you can see our classic Country Cottage® roof system complete with the curved eaves and gables atop a charming cottage:
4. Contemporary
Contemporary homes honor the architecture of the Industrial Revolution in the 20th century. Their asymmetrical structures and sharp, geometric shapes are often made from eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo or wood. This style of home enhances the natural light throughout the living space and consists of a flexible layout to adapt to family changes down the road.
While wood roofing is most popular with historic homes, you can use this sustainable material throughout your newer home with a contemporary wood roof. This diverse design puts you in the driver's seat, creating a custom look for your wooden roofing. The curved style of the modern wood roof in our collection bends the rules in what you'd expect to see on a home today.
Contact Custom Shingles to Discuss Your Wood Roofing Project
If you're ready to create a timeless design for your house, consider installing wood roofing. Our artisans at Custom Shingles handcraft every shingle, giving your property the unique design you envision in your mind. We offer design help and inspection expertise to help you plan the ideal roofing for your historical or modern dwelling. For more information on how to make your dream home a reality, fill out a contact form online or call 877-323-3553.