If you want to install durable roofing materials, wood can be an excellent choice. Before talking to a roofing contractor, you should choose the right wood materials. There are plenty of options for these materials and the way they are installed. The following wood roofing solutions will help give your home a naturally durable new roof:

Preparing the Roof Surface for New Materials

The wood roofing project for your home should start by preparing the surface. If you have existing shingles that are in good condition, you may want to install the wood materials on top of them. Doing this can help reduce problems, but you still want to use moisture barrier materials like felt paper. You can also remove the shingles, repair damaged decking, and install new moisture barrier materials. Removing all the old materials will ensure you catch all the damage to roof decking that needs to be repaired.

Installing Slats to Reduce Moisture Issues

The wood roofing materials can be installed on slats, which are vertical strips that help with the installation. They will ensure each row of shakes is inclined and has an air gap to allow moisture to escape. If you are installing shakes over old shingles, using slats is a great way to address several issues. The slats hold the new shakes up off of the old shingles. This allows you to correct issues with imperfections on the surface before shakes are installed.

Choosing the Best Wood Materials

There are a few options for natural wood roofing materials. These can be various hand-split products or milled shingle materials. Options for installing wood roofing on your home include:

• Pressure-treated wood shingle materials
• Natural hand-split wood shake materials
• Premium domestic and tropical hardwood shakes

The wood roofing options like board-and-batten are less common because they are more prone to leaks and wear. Therefore, you will want to talk to your roofing contractor about the best wood materials for the needs of your home.

Working with the Roofing Contractor

When installing a wood roof on your home, you are going to need to work closely with the contractor. You should talk to them about options like tearing off old shingles and improvements. The roofing contractor can also help with design improvements to renovate your home when the new roof is installed.

Wood roofing is a great choice for a custom roof, but you want to make sure it is professionally installed. Contact a roofing contractor for more information.