Background
Why Choose Timber?
The Environmental Credentials of Cedar Shingles and Shakes
Why choose wood as a roofing material? There are many and varied reasons for
this. Cedar shingles and shakes maximise the yield from the forest. Their production
can use parts of the log that would be unsuitable for sawn timber and otherwise
wasted or scrapped. Additionally due to its natural properties and resistance
to decay, naturally fallen cedar can be reclaimed from the forests and used.
According to the Council of Forest Industries:
"Wood is by far the most environmentally friendly construction material. Not
only is it a renewable resource, it is a recyclable one. This is vital if we are
to preserve our resources and minimize our global environmental impact.
Buildings constructed of wood benefit from wood's superior insulating properties. They are more efficient than concrete or steel, which translates into long-term energy savings and a reduced load on our environment."
Buildings constructed of wood benefit from wood's superior insulating properties. They are more efficient than concrete or steel, which translates into long-term energy savings and a reduced load on our environment."
There are similar arguments from the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, a recognised
authority since 1915, who say that Cedar compares very favourably to other roofing
products in terms of energy consumption, creating pollutants, and as a sustainable
form of production.
Compared with other roofing materials, only wood comes from a renewable resource making it the choice for a sustainable future and for cleaner air. Wood, says the Bureau, is "incredibly strong, extremely durable, the most energy-conserving, and the only material that is 100% reusable, recyclable and biodegradable."
Compared with other roofing materials, only wood comes from a renewable resource making it the choice for a sustainable future and for cleaner air. Wood, says the Bureau, is "incredibly strong, extremely durable, the most energy-conserving, and the only material that is 100% reusable, recyclable and biodegradable."
The designer friendly Handbook of Sustainable Building published by renowned science publisher, James & James Limited, based in
London, rates shingles and shakes highly through the use of an environmental preference
method developed in the Netherlands. The environmental preference method examines
the lifecycle over extraction, processing, construction, building occupation and
building composition in respect of ecosystem impacts, depletion of resources,
emission, energy use, waste limitation and processing, refuse, lifespan and reparability.
Cedar shingles and shakes score highly due to their light weight (savings can
be made in the supporting structures), long life, low resource waste and they
are made from a renewable source - wood.
