Browse the full Resources Index
The terms cedar shake and cedar shingle get used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they describe two distinct products with different manufacturing methods, different appearances, and different performance characteristics on a roof. Cedar shingles are sawn on all sides, giving them a smooth, uniform surface and a tapered profile that is consistent from piece to piece. Cedar shakes are split, either by hand or with a machine that mimics hand splitting, which leaves a rougher, more textured face and greater variation in thickness from one shake to the next. A third category, tapersawn shakes, combines a split face on one side with a sawn back, giving that product a hybrid appearance that falls somewhere between the two more familiar types.
This manufacturing difference affects how each product weathers and how damage presents on the roof surface. Shingles, with their smooth sawn faces, tend to show impact marks and splitting in more predictable patterns, since the wood grain runs consistently across a uniform surface. Shakes, because of their split faces and irregular thickness, can already display natural checking, texture variation, and grain irregularities that make it harder to distinguish storm damage from the inherent character of the material. This distinction matters directly during a claim inspection, where an evaluator has to separate damage caused by a specific weather event from the normal appearance of a hand split product.
Grading also differs between the two. Cedar shakes are commonly available in grades tied to the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau standards, including heavy, medium, and tapersawn categories, with heavier shakes generally offering more material to absorb impact before splitting through. Cedar shingles are graded by clear wood content and the number of knots or defects permitted, with premium grades containing fewer natural imperfections. Knowing which grade and category was originally installed helps establish a baseline for what the roof looked like before any weather event, which is useful information when evaluating a damage claim years after installation.
Installation method adds another layer to the comparison. Shakes are typically installed with an interlayment of asphalt felt between each course to prevent wind driven precipitation from working its way through the irregular gaps left by the split faces, a detail that Minnesota’s wind and moisture conditions make particularly relevant. Shingles, with their tighter and more uniform fit, do not always require the same interlayment, though many installations still include it as a matter of standard practice. When a repair or partial replacement is being considered, matching not just the wood species but the specific product type and installation detail is necessary to maintain the roof’s original performance.
Age and exposure also read differently across the two products. A cedar shingle roof in Minnesota’s sun and freeze thaw cycles tends to develop a silvery gray patina evenly across exposed surfaces, while a shake roof, because of its varied surface texture, can weather unevenly, with high points graying faster than recessed areas. Recognizing these normal aging patterns is part of separating cosmetic weathering from damage that affects the material’s function. North facing slopes, which receive less direct sun and stay damper longer after a Minnesota rain or snow melt, often develop moss or algae growth at different rates than south facing slopes on the same roof, adding yet another variable an evaluator has to account for when comparing wear across the structure.
This article is general education about how the appraisal process commonly works. It is not legal advice, and specific procedures can vary by state and policy.
Russ Lis is a working property insurance appraiser and umpire based in Minnesota, serving clients nationwide. Contact Appraisal Resolution.