Lynne Christensen, MBA, CAE, is the Director of Operations for the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau. Ms. Christensen has worked in the roofing industry for 15 years and was a team member deployed to the Hurricane Katrina area to assist the insurance industry with structural damage assessment. She can be reached at lynne@cedarbureau.com.

Glossary Terms

• Bundle strap: Metal or plastic band used to hold a bundle of shakes or shingles together


• Extractive bleeding: Extractive bleeding (stains) on the surface of Western Red Cedar occur when extractives are dissolved and leached from the Western Red Cedar by water. The water then moves to the finished/coated surface, evaporates and leaves the extractive discoloration which may be dark red or reddish-brown in appearance. Extractive bleeding is easily prevented when the proper primer and topcoats are applied using the coating manufacturer's recommended spread rates, time of application (i.e., not too cold/hot or in direct sunlight). Environment and moisture content level should be considered during the application phase.


• Fivex: A shingle of 16" nominal length


• Froe: Sharp metal blade with handle used in conjunction with mallet to split shakes by hand


• Keyway: Space between adjacent shakes or shingles


• Mallet: Hammer-like tool used in conjunction with froe to split shakes by hand


• Material Safety Data Sheet: Product document containing items such as precautions, product composition, emergency response procedures and operating instructions. Provided to handlers, sellers, users and other parties associated with said product to ensure health, safety and proper work procedures.


• Pallet strapping: Metal band used to hold multiple bundles of shake or shingle products together on pallet


• Perfection: A shingle of 18" nominal length


• Photodegradation is the chemical transformation of a compound into smaller compounds caused by the absorption of ultraviolet, visible, or infrared radiation (light). (This definition is taken from http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/photodegradation.html and International Union of Pure And Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), 1996, Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996): Pure and Applied Chemistry, v. 68, no.12, p. 2223-2286.)


• Pressure impregnated fire retardant treatment: Permanent fire protection is provided by factory pressure-impregnating fire retardant polymers into the innermost cells of shakes and shingles to meet Class A, B and C testing standards.


• Pressure impregnated preservative treatment: Long term protection from fungal decay is provided with factory pressure-impregnated treatment of preservatives that will extend the life of cedar shake and shingle roofs.


• Rebutted and Rejointed (R&R) sidewall shingles: A sawn shingle, remanufactured on four sides to ensure square butts and parallel edges for superior appearance on sidewall applications. Also available with sanded or machine grooved face. Predominately kiln dried. Pre-primed or pre-stained options available.


• Ridge (hip and ridge) material: Two shakes or shingles preassembled into units that cap the peaks or hips of a roof structure
• Royal: A shingle of 24" nominal length


• Shake: There are two main types: (1) handsplit and resawn and (2) tapersawn. Handsplit and resawn shakes have the split face exposed with a naturally rustic appearance, and are sawn on the back. Tapersawn shakes are sawn on both sides for a semi-textured look with a stronger shadowline than a shingle.


• Shingle: A shingle is sawn on both sides for a tailored appearance with a less strong shadowline than a tapersawn shake. Shingles are available in 16" Fivex, 18" Perfection or 24" Royal nominal lengths.


• Square: Amount of material required to cover 100 square feet

www.cedarbureau.org The Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau (CSSB) was founded in 1915 and is the industry's trade association representing over 300 members. It offers AIA continuing education seminars, free technical advice and literature, as well as field representation.