A roof helps keep the elements out and your family safe, but that doesn't mean your home has to look like every other house on the block. Asphalt shingles are one of North America's most common types of roofing material. Sometimes, choosing a premium material can add instant curb appeal. Shake shingles offer a unique aesthetic and rugged look. These wood shingles are cut either hand-split or taper sawn. Investing in traditional shake shingles has its drawbacks, though. Let's look at the pros and cons of shake shingles and why Euroshield's Shake shingles give homeowners the best of both worlds. 

Pros and Cons Of Shake Shingles

Until the 1800s, wood was one of the most popular roofing materials. Lumber was plentiful, and the shingles themselves were lightweight and easy to install. Early builders would coat shake shingles with oil to help them repel water and keep them from fading. Shake shingles are made of white pine, oak, cypress, and cedar. Cedar contains natural oils to help prevent decay and protect the tree, so it quickly became a go-to material. Shake shingles are strong, durable, and able to withstand wind and hail while providing energy-efficient insulation. However, shake shingles are prone to mold, pests, and fire even with the best pre-treatment. 

Are Shake Shingles Eco-Friendly?

Wood shingles are less eco-friendly than they would seem. There has been a net loss of 10 billion acres of global forests since 1990. While many current timber manufacturers attempt to source the wood from working forests (where there is a cycle of growth and harvest), centuries of deforestation have left communities vulnerable to flooding. In a 2021 Sierra Club BC report titled Intact Forest, Safe Communities, Dr. Peter Wood explained how intact forests act as a sponge, absorbing and slowly-releasing water. Others have sounded the alarm as well. Dr. Younes Alila, a forest management professor at the University of British Columbia, predicted increased flooding due to logging at higher elevations in mountainous areas.

Euroshield's Eco-Friendly Shake Shingles 

While traditional shake shingles represent a tiny fraction of timber use, some environmentalists say every little bit counts. Euroshield offers a solution that reduces the need for deforestation and helps keep materials out of landfills. In an attempt to solve the problem of old tires clogging landfills and dumpsites, Euroshield founder Henry Kamphuis' company G.E.M. created an exceptionally durable, authentic-looking, and, most importantly, environmental-friendly green roofing system. Made from 95% recycled materials, 70% of which are recycled tires, Euroshield shingles offer the beauty and luxury of shake or slate shingles with the durability of rubber. In fact, since their creation, Euroshield shingles have diverted nearly 3.5 million tires from landfills!

Euroshield Is One of the Best Roof Shingles

Home and business owners can choose from two Euroshield Shake styles, Beaumont Shake and Ranchlands Shake. Ranchlands Shake is engineered to show off ultra-deep shadow lines and long, wavy grains, and rough texture. Beaumont Shake is manufactured to mimic the natural texture of genuine hand-split wood. Not only are these bold and versatile Euroshield Shake shingles designed to look like real shake, but they offer better protection than many roofing material options currently on the market. 

Quick facts about Euroshield Shake shingles:

• Low maintenance
• Resistant to splitting, cracking, peeling, rotting, and fading
• Energy-efficient
• Superior sound protection
• Superior hail and wind protection

Euroshield Shake shingles are proven to withstand weather conditions in multiple climates. Euroshield shingles come with a Class 4 impact resistance rating, meaning they are hail resistant to hail stones up to 2 inches in size. Whereas asphalt shingles typically have a Class 1 or Class 2 impact rating. 

Euroshield Shake shingles provide superior wind performance, which is excellent for those living in areas with high winds or tropical systems. Thanks to an exclusive interlocking design, Ranchlands Shake was exposed to 150 mph continuous winds for two hours, while Beaumont Shake was tested against 160 mph continuous winds for two hours. Neither experienced blow-off! To put that in perspective, Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida as a Category 4 in 2022. With recorded wind gusts of 140 mph in Cape Coral, the interlocking design of Euroshield Shake shingles did hold up in those extreme conditions.

Talk To Your Contractor About Euroshield Shake Shingles

Euroshield shingles come with a class-leading 50-year warranty. They provide a unique look that's eco-friendly and sustainable. Euroshield Shake shingles can be shipped anywhere in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. For more information, check out our FAQ page or contact us for a free estimate. You can also search for a certified installer in your area.