White vs Red cedar shakes

[cbk1]

Help!

I have googled myself to exhaustion and have not been able to find reliable, unbiased, substantiated information regarding the difference between red and white cedar - performance wise. I am not looking for personal opinions, just facts, as I have a client who has requested this.

We're talking vertical surfaces and roofing, realizing that one may be better suited to a specific use. Any pretreatments necessary? Which is more expensive? Does cost vary depending on the part of the country in which you live? (I am in the northeast). Has there been testing done that actually proves that one is superior? Can anyone provide me with a link or other source?

The Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau only focuses on red cedar(perhaps it's because they're on the west coast) and appears to simply be a promotional outlet. Obviously this hasn't been helpful.

Thanks.

[HarmsWay]

Shakes from Western Red cedar is all that is available here I believe. Is the white cedar you're talking about actually yellow cedar? Or just the whiter samples of the Western Red Cedar? Regardless, you wouldn't do a roof from either here. Lebanon cedar?

We replaced our WR cedar roof with a man-made product. They don't make shakes like they used you. Old growth, hand-split 24" shakes lasted a long time. The stuff they're selling now is not the same. Some of the homes in our neighborhood are getting a 5 year life. Ours was 14 years. In comparison, our first house on the coast - built in 1970 - still has the original shakes.

Bob

[crokett]

I did a little checking. From what I read, red cedar doesn't last quite as long but it is more resistant to checking and splitting than white/yellow.

You also need to check fire codes in your area. Either type cedar roof shingles need to meet a certain fire resistance. Depending on the area they may have to be treated.

I might call a few contractors in your area and see what they say about the shingles.

[ragswl4]

I did a little checking. From what I read, red cedar doesn't last quite as long but it is more resistant to checking and splitting than white/yellow.

You also need to check fire codes in your area. Either type cedar roof shingles need to meet a certain fire resistance. Depending on the area they may have to be treated.

I might call a few contractors in your area and see what they say about the shingles.

I once owned a home with a cedar shingle roof. I had it inspected one year and the inspector told me the shingles I had were from Canada, hand split and very hard to get. They were from 3/4 to 1" thick. He stated that they were the best you could get. I believe they were red cedar. That was ten years ago. Cedar shingle roofs are now outlawed in California.