Hand split shingle roofing and siding

Hand Split Shake Roofing and Siding for Homes with Real Character

Hand split shakes have a rugged, irregular texture that no machine cut product can imitate. Each piece is split along the natural grain of the wood, creating deep shadow lines and a rustic, handcrafted look that suits farmhouses, historic properties, and custom homes throughout Connecticut.

That distinctive surface also demands true expertise. Because every shake varies in thickness and shape, careless installation leads to uneven coverage, gaps that let wind driven rain through, and poor airflow that shortens the life of the wood. Many contractors simply do not have experience with this traditional material.

hand split shingle roofing and siding

Northeast Gutters & Remodeling brings the hands on skill that hand split shakes require, sorting and placing each piece for consistent coverage, proper overlap, and good ventilation beneath. The outcome is a roof or wall that looks authentically crafted, sheds water reliably, and gives your home a presence that stands out for generations.

Authentic Hand-Split Texture & Dimensional Shadow Lines

Hand-split shakes are characterized by their uneven, furrowed faces and sawn backs. This technical configuration creates a dimensional look on both roofs and walls, providing significant shadow depth that masks minor structural imperfections while giving the building a heavy, grounded appearance. The natural variance in thickness—ranging from 13mm to 19mm—provides a robust physical barrier against hail and wind-driven debris.

Resilient Blue Label Edge-Grain Selection

We exclusively source 100% edge-grain Western Red Cedar, certified by the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau. This is the highest technical grade available; edge-grain wood is cut perpendicular to the tree's rings, making it far more stable and resistant to the warping, twisting, and cupping that plagues lower-grade flat-grain materials. This ensures your roofing and siding remain flush and watertight for decades.

Integrated Rain-Screen & Breather Systems

The lifespan of a hand-split shake is determined by its ability to dry. For roofing, we install specialized 3D-matrix breather mats; for siding, we utilize a dedicated rain-screen system. These components create a continuous air gap behind the wood, allowing moisture to escape and air to circulate. This prevents the internal rot caused by trapped condensation, significantly extending the service life of the cedar and the underlying structural sheathing.

Worried About Weathered Wood or High Maintenance?

A common misconception is that hand-split shakes are fragile. In reality, the natural oils (thujaplicins) in Western Red Cedar make it one of the most rot-resistant materials on earth. We understand that a wood exterior is an investment in character; our professional hand-split shake service provides the industrial-grade waterproofing and ventilation your property needs to age beautifully and stay structurally sound.

Why Connecticut Homeowners Trust Us

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Years in Business

Over two decades of proven expertise in gutters, roofing, siding, and remodeling. Our experience means reliable solutions and craftsmanship you can trust.

Top -Tier
Equipment & Technology

We invest in professional-grade, top-of-the-line equipment to deliver superior results. Cutting-edge tools combined with skilled hands ensure exceptional quality.

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Customer Reviews

Our reputation speaks for itself with hundreds of glowing reviews. Clients choose us for our reliability, professionalism, and commitment to their satisfaction.

Real Reviews, Real Results

Request Your Free Hand-Split Technical Evaluation

Don’t settle for the flat look of synthetic imitations. Our experts are ready to provide a detailed site analysis and a custom quote for your premium shake roofing or siding project.

Northeast Gutters & Remodeling llc. was originally founded as a gutter company in 2004.

Over the years, we’ve grown to expand our services to include roofing, general contracting, siding and painting. More often than not, we needed to have knowledge of other structures of a house to solve drainage issues, and so our learning began and never stopped!

Years of hands-on learning experience and many certifications and classes later,Northeast Gutters & Remodeling llc is proud to offer comprehensive top-notch services for your home. We pride ourselves on high-quality workmanship and customer service, combining tried-and-true old-school techniques with the latest technology to deliver a pleasant experience – from the first contact you have with our home
improvement contractors to the final inspection of your completed job.

We also serve commercial clients in the Simsbury and Hartford areas.

Secure Your Home’s Legacy with Authentic Cedar Today

Ensure your property is stable, dry, and architecturally distinct with our master-level services. Experience the peace of mind that comes with specialized craftsmanship designed for the world’s most resilient homes.

People Also Ask

Why is Hand-Split better than Sawn for a roof?

It isn’t necessarily better, but it is more durable. Because a shake is split along the natural grain of the wood, the fibers remain intact from end to end. This makes the wood much more resistant to water penetration and splitting compared to sawn shingles, where the saw blade cuts across the wood fibers, leaving them open to moisture wicking.

Absolutely. We use only 304 or 316-grade stainless steel ring-shank nails. Standard galvanized nails react with the natural acids in the cedar, causing tannin bleeding—black, unsightly streaks that run down your roof or siding. Stainless steel is the only technical choice to ensure the fasteners don’t corrode and the wood doesn’t stain.

Yes. We offer shakes that have been pressure-treated with fire retardants at the factory. These can achieve a Class A, B, or C fire rating, making them safe for use even in regions with strict fire codes or near-wildland-urban interfaces.

To prevent moss and lichen buildup, we recommend a professional soft-wash every 5 to 7 years. Never use a high-pressure power washer on hand-split shakes, as it can strip the soft summerwood fibers and damage the natural grain. A gentle, oxygen-bleach-based cleaning solution is the industry standard for preserving the wood’s integrity.

Depending on your home’s exposure to sun and rain, hand-split shakes will begin to silver within 6 to 12 months. This is a natural oxidation process that provides a classic coastal or rustic look. If you prefer the warm gold look, we can apply a UV-inhibiting oil or semi-transparent stain shortly after installation.

Cedar is one of the best natural insulators. The wood is filled with millions of tiny air-filled cells that provide a thermal buffer. A home clad in hand-split shakes will typically stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than a home with vinyl or fiber-cement siding, leading to direct energy savings over time.

The starter course is the first layer of shakes installed at the very bottom of a roof or wall. We install a double or even triple layer at this point to ensure that the gaps between the shakes are fully backed by another piece of wood. This prevents water from finding a path to your structural sheathing at the most vulnerable point of the exterior.

Areas We Serve