Laying Traditional Wooden Shingles

Laying some traditional hand cut wooden chestnut shingles on our cooking room all by hand and using side axe and hammer.
In this film John shows you how to lay shingles or shakes, and goes into some detail. He is an expert on this having laid more than 2,000 for his woodland building alone!

[@martingonzales]

This old man giving the demo has got heavy old man energy

[@LFHiden]

i have no idea how i got here... i just left my youtube running for 1 hour. from electronic music to this. it is very interesting though, really like it.

[@edwardthor7763]

Now get involved before all these social market driven economy types destroy Natural Order and Real Life Skills. Because of all you city slickers there is nothing remaining of Real Life and all the good things if life have been stolen and credited to social order, the little that you get to see.

[@LFHiden]

@@edwardthor7763 i do blacksmithing and have done for more than 8 years... What do you do?

[@007nadineL]

Great free video. Thank you. 😉😂😉😉😄😂😉😄😋😉😄😋😙😄😋😙😄😙😋😄😋😙😄😋😙😄😙😋😄😉😂😃😃😉😁😉😃😁😁😃😉😉😃😁😉😃😂😉😂😃😉😋😃😙😋😄😉😃😋😂😉😂😉😃😋😉😃😉😄

[@johnhartley3596]

I've done my share of modern wood shingling. Interesting that the general methods haven't changed that much over time.

[@hmax1591]

Excellent follow up to the first video. Smashing!

[@stephenrice4554]

Marvellous structure , the information is priceless , nicely done 👍. Loved the soundtrack of the kettle and the spitfire , I could smell the wood and the woodsmoke . One year further on , having used the information I'm still smelling the woodsmoke , the kettle was , of course party of the instructions 🤔 .

[@scottmcintosh2988]

Exclent demonstration learned the Cape Cod style the first 9 cources closer togther less shingle to the weather this would protect the beam on shake siding and fan out the wall to repell water goving your called kick board on out buildings we would use strapping 3/4 thick and 3 1/2 inches wide we would get from the saw mill we used white cedar clear shingles as neat by Mane has lots of them I will try large Chestnut now that I know your secret ! Thank you very much for this information !!!

[@johnsGgauge]

Great instructional video. I'm just about to roof out my Japanese teahouse in cedar shakes and have got some good tips from this video. Thanks for sharing.

[@harryrogers]

Thanks that's great..there is also a video on cutting the shingles that also covers other issues.

[@bradley200711]

Hi Harry! Did they finish the shake roof? Great video, very informative. A final video of the structure would be awesome!

[@lukearts2954]

Just adding some info about the "soaker" material, as at 9:40 he seems to be unsure how to explain the properties...: that DPC is designed to be a water barrier between the foundations and walls of a brick house. It's very durable indeed and will outlast the wood even with exposed parts to UV light. It has been given black pigment specifically to prevent UV penetration, so only the outer few molecular layers will deteriorate from sunlight. It's also designed to withstand sharp edges of concrete or brick, so it won't rip from any splinters or sharp edges it may touch, even when the structure moves slightly in the wind. Good choice :))

[@moodefiant4279]

I would have been completely distracted by the old war-bird flying overhead as well

[@runningriverbushcraft7548]

Bravo Again. !!! enjoyed very much such Great Workmanship Harry I enjoy all your videos outstanding job.

[@BerniN0686]

Great video, and craftsmanship. I would suggest a more durable solution for the corners, wich is used where I live for a long time. As shown on this roof the shingles on the roofcorners are cut into triangles prone to premature breaking because of weathering. What works better is to taper the last 4-5 shingles lightly from top to bottom so that there is no weak triangle if you arrive at the edge. At the edge of the roof the last shingle should overlap the last shingle coming from the other roofplane. The shingle being overlaped should be cut on its corner acording to the angles of the two roofplanes. The overlapping shingel should alternate every shingle row from one roofplane to the other. I hope I am making sence. best regards

[@harryrogers]

Bernhard Neumayer Thanks for that good suggestion..certainly makes sense.

[@cliveyb5326]

Loved wood work since school in Dagenham, 48-58, and have been splitting shingles from red boxwood in winter, for kindling, but now at 74 living in the land of OZ, wondering , WHY is he choking the claw hammer? More interesting than a truckload of DVD's

[@jasonmaguire9425]

"Choking the hammer" I wonder whether it was the angle of the roof at that point as it kicks up but it might be to have 'less bounce' in the hammer since the baton is bouncing so much. Perhaps if they'd have put small' inter-rafters' between the existing ones they would have less bounce. Just a thought. I work on old French roofs now and then that use planks to put roman tiles on but of course the rafters are usually substantially sized pieces of oak and they don't bounce much.

[@fancygiraffe3340]

So British the kettle goes off halfway through. Great video and I really enjoyed the crash course on the woodworking.

[@jonm2416]

I'm curious as to the reason you space the shingles tightly. With perfections and even rough cedar shake we always spaced them 1/8" to 3/16" to prevent cupping. I believe you said it was chestnut? Are the properties different to cedar requiring this tight spacing?

[@terrybennett8692]

Another entertaining and informative video ,your like a modern day Jack Hargreaves,thank God for KZbin.Keep up the good work Harry..

[@harryrogers]

Terry Bennett Thanks Terry

[@I-am-not-a-number]

Rafters bow down, this guy knows his stuff.

[@haraldisdead]

Exactly the information I was looking for

[@idrek1]

Instead of using the artifical DPC soaker if you have access to any birch trees you could use the bark for the same purpose. On sod roofed farm houses in Estonia where my family is from they would use birch bark as the water proof layer between the sod and the wood below. The bark life span is about 30 years I have been told.

[@harryrogers]

idrek1 Thanks...interesting and makes sense given bark canoes.

[@yvindmathiassen7617]

@@harryrogers A fun fact, the sod, or turf roof was actually mostly there to keep the birch bark in place. And yes, about 30 years or a generation. Back in the old days in Norway, it was a collective thing to do renewal of the roof when next gen took over the farm. Its all a quite good material, but you need some layers, and with correct quality. But, as history has shown, it doesnt work very well around chimneys and difficult angles. Its where you´re gonna find the damages in old buildings like this.

[@harryrogers]

@@yvindmathiassen7617 Thanks

[@necrophagus9]

You are all awesome! Great video!

[@elefantspidsmus]

Great! It would have been nice to see the finished roof at the end.

[@BOJANI]

Great video. Thank you. Greetings from Bosnia

[@Brummiejohn200]

Very interesting video nice to see the old skills being used, thanks for sharing Harry, atb john.

[@joshua86901]

It would be so so so satisfying to build something like this. Then have a BBQ with ya mates under in a drink beers lol

[@IAWS]

Thanks, very informative.

[@js8039]

Hello from the states. I really do appreciate all your videos.

[@Frankowillo]

Spitfire!! You lucky beggar. My favourite airplane. Cheers, Frank.

[@ralphlouismendoza1977]

Good job Harry

[@nikolaradakovic5050]

very nice work, almost like art

[@Brandon-so9fp]

Thanks for taking th he time to pass this knowledge on, really great stuff.

[@levythompson5571]

Hello again! I very much enjoyed the video showing how the shingles are made, and enjoyed this one equally thank you again so much! sincerely, Reno NV. USA

[@harryrogers]

Levy Thompson Thanks Levy

[@guilhermeaandrade]

I loved the first video and I loved this one too. Congratulations.

[@jimf1964]

I wonder how long it would take one person to do that two sided house?

[@ironpirate8]

John will strangle that hammer soon! You can tell he has been going back and forth from the carving axe. :)

[@gristlevonraben]

Great information and presentation. If you have the time and inclination, could you please explain why the lowest wood tiles do not overhang more? I would think you'd want them hanging over more so as to prevent rain streams from running up under the shingles and constantly wetting the base of the roof. Have a good week, sir.

[@harryrogers]

Gristle Von Raben Yes more overhang if anything...it works fine as is but no harm in having more....certainly not less.

[@QtmMtrlzr]

He's my favorite guest you've had. So informative

[@QtmMtrlzr]

@Mike Spencer you tell me

[@jamesgrellier4750]

Excellent video. Very informative. Nice to see someone who really knows what they are doing at work.

[@jamessotherden5909]

Loved watching the video on how to make shingles, So I just had to watch how to lay them. Loved the sound of that Merlin engine on that spitfire.

[@speeno7808]

great job!

[@martinezlopez4699]

a BIG thumps up for HAND/MAN-craft. REALLLLLLLLLLLY Gr8 √√

[@hendrikarqitekt6286]

The lowest shingle has no other shingles underneath, and they have thickness, so therefore you make the baddens thicker. I put my shingles just between two badden, no problem, never fall.

[@murrynation]

Hi there. Would it be at all possible to ask your friend doing the demo if I might contact him. I'm in New forest and having shingle issues.

[@TheRebelmanone]

If it works on a roof i want to try it on my wall. thanks

[@AnonYmous-qg4ph]

Those are shakes, not shingles. Shakes are split, shingles are sawn

[@IamChrisL712]

Excellent video Harry. I learn so much every time I watch your channel.

[@nedohamilli]

Bit of a bluffer that boy... surely there should be a 8th inch space between shingle to allow for swelling in rain otherwise they'll buckle. ....or

[@DylanYoung]

1) they're green. 2) they're split, not sawn, so they absorb less moisture.

[@scottmcintosh2988]

On the old Cape Cod houses the first 9 courses are very close together raising to protect the main beam cedar shakes last 100 years untreated longer when oiled

[@maryalice5357]

Did you mention type of nails and length of nail? Thanks mulch.

[@harryrogers]

Galvanised round head nails are good length depends on your materials.

[@1138-k7s]

Is there a good book that covers this method of construction?

[@johnson1573]

good job

[@xanthepaul2906]

Thought we hit peak Britishness the second time the kettle went off, then we got to the sudden Spitfire break!!

[@peterstevens6555]

I presume one can't use a nail gun then?!

[@andrewdarby8827]

When nailing, if you hold the hammer correctly you bend less nails and use less energy driving the nail in...

[@scottmcintosh2988]

In Cape Cod Mass. The first 9 courses from the ground shingle siding two layers on top of each other then up 1/8 inch then upma inch two inches three inches 4 inches to the weather then every 5 to five and ca half inches to the weather this with ceadet or redwood prevents bugs nailed with stainless steel ring shank nails iO used this methoid on my lands in Nova Scotia that has high winds 60 mph or 100 kph for a week at a time this is at the exstream southern tip of Nova Scotia Canada at the end of a 5 km long penisulia the Genetal Forbes Crown Land Grant ! Love the wood roof shingles idea when you cut the trees you would cut them so you eliminate the branches 16 to 19 inches long so you have clear wood no knots ! I used white cedar clear !

[@ronsites2694]

Your videos are always so interesting. Keep up the good work! It is good to have you as a friend in the UK.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

All this and a Spitfire fly past as well, it cant get better than that !

[@disconeil]

Thank you for sharing this film Harry! Will there be any more videos showing the six (or seven) ridges and how the top is finished off with the cowl? I understand that time is an issue: ie the weather is starting to turn. Many Thanks again. N.

[@andyphillips7435]

Neil George hi, just to get the definitions fixed, the ridge is the horizontal beam/ plank at the top of the roof, parallel to the ‘wall plates’ running around the bottom of the roof. The beams/ planks from each corner, running up to each end of the ridge, are ‘hip’ rafters. The join at the top, is a right fiddle, normally sorting the men from the boys ! Andy

[@josephpostma1787]

Why are shakes laid with a 2/3s overlap? It would seem like a waste of shakes, particularly with this structure were complete waterproofness is not essential.

[@NHHalKnowsHow]

The guy filming has ADD, "Look a plane!"

[@hmax1591]

He doesn't have A.D.D., It wasn't just any plane.

[@mikeharrison2592]

I am building a roof like this on a goat house and the distance he indicates between batons is misleading. At the 49 second mark he indicates the 5" distance is measured from the top edge of one to the top edge of the next. I made a mistake and used 5" between each baton. Apparently our mistakes cancelled out because what I am doing seems to be what he actually did.

[@WhiteHenny]

I very much enjoyed watching this film, having only just found the film which showed the making of the shingles a couple of days ago. There's something very relaxing about watching other people work. :)

[@dontmesswiththeman]

Laying wood shingles is surprisingly relaxing as well as long as you’re working at a leisurely pace.

[@ruzziasht349]

10/1 John was a bank manager before he retired.

[@alexchipkin6653]

I'd love to ask John more about his work. Do you know where he is located, and how can I contact him?

[@sagecreekwitt3301]

1-10 rating..."this video goes to eleven"! Thanks

[@mikewalton5469]

another excellent production! thanks for sharing!!!

[@robmarshallofficial]

You couldn’t get more British with the British Spitfire lol

[@nelpe1975]

amazing videos! so educative!!! thank you very much!!! just wondering what they used in the olden days instead of the plastic? maybe could one use thick woven linen soaked in wax?

[@itsasinine3337]

i'd assume they'd use pitch/tar/or resin from the tree(usually pine) to patch up small holes if they couldnt deal with a spot dripping.

[@t.thomasshaw462]

That guy timed tea just write didn't even lift a hammer good timing .

[@MM-nb3qu]

Я вмію робити цю роботу. Я виготовляю для цієї роботи інструменти

[@MikeNunya564]

So these are waterproof how? Those seams seem like leakzones...

[@DylanYoung]

You mean the corners? He didn't do those properly. That's why he used the plastic flashing there.

[@maryalice5357]

Thanks for nail info. Can windfall white pines be used to make wall or roof shingles? How about white ash that died from emerald ash borer. Sad to just use for firewood. Great instruction. Thanks so much.

[@dietrickmiller1785]

SPITFIRE!!! Amazing! We don't see those in the US. I would've had to look too.

[@ВладимирПищулин-б3ы]

В России это называлось класть тесом.

[@josegregoriomoralesferrini4587]

me decía mi padre que al martillo 🔨 hay que tomarlo largó para clavar el clavó mejor, y yo lo eh comprado

[@billyskyline570]

Ima make one while my air compressor still works.

[@hamidahmed8076]

how did I end up here, from guitars to cutting wood? ... I am guess anything made of wood is good... and it rhymes too hehe :)

[@opengate5849]

11:49 if you want to skip the tutorial and get to the action

[@butters45]

Whats John's day job, he has to be a contractor or something right?

[@fionafiona1146]

Some people train new in retirement, not that I have a clue 😅

[@tombryan1]

I prefer to use .92 to .95 thousands diameter nails 2.5 inches long ring shank in SS. Looks like .113 thousands you are using. I heard you mention they were not what you wanted.

[@spyrock247]

this is so cool, I wish I could build a sauna like this

[@johnmcnamee2368]

is there a film on how the timber frame is made

[@harryrogers]

Hi sorry no, but there is one on us constructing the roof of the roundhouse and on laying the shingles to its roof. Rgds Harry

[@kubinka879]

Any working at height regulation?

[@AmirSaleemShah]

What a craftsmanship

[@shanek6582]

If I seen a spitfire fly over me I think I'd be ecstatic, looked like it just inconvenienced your video a little! Lol. Is there any truth to the wives tale that you have to split your shingles on a certain moon phase or they'll warp? I've heard it a dozen times in my life from old timers here in WV but never believed it, there's a ton of superstition here.

[@harryrogers]

Shane K We are quite near a couple of old WW2 airfields so from time to time see some interesting planes.

[@jonka1]

Last place I lived a spitfire came over most weekends. It was always a thrill and I will never hear an engine sound so good- almost sexy.

[@laurensidgwick9400]

Shane K i

[@wolfman5349]

Shane K, my grandfather always sad the the moon was a time stamp or a tick on a watch face. It is all about how long the wood rests, how dry/damp it is, and how flat you store it once cut.

[@andrewbradbury8527]

Bet their hands are black form the tannin... nice work

[@jacksmith4375]

Roofing batten is 25x38

[@alosza72]

I would start with proper hammer

[@Pez_Destroyer]

John talks alot but I still watched 2 whole videos... I dont even think i will ever do this either, but i know how now! :) Thanks

[@jasoningram4617]

😇 Old World Master Craftsman 😇 I Enjoyed This Tutorial. Thank You.

[@vivanicola]

very nice thanks. I don't understand why blunting the point of the nail helps not to split the shingles.

[@harryrogers]

vivanicola it stops it acting like a sharp splitting wedge and the bluntness shatters the fibres in a straight line

[@milkediah2051]

So that's why all the pallets I have been taking apart the nails are all blunted or flat on their ends.Interesting.They don't want pallets splitting.I save them and reuse them as well.I'm reusing the pallet slats for flooring.I have just starting learning to use wooden hand tools.I have a hand planer to plane the edges flat and square and a pair of tongue and groove hand planes.

[@DataStorm1]

Saw nails on bottom of bottom tiles as well, but not where he did put them....

[@esauseven]

Very nicely done. Classic to have a Spitfire fly over these British gentlemen.

[@steventarn2068]

Very good.. what type of wood were the shingles made out of?

[@harryrogers]

Stanner Tarn Chestnut...there is a film on making them as well.

[@imm2mthankgod616]

Nice Saved me Made me understand my own mower

[@harrymason1053]

I have done lots and lots of wooden shingles when I was a young man working in Maine, USA. I was a carpenter specializing in restoration work. You're not really making your corners very well. Sorry. You need to lap one way and then on the next course, lap the other way so no rain or melting under snow can get through more than one layer. In your video at 8:09, you have lined every joint on that hip up and moisture will penetrate and rot around the nails and then in a storm will blow off and not when you want shingles to fail. In contemporary times, carpenters often use flashing under the hip shingles to make up for their lack of a proper joint here. I used to have nails called pins for nailing this joint tight. A properly made shingle roof does not need any underlying felt paper, either but I'm just referring to some of the viewer comments.

[@DylanYoung]

He explained that he didn't (know how to) do the corners right and was using that plastic flashing instead.

[@johncourtneidge]

Very nice, thank-you! I'm jealous! Grr to jealousy!

[@crash5868]

Is there a difference between a "cooking room" and a kitchen?

[@chadoftoons]

Don't understand why the last one was so disliked compared to this one. Im guessing the youtube algorithm showing them it is making them angry because there is no way to say "I don't want to watch that" and they are trying that instead. I've been enjoying this also interessting to see newer materials used with old craft techniques like this

[@harryrogers]

I expect it was also because I interrupted John a lot!! Rgds Harry

[@phildxyz]

Great to see most of the materials coming from the woods. 5 years ago, I had to buy Canadian shingles to roof my studio, I think there are now some UK sourced materials available.

[@maxwebster7572]

Old growth makes such a difference in the finished product. I had 96 yr old cedar that was nice and straight. We downsized a window with new shingles and they cupped really bad. Unless you make your own, it is hard to find anything decent and affordable. What is sad is how many decent logs get turned into firewood.