Image: Ben Law
Shingles are wooden tiles, straight grained oak, chestnut and cedar. There are different laying patterns but conventionally 3 tiles deep with each course over lapping the one below.
Shingles are held in position using copper or stainless steel annular nails to resist corrosion by wood tannin. Shingles can be cleft or sawn and are normally 12 – 15 inches long. They can vary in width depending on the butt size and quality of the of source material.