How long do wooden shingles last?
This is not an easy question as many factors influence the lasting qualities of shingled exterior surfaces. Roofing of any type takes a severe beating from the hot summer sun, gale force winds, blizzards, thunderstorms and the freezing and thawing of ice and snow. Humidity levels, infrared and UV radiation, smog, animal traffic, abrasion, ventilation, hail, ice, accumulated dirt, moss, fungus and decaying leaves all affect the longevity of wooden roofs. Western Red Cedar shingle and shake roofs have a usual minimum life expectancy of twenty years to fifty or more under the right conditions.