How to Hand-Split Shingles and Shingle a House

By David Petersen
Published on May 1, 1987
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Reroofing the Gott cabin is a job for the entire family
Reroofing the Gott cabin is a job for the entire family
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1. First,split a shingle block into eight more or less equal sections, using a froe and hardwood mallet.
1. First,split a shingle block into eight more or less equal sections, using a froe and hardwood mallet.
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2. Split away the darker colored (unusually) heartwood from the point of each wedge of wood.
2. Split away the darker colored (unusually) heartwood from the point of each wedge of wood.
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3. You'll also need to split off the bark and the sapwood beneath it.
3. You'll also need to split off the bark and the sapwood beneath it.
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4. Once the block has been split a few times, you'll need to support it in a shingle break.
4. Once the block has been split a few times, you'll need to support it in a shingle break.
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5. The final splits call for a delicate touch with the froe to prevent uneven splitting.
5. The final splits call for a delicate touch with the froe to prevent uneven splitting.
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7. The intricate shingling pattern provides good insurance against leaks.
7. The intricate shingling pattern provides good insurance against leaks.
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6. A large chisel can be used to
6. A large chisel can be used to "dress up" any ragged edges and prepare the shingle for use.
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A traditional shingle break.
A traditional shingle break.
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Shingle nailing base and shingle placement.
Shingle nailing base and shingle placement.

Hand-split “shakes” are unmatched for beauty when you shingle a house.

How to Hand-Split Shingles and Shingle a House

Near as Peter Gott can recollect, he’s split some 15,000
shingles over the past quarter of a century. Appalachia’s
master hewn-log craftsman used the most recent batch of

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