Slide a small piece of builder's felt under the upper shingles to cover the exposed nailheads. Hand-split shakes have a rough, textured look on the front and often smooth on the back. Wood shingles are machine sawn smooth on both sides. Generally, cedar is the highest performing wood for making shakes. But, treated pine shakes also perform well.
Shakes are brown or reddish in color when new, but usually fade in the first year to a gray color.
Wood shingles may be installed with only a slight gap between shingles. Repair With a nail ripper, remove the nails holding the damaged shake. Remove any remaining scrap pieces, splitting them free with a pry bar and hammer if necessary. Fit the new shake and nail it in place at the gap created by the upper shakes. Dab some roofing cement on the exposed nailheads to prevent water penetration.