Bark shingles..... barking up the right tree...? :-)

[ponyboy]

I don't know why I've never heard of this, but I think it's cool looking.
Shingles and other things made from Bark.

Here's a link to the gallery at a web site called Bark House.
http://www.barkhouse.com/index.php/gallery/

Here's a link to an article about a Bark style house book.
http://www.offbeathomes.com/sustainable-bark-house-style/#more-2577

And try to keep the dog jokes to a minimum ...... he he he :-)

[jeffro]

Made from the Tulip Poplar tree. Used to be a very common thing in the southeast for poorer folks to use them. Now they are installed on million dollar homes on the lake....

Not too hard to make them yourself either, they require weighting down to keep them flat when drying or in a kiln.

[Kola]

I think they look supercool...but for around here, a sure fire hazard.

do ya gotta bug-proof those suckers?? I would think they would be a party-haven for bugs and stuff.

kola

[ponyboy]

I don't know if it would be any worse than ceder shingles for a fire hazard.
Can you use any other type of bark besides Tulip Poplar?
Once it's off the tree do bugs still enjoy eating bark?

[jeffro]

I'm sure there is some other tree that would work as well.

Have just always seen it done with the Tulip Poplar, not sure if that is because they grow like weeds around here or for some other reason.

The powder beetles might still like them, or a weeval (however you spell that).

I think they will last a fairly long time if protected from direct rain, but are not as resistant as cedar for direct water contact.

[greenthumb]

I wonder if a product like this would be suitable for the fire problem: http://noburn.com/

I made some bark baskets from poplar when I was a kid- I don't recall any bug problems but getting them wet will sure make for a moldy mess- a good treatment like used on log homes would probably be necessary unless it is under deep overhangs(such as on the gable end.)

[Will Dye]

The thing that bugs the crap outta me about all the pictures they show is that it is NEVER shown in a shingle application. It is siding in all the pictures shown. It would take a hell of a beating when on a roof as compared to being on a building side out of the direct UV and weather damage.

[ponyboy]

I think that shingle siding is the only application they use it for. I think it would have to
be smoother to shed rain if it was put on the roof. And I can't see bark lasting that long out
in the weather. I'm sure that 80 year old bark shingles they have a pic of was in a nice dry place. :-)

[ponyboy]

I wonder how often you would have to reapply that No Burn stuff?

[greenthumb]

I wonder how often you would have to reapply that No Burn stuff?

From http://noburn.com/products/no-burn-wood-gard :

WOOD GARD fire retardant is spray applied, usually drying within 24 hours of application, and upon completion, the structure and/or surfaces treated allow NO-BURN? WOOD GARD to protect indefinately.


They have a variety of products, this is just one I was looking at. I imagine the more often it gets wet, the more you'd have to apply.

[rreidnauer]

Or, one could simply treat it with the borax/boric acid treatment already recommended for logs. Both a bug and mold repellent and a fire retardant.

(I bet the commercial stuff is probably just a pricey version of the LHBA recipe)

[jeffro]

I have never seen or heard of a poplar shingle roof, only used as siding shingles. The ones you get commercially will be kiln dried, not sure if they are treated or not.

The HGTV dream home a few years ago (Lake Lure, NC) had some.

[shawnis]

Doubt this cost much to build:
http://i453.photobucket.com/albums/qq259/shawnis_LHBA/misc/Picture159.jpg