How to Create Designs in Cedar Shakes

Cedar shakes -- also called "shingles" -- can be used for roofing or in place of vinyl siding on a home. Just like any natural material, cedar can come in a variety of shades and colors. While most cedar has a reddish tint, the precise tone can vary greatly from one piece to another, giving the creative do-it-yourselfer an opportunity to incorporate patterns and designs into their project.

• 1

  Purchase your cedar shakes or shingles from a home improvement store. If you are looking to use the shingles on the exterior of your home, you may want to make sure they are all the same size. This will improve not only the aesthetic uniformity of the design, but it will also minimize the number of gaps between shingles, making the exterior surface more durable over time. If your design will be inside a structure, you can select shingles of different sizes, as waterproofing won't be as crucial.

• 2

  Look for shingles in a variety of tones and shades. Some shingles may have an almost "strawberry blond" look; others may be a dark brick red. A range of colors and shades will give you the most options for your design.

• 3

  Separate the shingles into different colors and shades, so you know how much of a single color or shade you have.

• 4

  Come up with the design you want to use. This will depend greatly on the availability of different colors and shades in your shingle selection. You may choose to alternate rows of light-colored shingles with rows of dark-colored shingles, whether horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Instead of simple patterns, you may want to create an actual picture or image. You can create a smiley face by using darker colored shingles as the face's eyes and mouth, and using lighter colored shingles as a background.

• 5

  Arrange the shakes onto the desired surface (or a flat surface, if the shakes' ultimate destination is a vertical wall or sloping roof). This will give you an idea of how the finished product will look.

• 6

  Remove all the shakes from that surface, and arrange them once again based on color and shade. You may even want to make a mark on the back of each shingle that describes where it will be placed in the overall design.

• 7

  Nail the shingles into place one at a time, using a hammer. You will want to place the shingles starting at the very bottom of the surface (for example, at the bottom of a wall instead of at the top). This will help with water drainage.

• 8

  Stop intermittently to check your work. You might not see the pattern or image take shape right away, but if you planned accordingly, it should develop over time as more and more of the shakes are hammered into place.