Mini Shingles

[Munroast]

Going to make a fancy bird table roof and use shingles for the roof - they are going to need to be mini shingles (40 to 50mm wide) they will be subjected to rain and sun, so cupping will be the major prob (i think)

what would be the best wood to use ?
How thin could I go.
What preservatives to use (could soak them in tanalising fluid or something else)
would I need a preservative if using oak ?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Cleaved cedar shingles - like the "real" ones? Pretty much every other softwood and many hardwoods will cup, including oak. You may be best off looking at treating any timber you do use with wood hardener rather than preservative. That would allow you to use a cheapish timber. Remember that real cedar shingle isn't sawn - it is cleaved

 

[Tigercubrider]

Given that the bird table is small (unless you’re feeding ostriches?)
Can’t you just suck up the cost and buy standard shingles but then cut them down?even if the waste ends up in the bin?