Straight Split shakes, also known as "barn shakes" have been used for hundreds of years in many wood species worldwide. Most other types of wood used to make shakes were straight split or writhed and the rough portions cleaned or planed with a draw knife. Red Cedar splits so readily that cleaning is rarely required. 

Today, the most common cedar Straight Split shakes are 18" long and 3/8" thick. They are produced mechanically on a guillotine-like machine splitting about 20 shakes per minute. After splitting, the sawyer trims the edges parallel and square to the butt.

Barn shakes are available in roof pack and sidewall pack bundles. The sidewall barn shakes have been selected to be very uniform in thickness, well trimmed and made from the straightest, flattest laying cedar. Straight Splits for the roof are slightly rougher.

Please contact us with your inquires for other sizes up to 36" long. We will do our best to source custom made products to meet your specifications for historically accurate reproductions.