Roofing the Old Way ~ Traditional Wood Shingles in Trøndelag, Norway

Описание: Shingle roofing the old way. Shingle roofing is an old method of covering roofs, for example in Trøndelag. The production of the shingles before they are put on the roof is a painstaking process. When the roof is to be covered, the age-old tradition of community work is used. The work team comes to help, and when the job is finished, the workers are given food and drink in thanks for their efforts. The recording was made in Skaun, in Sør-Trøndelag, Norway.
Video translated from Norwegian to English

Wood shingle roofs are one of the oldest roofing methods in northern Europe, and they’ve been used for centuries in places like Norway, Sweden, Canada, and parts of the U.S.

What They Are
Shingles: Thin, tapered pieces of wood, usually split or sawn from logs, laid in overlapping rows to shed water.
In Norway, they’re often called spon (split shingles) or spontekking when referring to the roofing process.
Traditionally made from pine, spruce, cedar, or oak, depending on local availability.

How They’re Made (Traditional Way)
Logs are split rather than sawn to follow the wood’s natural grain, making them more durable.
Pieces are shaped by hand with tools like a froe and mallet.
The shingles are sometimes soaked or steamed to make them more pliable before fitting.
Each shingle is usually 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long and overlaps the one below for water runoff.

Installation & Patterns
Laid from the eaves upward, overlapping in rows so that rainwater always flows over wood rather than into gaps.
In Norway, they were often nailed to horizontal battens or directly to roof boards.
On steeper roofs, snow slides off more easily; flatter roofs require tighter fitting.

Advantages
Excellent insulation properties.
Breathable — moisture can escape, which helps preserve the structure.
Renewable and biodegradable material.
Long-lasting (30–50 years or more) if made from quality wood and maintained.

Cultural & Historical Significance
In Norway, spontekking was often a community project (dugnad), with neighbors gathering to help.
Roof shingles were common on rural houses, barns, churches, and stave churches.
Some stave churches in Norway still have original-style wood shingle roofs that have been maintained for hundreds of years.

Original video in Norwegian    • Spontekking og tekkjardugnad  

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