CHAPTER 1 — West Coast Cedar Plank Roofing

Cedar plank roofing is one of the oldest and most advanced Indigenous roofing systems in Canada. Used primarily by coastal nations such as the Haida, Coast Salish, Tlingit, and Nuu-chah-nulth, these engineered roofs were designed for extreme rainfall, humidity, and coastal winds long before European settlement began.

Why Cedar Roofing Worked

• Rot-resistant: Western Red Cedar contains natural oils that resist decay and moisture.
• Perfect for rainfall: The wet Pacific coast demanded roofing that could shed water fast.
• Lightweight but strong: Making it ideal for longhouse structures.
• Thermally stable: Cedar kept longhouses warm in winter and cool during summer.

Construction Method

Builders split cedar logs into planks using wedges and mallets. These planks were overlapped horizontally on a timber-frame longhouse, similar to modern shingle layering. Fastening systems used wooden pegs and cordage rather than metal nails.

Historical Significance

These roofs could last over 40 years and represented one of the earliest engineered roofing systems in North America — proving that advanced building science existed in Canada long before the colonial period.

This chapter is part of the ROOFNOW™ Canadian Roofing History Archive.