Bark Shingles

tumblr_lw3zi99A1Z1qeltl1o1_1280Bark Shingles was commonly used as home siding by the American Indians. Europeans arriving in America also found bark to be a useful siding. Chestnut siding was preferred until the chestnut blight killed the majority of chestnut trees. Now poplar bark is preferred. The bark is peeled from the felled tree and then flattened and kiln dried. The drying process kills all insects and makes the bark maintenance-free and impenetrable to future insect infestations. Bark siding has been known to last upwards of 80 years without need of sealant or stain. Poplar bark has an R-value of approx 3.7 and has excellent sound insulating qualities. Poplar wood is widely used in the furniture industry and utilizing the tree’s bark for siding means tree bark siding is a virtually zero waste product.

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