Sawn acacia shingles are produced from trunks over 30cm in diameter. They are cut in a radial section to ensure the stability of the shingles. To prevent them from drying out too quickly, a little wax is applied to the ends. Rectangular in shape, shingles have a thin side and a thick side. Acacia shingles are placed on a roof like tiles, with the thin side at the top and the thick side at the bottom. Each row of shingles covers 2/3 of the previous row. You therefore need 3m2 of shingles to cover 1m2 of roof.

Dimensions (+/- 3mm):

• Length: 40cm

• Width: 8-12cm

• Thickness: 18mm on one side and 8mm on the other

There are thus 25 shingles in 1 m2 without installation and 75 shingles in 1 m2 with installation.

More and more builders of cabins and ecological habitats are using acacia shingles, also called tavaillons. They are more impact-resistant than slates and tiles and have the same longevity. They have the advantage of being a good thermal insulator.