Pine shakes, a type of roofing material, were widely used in Alberta, especially in communities built in the 1980s & 1990s. The prevalence of pine-shake roofs was significant, but the issues with rotting were more pronounced in northern Alberta like Edmonton & St. Albert compared to cities like Calgary. The susceptibility of these shakes to decay, particularly in more moist conditions and with less sunshine, like in Edmonton, was attributed to a black fungus. Not all pine shakes were problematic, and many roofs were in good condition, especially those treated with preservatives. However, untreated pine shakes, which were sold as a cheaper alternative to cedar shakes with a 25-year warranty since the mid-1980s, experienced premature rotting, leading to significant issues for homeowners. Some roofs rotted in as little as three years, and the majority of the estimated 30,000 affected homeowners had to replace their roofs in less than 10 years.
The widespread issue with these pine shakes led to several legal actions. A notable class-action lawsuit was initiated by thousands of Alberta homeowners whose roofs began to rot due to untreated pine shakes. This lawsuit was eventually tossed out in 2004. Another significant legal case involved about 2600 Alberta homeowners seeking compensation from the provincial government and the Director of Building Standards for the costs of replacing their rotting, untreated pine shakes. However, their claim was unanimously rejected by the Alberta Court of Appeal, which ruled that they were not owed a duty of care by the Director or the provincial government. A similar case, Holtslag et al. v. Alberta, was heard by the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, where homeowners argued that the province authorized the use of pine shakes as a roofing material from 1986 to 1998 despite knowing, or having reason to know, that they were unsuitable.
The rapid deterioration of untreated pine shakes and the subsequent financial and legal challenges faced by homeowners highlight the need for thorough evaluation and testing of building materials before widespread adoption. The case of pine shakes in Alberta serves as a cautionary tale about the potential long-term consequences of choosing cheaper alternatives without adequate consideration of their durability and suitability for local environmental conditions.
Today there are very few, if any, homes that still have Pine Shake.
