In her eight years as a content writer and researcher, Alison has published more than 450 home improvement articles and has delved into nearly every topic, including solar, moving and landscaping. In ...

Dear James: My roof and wood siding should be replaced soon. Cedar shingle or shake siding and roofing would be my preferred option. Is there a real difference between shingles and shakes? —Barry L.

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your home’s roof, and that’s a good thing. Ordinarily the only time a roof gets our attention is when it’s damaged or leaking. And while a roof’s ...